by Fiber Artists Marty Kotter and Deb Baillieul
The goal of this exhibition is to connect the viewer with the intimate lives
of clams and clown fish, terns and plovers, butterflies
and bees."
"The Earth Up Close: Notice the Changes" is a collection of art quilts by local fiber artists Marty Kotter and Deb Baillieul, depicting their interactions with nature both near and far from home.
In this exhibition, they use wanderings and observations to inspire their fiber works. They're inspired by animals, plants, and the land up close. They observe people's interactions with the land and ask; how have humans provided a healthy environment for birds, insects, trees and more? Do we all need to change our ways a little—to make the earth more livable for all, people as well as nature?
What has our large population, exploding consumerism, and war done to contribute to the changing climate and living in this world? How can individuals help keep our planet beautiful, safe and at peace?
The goal of the exhibition is to connect the viewer with the intimate lives of clams and clown fish, terns and plovers, butterflies and bees. Marty and Deb portray their views of small creatures and their habitats through fiber and paint and interpret a larger view of forest ecosystems and their plight to survive drought, wildfire and insect infestation. They believe oceans, reefs and marshes can be brought back to life with human intervention.
Their witness to beauty and wonder, as well as destruction and disregard is a reminder of the value and fragility of the planet.
Marty Kotter
Fiber artist Marty Kotter is influenced by her passion for nature and by the quilts made by her great grandmothers. After a career as a science teacher and a park naturalist, she is pursuing art full time. She melds her knowledge of nature with her painting skills and love of fiber to produce unique art quilts from hand painted silk. The silk gives a luminous glow and the quilting adds texture and dimension. Marty continues to to gather inspiration for her art from her backyard, travels and artist residencies in national and state parks. Natural landscapes and their creatures are the main subjects of her art quilts. In each piece, she hopes to draw the viewer in and promote stewardship with the land and its creatures. Her work can be seen at www.martykotterart.com.
Deb Baillieul
I grew up in New England surrounded by woods, fields, streams,
swamps and the Atlantic Ocean. While wandering these spaces, I
searched for small bits: pine cones, tiny shells, bits of skunk cabbage,
minnows, locust pods, earth worms, and cranberries. I often watched
changing land, both natural and human made-a new development being staked into my woods! After college, I travelled, lived in New York City, Botswana, and Pittsburg, landing in Ohio. Living in different parts of the world, I began to really appreciate the variety of nature, including people and cultures. This all influences my concern for the state of the environment today.