August & September Downtown Member Art: Claire Graham-Smith Textile Art

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Claire has a varied artistic background which led to her working in fiber arts. She is a graduate of Fine Art College in Toronto, Canada (OCAD University today), where she studied painting and photography, then pursued courses in the culinary arts in Montreal. While working in food service for several years, she renovated two houses and many gardens.

Claire returned to fine art painting after a few years’ hiatus but discovered that raising kids conflicted with being a landscape painter. Dealing with pastels, oil and even watercolour paint was challenging. However, her young sons showed interest in quilting, and as a homeschool mum always open to possibilities, she was quickly captivated herself. For the past couple of decades she has focused on a range of quilt making skills to incorporate in her art quilts. She has long been interested in antique quilts and works as a quilt demonstrator at the Shelburne Museum since 2002. More recently she joined the Modern Quilt Guild and straddles a line of 'Modern- Art Quilts' in her own way. She has made her home in Burlington, VT, for nearly 30 years with her husband.

Technique 
Claire stitches her quilts on a domestic machine and by hand. She gathers fabric from far and wide, including garments. Mostly cotton is used but also silks and linen.  Much of her work is created directly on the design wall in an improvised style. She uses embellishments, beads and hand embroidery and quilting is freehand guided. Fiber Art Quilts are meant to be enjoyed as wall art and kept out of direct sunlight and not laundered. 

Commissions on request.

To learn more or inquire about a piece contact:

Email - Claire@buringtontelecom.net