Mary Hermanson

Media: Fiber Art

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Phone: 715-287-3374

Kaleidoscope Fiber Art Designs - Making Magic with Fabric

ARTIST STATEMENT
Making Fiber Art using Kaleidoscopic designs brings all of the elements of my career as an art educator and my passion for quilting and sewing together. My goal is to use the elements and principles of design, combined with the symmetry of kaleidoscopic design and techniques, and materials of traditional quilting to create complex and exciting visual images. My art comes alive through the use of a fabric palette. These images reflect my love for bright colors and my appreciation for all the beautiful fabrics that enhance my palette. My talent for sewing and my attention to details make these fiber art pieces truly an expression of my artistic ability and my passion for the fine arts. As I work with various pieces of fabric, new combinations and contrasts appear, and this leads me to other colors and combinations that I had not anticipated. As a result, my compositions are ever evolving as I cut, match and sew as many as 400 pieces of fabric to achieve the final piece of art. Each time I begin to create a kaleidoscopic design, there are elements of surprise, change, and chance as to where the fabric will lead me to accomplish the desired visual image. For me, making art is like a bridge, it is a way to get from one point to another, a way to connect with challenging issues we have in this world we live in and it is a wonderful way for me to move through life.

BIOGRAPHY
In 1964 I enrolled at UW Stout and spent a couple of semesters thinking I wanted to be a home economics teacher. In 1966 the newly developed Art Department offered a different path: I was very fortunate to be able to study with a group of outstanding professional artists/instructors and graduated in 1969 with a Degree in Art Education. My first position was in Loveland, Colorado, where I accepted a job as a grade 1 thru 6 art educator. The summer of 1976 took me to the St Louis, Missouri area, where I accepted a teaching position at Wentzville High School where I taught until 1981. I taught Ceramics and Fundamentals of Design and served as Department chairperson with five other Art Educators. In 1981 I returned to western Wisconsin and accepted a position in Independence, Wisconsin teaching K thru 12 art, where I continued to teach and inspire young people for 29 years. During the Independence years, I earned a master degree in Professional Development from UW-La Crosse in 2002. Now I enjoy retirement, living and working in the hills south of Eleva, WI with husband Bill, a musician.

EXHIBITS
I have exhibited my work at the Heyde Center for the Arts, Chippewa Falls WI; Ashley for the Arts Arcadia WI; The Pablo at the Confluence, Eau Claire, WI; LE Philips Library, Eau Claire, WI; The Red Wing Art Association, Red Wing MN; Center for Visual Arts, Wausau, WI; Foster Gallery, Eau Claire, WI; Pump House Regional Art Center, Lacrosse, WI; Lacrosse Public Library, Lacrosse, WI; Mable Tainter Art Center, Menomonie, WI; Pyle Center, Madison, WI.

AWARDS
Honorable Mention, Annual Spring Art Show, Heyde Center for the Arts; Guest of Honor, Ashley for the Arts, Arcadia Wi; Best Floral and Art Interpretation, Fabulous Floral and Fine Art, Pablo Center at the Confluence; First Place, Confluence of Art Biennial, Pablo Center at the Confluence; Honorable Mention, Arts West 38, LE Phillips Library; Honors Award, 28th Annual Midwest Seasons Show, Center for Visual Art, Wausau Wi; Best Work of Art, Fabulous Floral and Fine Art Exhibit,Pablo Center at the Confluence; Honorable Mention, Confluence of Art Exhibit. Pablo Center at the Confluence; Honorable Mention, Arts West 44,LE Phillips Library; Wisconsin Regional Art Program, ArtStart Award, Madison WI.

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