Artist Statement

As far back as I can remember I was always sewing something—making things. I think I was born with “busy hands”. So it was inevitable that as an adult I would find my way to quilt making.

Quilting has been an evolutionary process for me…both technically and expressively. I use my quilts to reimagine the arts of other cultures, to explore states of mind – how different experiences and events play out in my thoughts.

My work falls outside of the traditional function of a quilt. Most pieces have been released from the confinement of the customary background. Others have had the background removed to a second layer, creating a level of dimension not typical of quilted works. Each piece has been appliquéd, quilted and either embellished with hand-embroidery or beading or both. Of late I’ve been exploring the sculptural potential of these ‘released’ quilted forms.

I am a native New Yorker, who with my husband Jack, in 2008 relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, drawn west by the call of family, the beautiful California hills and the arts-friendly community.

Solo Shows

2019 Creatures Big & Small — Orinda Public Library — Orinda, CA
2018 Release! Release! — Orinda Public Library — Orinda, CA
2016 500 Howard Street, Lobby Gallery — San Francisco, CA
2015 Union Bank Lobbies, 350 & 400 California St.— San Francisco CA
2012 De Vrys University Lobby, 505 14th St.— Oakland CA
2012 Out of Africa — Orinda Public Library— Orinda, CA
2011 Thousand Oaks Gallery — Berkeley, CA
2011 Masks & Meditations — The Moraga Art Gallery — Moraga, CA

Commission Work

2014 Zero Gravity Dreamscape
2008 Be One With Each Other
2004 Square Dance

Group/Juried Shows

2019 Alameda County Arts Commission Exhibit — Oakland CA
2019 Fabric Messages —The Gallery At 48 Natoma — Folsom, CA
2019 Fabrications — Pence Gallery — Davis, CA
2018/19 Intersections7/Fiber & Beyond—Annual Carnegie Art Showcase at 48 Natoma — Folsom, CA
2019 Annual Carnegie Art Showcase – Carnegie Arts Center – Turlock, CA
2019 Creatures Big & Small — Orinda Public Library — Orinda, CA
2018 Release! Release! — Orinda Public Library Showcase—Orinda, CA 2018 Intertwined — Healdsburg Center for the Arts — Healdsburg, CA
2018 Art Quilts, Works by Members of SAQA / Carnegie Arts Center—Turlock, CA
2017 Soul Searching — Firehouse Arts Center/Harrington Gallery — Pleasanton, CA
2017 On The Fringe — SAQA / Firehouse Arts Center/Harrington Gallery — Pleasanton CA
2016 EBHQ – Voices in Cloth — Craneway Pavilion—Richmond, CA
2016 Olive Hyde Art Center Gallery 48th Annual Textile Exhibition — Fremont CA
2016 SAQA Inspirations II — San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles — San Jose, CA
2016 Outside the Line — Marin Society of Artists — San Raefel, CA
(Honorable Mention)
2015 SAQA-That’s A Quilt? — San Francisco Quilt Guild — San Francisco, CA
2014 KPFA Annual Crafts Fair—Richmond CA
2014 EBHQ – Voices in Cloth — Craneway Pavilion — Richmond, CA
2013 Intersections 6/Fiber Dimensions & Beyond — Herbst Exhibition Hall-
The Presidio— San Francisco CA,
2012 Gayle Van Dyke Atrium Gallery — Greenbrae, CA
2012 EBHQ – Voices in Cloth — Craneway Pavilion — Richmond, CA
2011 500 Howard Street, Lobby Gallery — San Francisco, CA
2011 Congregational Church —Tiburon, CA
2011 Fiber Dimensions at the Bay Model — Sausalito, CA
2011 Fiber Dimensions at the Blue Line Gallery — Roseville, CA
2007 Thrice Threads — Pomona Cultural Center Gallery — Pomona, NY
1998 World of Quilts — Northern Star Quilters Guild—Somers, NY
(2nd Place Award)
1997 World of Quilts — Northern Star Quilters Guild—Somers, NY
(Honorable Mention)
1997 Quilts=Art=Quilts —Schweinfurth Art Center—Auburn NY
(3rd Place Award)

Guest Speaker

2016 EBHQ — Thursday Night Meet-ups —Berkeley CA
2016 SAQA — 3-D Quilting
2014 Creativity Celebration — OLLI, San Francisco CA
2014 INSPIRATION: Looking Out, Looking In —Valley Stitcher’s Guild, Pleasant Hill, CA

Media

SAQA Journal, Health & Wholeness feature, Fall 2015 —‘Disappearing into Alzheimer’s’
The Orinda News, July 2012
Lamorinda Sun, November 18, 2011
Lamorinda Weekly, November 9, 2011
Contra Costa Times – Walnut Creek Journal – Arts & Leisure Section– Feature Article, November 11/24 & 20, 2011
The Quilt Life Magazine, October 2011, featured “Jester”, a dual-image mask

Organizations

Fiber Dimensions
East Bay Heritage Quilters (EBHQ)
Studio Art Quilter’s Association (SAQA)

Contact Information

[email protected]

www.susanhellerfiberarts.com