Artist in Residence Ruth Ann Feild
Longtime Grand Junction resident Ruth Ann Feild is the new Mesa County Libraries 970West Studio Artist in Residence, and she has scheduled a series of events and open studio hours to share her artistry with the public.
Feild works in fabrics and fiber, creating detailed and unique pieces that tell stories of their own. Feild has lived in Grand Junction for 35 years and has been a working artist for 25 of those years.
“I have not had a formal art education, but I learned to sew at the age of 8 from my mother and grandmother. I always find time to connect to the past with my needle, thread, fabric, and hundreds of buttons,” Feild said.
When her children were in school, Feild shared her passion for sewing through the medium of fabric. She taught fiber arts in her children’s classrooms, then began teaching her techniques and innovative approaches to sewing and quilting more formally. She entered her work in competitions and won a number of awards.
Newly retired from nursing, Feild now has more time to follow her creative passion. Her fiber art displays her fascination with maps and history, and she considers a needle, thread, and textiles to be powerful tools for sharing stories. Through connection to a familiar place, special event, or celebration, she develops a story and translates the ideas onto fabric.
“Life is about detail,” Feild said. “I love to stitch stories.”
• OPEN STUDIO HOURS
During her residency, Ruth Ann Feild will host open studio hours at the Mesa County Libraries 970West Studio, located at Fifth Street and Ouray Avenue across from the Central Library in Grand Junction. Open studio hours are scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon each Monday through Aug. 14, 2017 (except for May 29 and July 3). The public is invited to stop in and visit with Feild about her art.
• WEFTY FABRIC WEAVING (Adult event)
6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 8, 2017
Central Library Community Room
Learn to use a Wefty fabric weaving needle to create your own unique textile using fabric strips. Materials are supplied. Space is limited, and registration is required on the Events Calendar at mesacountylibraries.org or by calling 970-243-4442.
• FLOWER POUNDING (Children’s event)
2-4 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Central Library Community Room
Feild will show children how to pound flowers in order to transfer the natural dyes of petals and leaves to fabric. Open to children at no charge.
• NO-SEW QUILTS (Children’s event)
2-4 p.m. Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Central Library Community Room
Feild shows kids how to design their own quilt block with contact paper and pre-cut fabric shapes. Open to children at no charge.
• CREATE YOUR OWN BOOKMARK (Neighbors Read event for children)
6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017
Central Library Children’s Area
Learn how to create pom-poms and tassels, which will be added to fabric bookmarks for participants to take home. Participants can create extras to embellish Feild’s Colorado State Parks quilt, which will be on display to promote Mesa County Libraries’ “Check Out State Parks” backpacks and state parks passes. Open to children at no charge.
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