Artist Statement
I am upcycled! Recently retired and no longer teaching, running a research lab or chairing a science department, I spend a lot of time making art. I no longer need to know but also need to feel and understand and reflect and create. To mark this transition, I create art that represents the elastic edge between art and science, with a specific focus on the concept of time.
In my “CELL” series of quilts I focus on the history of cell biology and the pioneering work of the early cytologists who documented their research with detailed drawings. For my pieces I use a variety of surface design techniques, dyeing, painting, fabric manipulation with extensive embellishment, and printmaking methods.
For my second series, I use a small edible clam as my inspiration! Back in 2006, scientists dredged up a deep-sea clam off the coast of Iceland. By counting the growth lines in the shell they learned that the clam was 507 years old. The clam was knick-named “Ming” by the London Sunday Times because it was “born” during the Chinese Ming dynasty, 65 years before Galileo. I wondered whether Ming the clam (c.1499-2006) was aware of the passage of time. So Ming became my artistic muse and I created a cohesive and quirky series of quilts that ask, “What Did Ming Miss?” All of the Ming quilts are hand sewn with traditional needle-turn appliqué inspired by 19th century tile quilts, mounted on stretcher bars and framed. The subject matter for these quilts ranges from playful topics to serious matters affecting Ming’s undersea realm or our world today.
Both series will continue into the near future with an emphasis on new techniques in the “CELL” series and new ideas in the “Ming” series.
Biographical
Kathy Suprenant grew up in the village of Hudson Falls in northern New York State near the entrance to the Adirondack State Park. She received a BS in Biology from the State University of New York at Albany and a PhD in Biology from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California in Santa Barbara, she joined the faculty at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. In 2016, Kathy retired as Professor Emeritus in the Department of Molecular Biosciences after 32 years of service. While at KU, Kathy served as Department Chair, taught cell biology and published original research on the role of the cytoskeleton in cell division and early development. Kathy chose early retirement to concentrate on a new fiber art career.
Exhibitions
Crafting Democracy: Fiber Arts and Activism / Juried Group Exhibition / Central Library—Rochester, New York / AUGUST 1, 2019—OCTOBER 31, 2019
Evolutions / Juried Group Exhibition / Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum—Golden, Colorado / JULY 22, 2019—OCTOBER 19, 2019
de.light/FULL/ Juried Group Exhibition / Leedy-Voulkos Art Center—Kansas City, Missouri / JULY 12, 2019—AUGUST 31, 2019
Evolving Perceptions/ Juried Group Exhibition / Foothills Art Center—Golden, Colorado / JUNE 28, 2019—OCTOBER 6, 2019
Fantastic Fibers / Juried Group Exhibition / Yeiser Art Center—Paducah, Kentucky / APRIL 20, 2019—JUNE 8, 2019
Quilters / Curated Group Exhibition / Theatre Lawrence—Lawrence, Kansas / FEBRUARY 22, 2019—APRIL 7, 2019
Checkmate / Online Curated Exhibition / Visions Art Museum—San Diego, California / JANUARY 1, 2019—MARCH 31, 2019
Lawrence Art Guild / Group Exhibition / Cider Gallery—Lawrence, Kansas / NOVEMBER 30, 2018—JANUARY 20, 2019
Link / Online Curated Exhibition / Visions Art Museum—San Diego, California / OCTOBER 1, 2018—DECEMBER 31, 2018
Gateway to Imagination / Juried 19th Annual Art Competition / Farmington Museum—Farmington, New Mexico / SEPTEMBER 24, 2018—DECEMBER 1, 2018
Artist As Quiltmaker XVIII / Juried Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Quilts / FAVA Gallery—Oberlin, Ohio / MAY 13, 2018—JULY 28, 2018
Lawrence Art Guild / Group Exhibition / Cider Gallery—Lawrence, Kansas / NOVEMBER 24, 2017—JANUARY 19, 2018
Print Show 3 / Group Printmaking Exhibition / Percolator Art Space—Lawrence, Kansas / SEPTEMBER 29, 2017—OCTOBER 21, 2017
