For as long as I can remember, I have been a creator. Growing up, I was fortunate to be surrounded by teachers, artists, and craftsmen who encouraged my creativity and out of the box ideas. Having developed an appreciation for spatial accuracy and precise measurements at a young age through my obsession with maps and architectural design, I spent a large portion of my childhood and adolescence sitting at a desk designing buildings and drawing to scale plans for sculptures and carpentry projects.
I graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelor's degree in Art Education and a specialization in sculpture, later earning a master's degree in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of St. Joseph. I worked as a public school art teacher in eastern Connecticut for 11 years, teaching students of all ages, from pre-k to grade 12.
As an outdoor enthusiast, in my leisure time I can be found pursuing one of my many hobbies... from hiking and hunting to snowmobiling and boating, my [borderline irrational] fear of boredom keeps me busy. My dogs go with me just about everywhere and there is never a shortage of adventure or belly laughs.
After years of teaching art to young people, I found myself disconnected from creating my own art, as I was pouring so much of myself into the constantly evolving, increasingly challenging, field of education. While I am very passionate about teaching, and I think I will always find space in my life for educating others in some capacity, I felt my inner artist calling me to reignite my creative flame. I have long been intrigued by the exactness, beauty, and symbolism of barn quilts, so I finally decided to make one. I was instantly hooked and never looked back. Since then, I have networked with, and learned from some of the most distinguished barn quilt artists in the country and am honored to be a part of such a talented and inspiring community of professionals.
What exactly is a barn quilt? A barn quilt, as traditionally defined, is a quilt block that is painted either directly onto a barn or onto a single material which is then attached to a barn, that can withstand the elements. It is believed that central European immigrants originated barn quilts in the Northeastern United States as far back as the 1700s. Over the years, these works of art were for more than just aesthetics, as they were used for navigation, identification, symbolic or secretive communication, protection, and more. The barn quilt movement was reignited in 2001 in Ohio by a woman who created a piece to commemorate her mother. More in depth information on the history of barn quilts can be found in this Clark, OH Public Library Blog or in this article published by Art & Object.
Nowadays we see barn quilts hanging on more than just barns, such as on houses, sheds, porches, gates/fences, etc. In order for the artwork to be considered a true barn quilt, it must be a painting on a single substrate - not pieced together wood shapes. The material that the pattern is painted onto, along with the paint itself, must be able to endure sunshine, rain, and hot/cold temperatures. While some barn quilts last longer than others, depending on materials used and the location in which it is hung, a high quality barn quilt should remain in excellent condition for many years. In addition to hanging these works outside, many collectors have chosen to display their barn quilts inside as well. Modern barn quilts are typically painted on aluminum composite material or MDO.