Heidi Parkes Artist Statement
In my work, I create a scaffolding of fabric, piecing, and quilting that allows me to reference many ideas on a single plane. The raw materials are textiles from domestic culture, fashion, family heirlooms, and scavenged prints. I integrate them with fabrics that I have embroidered, stained, dyed, or designed. These materials are pieced together to create the main imagery of the quilt, like a collage. This cloth is then beset with hand stitches, evocative of the slow process involved in construction, and functioning as a layer of ‘drawing’ on the quilts surface.
When composing a quilt I rarely adhere to a set plan, relying instead on improvisation. Remindful of color field painting, I begin my work with a feeling, place, or theme. Looking to reconstruct my world, I employ aerial views, photographic documentation, and artifacts- all the while aware that my goal is far more complex than the visual of a single point in time. The moments I choose to replicate are unique to me, and simultaneously innumerable in the lives of others.
Like so many women before her, my maternal grandmother planned a collaborative quilt to celebrate my birth, and introduced me to the art of quilting. My work continues a family tradition, but congruently incorporates new information from varied quilting traditions, and my multidisciplinary training in art. Often inspired by painters, I feel an artistic connection with Mark Rothko, Gerhard Richter, Mark Bradford, Julie Mehretu, Cy Twombly, Agnes Martin, William Kentridge, El Anatsui, Do Ho Suh, the quilts of Gee’s Bend, and the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi.
See more on Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Creativebug, and learn about my favorite supplies
2024 Artist in Residence at The Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee, WI
Join me in My Studio at The Pfister Hotel this year! I’ll be there about 30-hours each week, and you can see my art on display, watch me work, and enjoy the magic of this iconic hotel. Follow along via my Instagram
Jenna Walls from CBS 58 News interviewed me about my art and the Pfister residency
Join me for dinner in my studio at the Pfister!
Learn more about the Artist’s Residency
Learn more about The Pfister Hotel
Current & Upcoming Exhibitions
Quilt National at the Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH, May 24 - September 1, 2025
Whip-Stitch: Quilts are Contemporary Art at South Bend Museum of Art, South Bend, IN, September 28, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Criss Cross at Portrait Society Gallery, Milwaukee, WI, Opening Reception September 20, 5-7pm
Viewpoints on ARTservancy at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, Milwaukee, WI, August 19 - October 5, 2024 (Opening Reception September 19, 6-8pm; Panel Talk at MARN on September 26, 6-8pm)
Quilt National ‘23: The Best of Contemporary Quilts at Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Morehead, MN, July 1 - September 30, 2024
Past Exhibitions
Bay View Gallery Night at Beulah Brinton House at Bay View Historical Society, Milwaukee, WI, May 31, 2024, 5-9pm; this exhibition is part of Bay View Gallery Night
Piece by Piece at Center for the Visual Arts, Wausau, WI, curated by Madison Hager, March 27 - May 25, 2024
Shift Change at Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Museum, La Conner, WA, curated by Brian Nigus (read his blog post about the exhibition, here), March 6 - April 28, 2024
QuiltCon presented by the Modern Quilt Guild, Raleigh, NC, February 22-25, 2024
Winter Quilt and Fiber Show Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, Cedarburg, WI, Saturday, February 10, 2024
Pfister, part of Milwaukee’s Gallery Night & Day, open studio, January 19th and 20th, 2024
Future Fibers at Walker’s Point Center for the Arts, Milwaukee, WI, curated by Xela Garcia, Mike Flanagan and Kim Storage, January 19 - March 1, 2024
Quilt National ‘23: The Best of Contemporary Quilts at Canton Museum of Art, Canton, OH, November 22, 2023 - March 3, 2024
Time Memory Mythos at Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, juried by Monica J. Brown, October 14 - November 11, 2023
Quilt National ‘23: The Best of Contemporary Quilts at European Patchwork Meeting, Espace de Tisserands, Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, France, September 14-17, 2023
Mend: the Work of Repair at James Watrous Gallery, Madison, WI, curated by Jody Clowes, August 18 - November 5, 2023
With Ma, Film Screening at MARN Art + Culture Hub, Milwaukee, WI, Friday, September 22, 2023, 6-8pm
Heidi Parkes: Reuse, Reflection, and Storytelling in Cloth at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, Wausau, WI, curated by Shannon Pueschner, June 10 - August 27, 2023
Quilt National at the Diary Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH, May 26 - September 11, 2023
Practice in Progress at MARN Gallery in Milwaukee, WI, April 14 - June 4, 2023
Land Reflections: ARTservancy Artists in Residence at the Wisconsin Lutheran College’s Schlueter Art Gallery, Milwaukee, WI, February 17 - April 21, 2023
QuiltCon presented by the Modern Quilt Guild, Atlanta, GA, February 23-26, 2023
5th Fiber Arts Biennial: Hide + Seek at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts in Cedarburg, WI, November 17, 2022 - January 22 2023
Heidi Parkes’s Quilts, special exhibit at The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show in Madison, WI, September 8-10, 2022
Brushed at The Compound Gallery in Emeryville, CA, curated by Courtney Cerruti, September 3 - October 16, 2022
Midwest Modern at the Iowa Quilt Museum in Winterset, IA, curated by Heather Kinion, April 12 - June 26, 2022
Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, Sisters, OR, July 9, 2022
Modern Quilt Exhibition at Bailey Contemporary Arts Center in Pompano Beach, FL, curated by Kristin Beck, April 1 - June 16, 2022
QuiltCon presented by the Modern Quilt Guild, Phoenix, AZ, February 16-20, 2022
Here Comes the Sun at the Iowa Quilt Museum in Winterset, IA, curated by Joe Cunningham, November 16, 2021 - January 23, 2022
Heidi Parkes, Artist in Residence at Gallery 224 in Port Washington, WI, November 2021
Remnants at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts in Cedarburg, WI, February 4 - April 25, 2021 — Heidi participated in a panel discussion with the curator, Emily Schlemowitz, and fellow artists Linda Marcus and Michael Sylvan Robinson, in February 2021; you can view it here.
