Science as Art Series II: Land & Sea
Art quilts whose beauty carries a scientific message...
As a scientist and physician, I found science crept its way into my art quilts. The concept of educating people while they view artwork appeals to me. Who says science can't be fun?
Monarchs are endangered. In “Monarch Paradise” I imagine them recovering from endangered status. Here they are in their winter home (Mexican high oyamel fir forest). This quilt was shown at the American Geophysical Union's "Stitch Your Science" in 2022. This quilt is on tour with my eight-state solo exhibition with the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo Tour from 2025-2026. Published in The Quilted Art and Poetry of Science, (High Tide Publications, Deltaville), 2025.
"Extreme Camouflage" depicts two types of camouflage. Where is the lizard? Which butterflies are monarchs and which are Viceroys? Anole lizards blend with foliage, and viceroys disguise themselves as Monarchs, because predators know Monarchs' coloration signals they are poisonous. It also depicts several known pollinators: monarchs, viceroys, bees. But anole lizards are accidental pollinators, who drag pollen from flower to flower and pollinate as they go! This quilt is on tour with my eight-state solo exhibition with the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo Tour from 2025-2026. Published in The Quilted Art and Poetry of Science, (High Tide Publications, Deltaville), 2025.
“Predator and Prey at Peace” depicts a fox and hare. Both prey for larger predators, so both use camouflage. They are at peace briefly as the fox huddles to conserve heat. This quilt is on tour with my eight-state solo exhibition with the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo Tour from 2025-2026. Published in The Quilted Art and Poetry of Science, (High Tide Publications, Deltaville), 2025.
One of my favorites..."The Amazing Endangered Ocean" is full of endangered sea life-giant manta rays, right whales, humpback whales, sea turtles, sea horses, blue-fin tuna and even kelp and coral. The left-hand side shows what the ocean will look like if we don't save it-with coral choked by algae, and no wildlife. This quilt was shown at the American Geophysical Union's "Stitch Your Ocean Science" exhibit in 2023. It is currently on exhibit in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Sacred Threads Main Exhibition from October 30, 2025 to November 9, 2025. It was published in Making the Unseen, Seen (High Tide Publications), 2025.
“Viticulture during Global Warming” Global warming may impact viticulture (cultivation of grapes) in several ways. Some cooler regions may experience positive impacts, such as increased ability to grow grapes due to warming, but areas which are already warm may lose their ability to cultivate grapes due to a further increase in temperatures which renders the soil too arid. Almost 30% of the world’s vineyards have already been affected by global warming. The bargello pattern of this quilt lent itself to the theme of heat waves during growth. This quilt is on tour with my eight-state solo exhibition with the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo Tour from 2025-2026. Published in The Quilted Art and Poetry of Science, (High Tide Publications, Deltaville), 2025.
"Irises" was inspired by van Gogh's early period when he flirted with impressionism. Most of his later work was expressionist. His love of irises was abiding until his untimely suicide. I love irises, too, and create works with them frequently. Published in The Quilted Art and Poetry of Science, (High Tide Publications, Deltaville), 2025.
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​It is also currently also displayed in the Virginia/North Carolina Regional online exhibit here: https://www.saqa.com/art/exhibitions/artist-inspired-saqa-regional-virtual-exhibition
"Golden Irises" is an art quilt inspired by a photo of irises in my garden. It was on display at the Williamsburg Contemporary Art Center in Williamsburg, Virginia from July 26th through September 6th, 2024.
"Magic Mushrooms": Psilocybe cubensis (left) is one of several hallucinogenic mushrooms. It's a mushroom which is not very healthy for humans-it might be fun to "take an LSD trip," but some people never come back from them!
In contrast, Pleurotus ostreatus (right) is one of several naturally-occurring mushrooms which produce statins-chemicals which reduce cholesterol. Lowering cholesterol results in lowered risk of both heart attack, stroke, and adverse vascular events such as dementia. So, this quilt is about "good and bad" fungi!