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WENDY BUTLER BERNS |
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A week at the Clearing...
Ellison Bay, Door County Wisconsin
“Awakening the Art Quilter Within”…..
Left - View from the Council Ring
Right - View from the Lodge
Far Right- Lodge and Cottages
THE ART QUILT
“A creative, joyous and spontaneous journey that touches the heart and soul through exploring texture, color and design.
Our creations explore and express our feelings and ideas through our quilted images.”
Wendy Butler Berns
Annually, a group of quilters convene with me at the Clearing and are introduced to the spontaneous, exciting world of art quilts. The Clearing is a delightful folk art school in Door County, Wisconsin. Imagine a week of exploring simple art quilt techniques in a tranquil, inspiring natural setting with acres of undisturbed woods all around. No meal planning or cooking necessary because delicious meals are served to you three times a day. Everyone is housed in quaint cottages complete with hand made quilts on the bed.
A week of uninterrupted creating and quilting .… Imagine that.
Wendy’s workshop time is divided between teaching sessions that explore techniques of simple art quilts and embellishing. She also introduces basic design concepts and ideas of creating one’s own original work. In a nurturing, safe environment, students explore techniques covered while working at their own speed and discovering the exhilaration that comes from bringing their own ideas and images to life.
The week culminates with a Student Exhibition on Friday evening showing all that was created during the week. IMPRESSIVE! Two additional groups meet during the week besides quilters. The groups could be journal writing, digital photography, wood carving or painting-- to name a few. The creative energy generated among all the groups culminates in an impressive show of work on Friday evening.
“Art quilting is really not anymore intimidating than taking a picture and using a computer or writing a poem or searching for the right word in our journal. We all have our special equipment (some more than others) but that's ok. We all have our challenges and stressful moments and then the 'aha' comes. And for me that is always a surprise.”
Carol Hug , Art Quilt student at the Clearing, 2005 and 2006
OUR TEACHER
Quilting is her passion.
Teaching is her game.
Art quilts is her fashion.
Wendy is her name.
Quilts galore, she’s eager to show.
Always inspiring her students to grow.
Free form sewing, along with embellishing,
New techniques we now are relishing.
Midnight oil we willing burned,
Because of all the things we’ve learned.
Hesitation and intimidation have turned.
Thanks to Wendy Butler Berns.
Poem written by Irene Brown for Wendy and
presented by the Art Quilt students at the Clearing, 2006
