Judy Kahle

 

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

We have containers to hold almost every tangible item ever created but some of our most important things are intangible. These intangibles include ideas, feelings and thoughts. I decided to create fabric vessels to act as repositories for these important aspects of our lives.
Since my primary interest is in the surface design of fabrics, I use drawing, painting, printing and dyeing to create a base upon which to work. Then I build up layers of color with thread and a sewing machine using freehand embroidery. Numerous colors interact and the different stitches become lines that play across the surface. The exterior designs move into the linings and form the areas that welcome the intangibles. Assembly of the vessels is done by hand and each is a one-of-a-kind design.


Bio
Judy Kahle received a B.F.A. in design from the University of Kansas and a M.Ed. and Ed. S. from the University of Toledo. She has spent over 30 years teaching art to a wide variety of ages ranging from pre-schoolers to adults.

Judy's work begins with fabrics that she prints, paints and collages onto canvas. She then builds up many layers of thread using a sewing machine and free motion embroidery. Her work has received awards and has been shown in numerous regional and national juried exhibitions as well as appearing in publications such as Fiberarts Design Book 7 and 500 Baskets.