A        

 

           "Art has always been a part of my life; drawing, painting, a little bit of pottery making, some sculpting, crafting, and lots and lots of sewing.

My mother enjoyed painting and sewing, and encouraged me to do the same. She taught me to sew when I was 7 years old. She passed away from breast cancer when I was 10 years old.  I don’t really have a memory of her painting, only of her having watercolors, but I do have a memory of her sitting at her sewing machine, me standing at her side, talking and watching her sew. Perhaps that is why I have always been drawn to sewing, and have transformed a domestic sewing machine into a tool for art, mutating fabrics into paint as the world is interpreted in a wondrous expression of fiber art." 

  

 

Anita began creating her fiber art pieces in 2001 after viewing a program of an artist who created their art from fabric and thread verses traditional paints. Having been inspired by a unique form of expression that connected Anita to her past, she developed her own style and technique of this contemporary art form. Most of her pieces are influenced through life experiences, remarkable places, and photographs of her travels. When using the photographs, Anita pulls fabric from her color coded bins and color co-ordinates the thread to the fabric. She cuts a piece of fabric and felt batting and affixes them together using spray adhesive. She then begins “building” her art piece layer upon layer by freehand cutting the desired shapes out of the selected fabrics, and after spraying each piece with temporary spray adhesive, she affixes it to the felt, creating her visual interpretation. Anita continues until she is satisfied with her composition, she then machine sews (thread paints) each individual piece of fabric in its place. When she is finished with the sewing, it is mounted onto a luan backer board and framed, or stretched onto a 1.5” canvas and left unframed. 

 

Thank you for your interest in my artwork.   

 

Exhibits. Shows. Awards.

 

2008 – 2010 - Le Soleil Gallery & Boutique Carolina Beach

2010  to Present - Wilmington Art Association member

2010 – 2011 - Wilmington Art Gallery on Castle St.

2010 - WAA Juried Spring Art Show. “Canopy of Serenity” received the “First Federal” award.

2010 - WAA Juried Spring Art Show. “The Art of Fencing” received the “People’s Choice” award.

2010 - “Sunshine in Every Cup” is in the collection of the University of North Carolina Randall Library www.digitalcollections.uncw.edu.

2010 - “Wind Wisp” was purchased by Screen Gems Studio to be featured as part of a movie set

2010 - “Red Cross-The Fabric of Love” was commissioned by American Red Cross for their 29^th Annual Gala and Auction.

2010 - Landfall Foundation Juried Art Show

2010 - Art in the Arboretum Show

2011 - WAA Juried Spring Art Show

2011 - State of the Art/Art of the State Exhibit - Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC

2011 - Landfall Foundation Juried Art Show

2011 – Solo Art Exhibition - Sweet Nectar’s Florist & Gallery

2012 - Harbor Island Arts exhibit at the Arboretum in Wilmington, NC

2012 – 2013 Wilmington Art Gallery at Hannah Block Center

2012 - WAA Juried Spring Art Show. “Drawn to the Sea” received the “Pauline Williamson Memorial” award.

2012 – Solo Art Exhibition - Sweet Nectar’s Florist & Gallery

2012 - Focus on the Coast Juried Coastal Fine Arts & Crafts show- “Drawn to the Sea” received the “People’s Choice” award.

2012 - Landfall Foundation Juried Art Show - “Lantana Luncheon” received the “Best in Category” award.

2012 - Art in the Arboretum Juried Show

2012 - WAA Holiday Art Show - “Not Just Another Pretty Vase” received the “Best Composition” award.

2013 - Landfall Foundation Juried Art Show – “Art Thou Coy” received the “Best in Category” award.

2013 – Art in the Arboretum Juried Show

2013 - Earth Inspired Exhibit, Hannah Block Center

2013 – Art for the Masses

2014 - Nautilus Art & Frame shop

2014 – Art of the Bellamy “invitation only” Exhibit

2014 - WAA Juried Spring Art Show - “Beachcombers” received the “Honorable Mention” award.

2014 - Silver Arts Show -“Harmony” received the “1^st Place” award.

2014 - Silver Art Show - “Lantana Luncheon” received the “2^nd Place” award for Heritage arts.

2014 - Silver Arts Show - “Classical Twist” received the “Honorable Mention” award for Heritage arts.

2014 - State Finals Silver Arts Show – “Lantana Luncheon” received the “Bronze” award for Heritage arts.

2014 - State of the Art/Art of the State Exhibit - Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC

2014 - Landfall Foundation Juried Art Show - “One with the Sea” received the “Best in Category” award.

2015 - WAA Juried Spring Art Show

2015 - Silver Arts Show – “Framed by Nature” received the “1^st Place” award for Heritage arts.

2015 - Silver Arts Show – “One with the Sea” received the “Honorable Mention” award for Heritage arts.

2015 - Tickled Pink Art Show & Sale

2015 - Landfall Foundation Juried Art Show – “Framed by Nature” received the “Best in Category” award.

2015 - Art in the Arboretum Juried Show - “Framed by Nature” received “People’s Choice” award “1^st Place”

2015 to Present -  Eclipse Artisan Boutique

2015 - Fountainside Juried Art Show

2016 - WAA Juried Spring Art Show - "Chillin' at the Beach" received the "Golden Artist Colors Award".

2016 - Women's Art Guild of Wilmington member

2016 - Silver Arts Show - "Enchanted Bridge" received the "1st Place" award for Heritage Arts

2016 - Silver Arts Show - "Ivy in Abundance" received the "2nd Place" award for Heritage Arts

2016 - Silver Arts Show - "Generational Differences" received the "3rd Place" award for Heritage Arts

2016 - Fountainside Art Juried Show

2016 - 'An Homage to the Women of Wilmington' Art show

2016 - Landfall Foundation Juried Art Show

2016 - Art in the Arboretum Juried Art Show

2016 - Fountainside Juried Art Show

2016 - ArtFall Juried Art Show - "Mauvelous Waves" received the "2nd Place" award

2017- Silver Arts Show - "Taking in the View" received the "1st Place" award for Heritage Arts

2017- Silver Arts Show - "Hues of Blue" received the "3rd Place" award for Heritage Arts

2017 - Sunset Vision Nature & Wildlife Art Show - "Taking in the View" received the "Honorable Mention" award

2017 - Landfall Foundation Juried Art Show

2017 - State of the Art/Art of the State Exhibit - Cameron Art Museum, Wilmington, NC

2017- Art in the Arboretum Show - "Enchanted Bridge" received "People's Choice" award "3rd Place"

2018 - WAA Juried Spring Art Show

2018- Silver Arts Show - "Reflection of Beauty" received the "1st Place" award for Heritage Arts

2018- Silver Arts Show - "Setting Sun" received the "Honorable Mention" award for Heritage Arts

2018 - Art Exhibition - Sweet Nectar’s Florist & Gallery

2018 - Landfall Foundation Juried Art Show - "The Day Rolls In" received the "Honorable mention" award