SEAMS: Contemporary: Contemporary Textile Artists at the Portrait Society Gallery in Milwaukee, WI, curated by Gallery Director Debra Brehmer and Heidi Parkes, September 25 - November 28, 2020 — Heidi led a virtual tour of the exhibit with Gallery Assistant Paul Salsieder; you can view it here.
Public Speaking
I've lectured for quilt guilds, colleges, institute days, and special events. Please email me at HeidiParkesArt@gmail.com with inquiries about lectures, keynote speaking, and hands-on workshops.
Wisconsin Life, NPR, Telling stories and casting spells: Pfister Hotel’s Artist in Residence Heidi Parkes on her diary quilts, July 9, 2024
Creativity & Your Body with Heidi Parkes, a conversation with Annalise Johnson of Eye Candy Quilts, on YouTube
CBS 58 Sunday Morning snapshot, interview with Jenna Walls, April 7, 2024
CBS 58 Morning News, interview with Frankie Jupiter, February 12, 2024
Seamside Podcast with Zak Foster, Heidi at the Pfister: Part 1, Free Advice 6/22, and Free Advice 7/22
The Quilter on Fire Podcast with Brandy Maslowski, episode #140
The Subtle Forces Podcast with Anja Notanja, episode #38
Check Your Threads podcast with Zoe Edwards, episode #105 and episode #106
Wise Craft Handmade with Blair Stocker, on YouTube
Crafting Together with Faith Hale, Creativebug, on YouTube
Sewing with Threads by Threads Magazine, episode #61
Soft Bulk series with Zak Foster and Luke Haynes, on YouTube
Memoir Body, Healing Story podcast with Janelle Hardy, episode #125
Make and Decorate podcast with Stephanie Socha, episode #31 and episode #95
Craft Industry Alliance Podcast, episode #210
Quilt Buzz podcast, episode #37
The Storied Stitching Podcast with Dr. Laura Sapelly, episode 14
Modern Sewciety podcast, episode #204
Have Company podcast, episode #13
Articles
Meet Heidi Parkes An interview with CanvasRebel
An Artist’s Story with Heidi Parkes: Appliqué Circles, article by Heidi Parkes in the Creativebug Blog
Use and Ornament by Nick Ball includes Heidi’s quilts
Marking Time with Fabric and Thread by Tommye McClure Scanlin includes Heidi’s quilt, Meuse, Pandemic, Invisible, Sweetheart
“This Local Artist Tells Personal Stories Through Quilts” by Carmella D’Acquisto and Mary Reardon in Milwaukee Magazine
“Mending Hearts and Old Blue Jeans Come Together in 2 Gallery Shows” article about Mend: the Work of Repair in the Wisconsin State Journal
Practice in Progress’s Limited Edition Artist Book: “Heidi Parkes,” article by Heidi Parkes
“19 Creative Milwaukee Women You Need to Know About,” in Milwaukee Magazine
Quilt Out Loud by Thomas Knauer includes Heidi’s quilt, There’s Something Between Us
Threads Magazine: “Quiltmaker Heidi Parkes Tells Stories Through Her Diary Quilts,” article by Heidi Parkes
Embroidery: The Textile Art Magazine, vol. 72: “Making Time, Marking Time,” an interview by Jane Audas
Curated Quilts, no. 20: “My First Fabric Quilt,” article by Heidi Parkes
Quiltmaker Magazine Nov/Dec 2021: “Top Ten Tips for Hand Care,” an interview with Jenni Grover
“Heidi Parkes, Artist in Residence at Lake Park” article by Heidi Parkes in The Wealth of Nature Blog
“Spotlight: Heidi Parkes, Fiber Artist” An interview with Create Whimsey
Why We Quilt by Thomas Knauer: “Heidi Parkes”
“Modern Mender: Heidi Parkes” An interview with Jessica Marquez
“The Art of Improv with Heidi Parkes” An interview with Jen Broemel
“The Creativity Project Week 39: Heidi Parkes” An interview with Kim Soper of Leland Avenue Studios
Huffington Post article about Heidi's quilts
Creative Links
The Piecework Collective, Heidi exhibited with them in NYC in 2017
Heidi is on Pinterest
Heidi shares many body care tips for creatives via Hand Yoga Club
Learn from Heidi via her classes on Creativebug
Heidi is a Juried Artist Member with the Studio Art Quilt Associates, SAQA
Heidi is a Professional Member with the Wisconsin Visual Artists, WVA
