This Local Artist Tells Personal Stories With Quilts
Originally published in Milwaukee Magazine 11/20/23When local quilter and fiber artist Heidi Parkes embarks on a new project, she creates a “perfect storm” of materials and inspiration to guide her idea from first stitch to completed quilt.
“I’m happiest when I’m working on a quilt that starts with some kind of question or problem, like my diary quilts,” Parkes says.
Her diary quilts are meditative pieces that reflect her life experiences, her decisions and the little minutiae of daily life that could otherwise get overlooked. “Diaries hold a lot of secrets, and they are a tool that someone uses to actively figure out their life,” she says. Parkes made the quilt pictured here for her 40th birthday.
“When I turned 40, I wanted to take notice of what it was like to start this new decade,” Parkes says. “This practice helps me observe what’s happening in my life and document the choices I’m making.”
When she’s not weaving her own pieces, she’s helping new and experienced fiber artists deepen their practice by teaching classes that cover both functional techniques and the retrospective, cerebral and creative skills that help inspire a deeper meaning in the art one creates.
In 2024, Parkes is kicking off a new teaching project: a long-term class for textile artists looking to grow a community. The year-long course will allow her to better connect with her students, something that’s hard for her to do when teaching a workshop.
“Making a quilt can take 50-100 hours,” Parkes says. “I’m never able to be with them the whole time when teaching a weekend workshop. This new format was created because of my desire to remember and engage the students and guide them through the entire creative process.”
The class, which starts in January, will be taught on a digital forum that lets students engage with one another over the course of the class (and after, if they choose to) and will have a collection of digital resources, forums, meetings and modules to foster a sense of support and community, no matter where the students may be located.
