Exhibition OPENS: may 20 - august 31
GALLERY RECEPTION: May 20 from 6-8p

Artist’s Statement:

In my realm, Quilting is my language. Each fabric speaks in color, design and texture. When listening, I form playgroups with them. Some work well together and others enhance the message that wants to be said. I move them around asking what else they need to be part of a creation that is far better together than living on its own. I might hear “a butterfly” or “a touch of yellow”, or a wise group of fabrics might say “We are good together, as is.”

Then, I layer the quilt top, batting and backing and let my quilting continue the conversation. The process of free-motion quilting can be rhythmic and meditative. It’s a balance between the movement of my hands and my pressure on the foot pedal. The design I choose stitches my message and emotion into the layers of the quilt. 

The process of making the quilts in From the Heart has taken me through my journey with family, celebrations of joy, moments of reflection, those of whimsy, sadness, and grief, and unfathomable experiences. From the Heart is not so much about seeing the quilts that I’ve made nor understanding my motivation in making them. Quilting has been my therapy, my means of self-expression. What is yours?

Valerie Paterson

Valerie Paterson is a creative quilter who lets her spirit give her unexpected results. Her joy is letting ideas unfold in the process of creating a quilt. 

She has made few traditional quilts since her first sampler in 1993 and over time has shifted from needle-turn applique to using fusibles, from precision piecing to any technique to avoid that, and has found a freedom in free-motion quilting. She also loves the fun of embellishments and answering the challenges of her art quilts groups, Beecassos and PAQA-South. She is a member of SAQA.

In addition to numerous ribbons she has received awards for Most Creative and Best Machine Quilting, and has had quilts in The International Quilt Festival in Houston, Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in Virginia, Visions Art Museum in San Diego and the traveling Hoffman Challenge exhibition. 

During the pandemic she completed a draft of her memoir which demonstrates the therapeutic property of quilting for her. 

For more information on her quilting and writing www.ValeriePaterson.com