MVAQN Leadership
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Mindy Marik is a fraternal twin, has three sisters and was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio. At age 10, she took formal drawing lessons and exhibited at the Dayton Art Institute. She frequented art shows and exhibitions with her aunt and uncle, Joe and Mabel Kern, where got the art bug. She currently resides with her husband on a small farm in Brookville, Ohio and vacations in Sebastian, FL where they have a second home.
Ms. Marik studied under Jeanette McMillian, Textiles Department, Edgecliff College, Cincinnati, OH and later received a B.A. in Art and Education from Wright State University, Dayton, OH. She holds a M.S. in Educational Administration and has taught Art to children in grades K-12 in several Ohio Public Schools.
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I was introduced to quilting by two influential people in my life: my late sister and a famous quilter in Japan. My sister took a quilting class and said I should learn as well. My reply was that I could sew but quilting was beyond me.
A Fulbright Fellowship to Sendai, Japan provided the venue for quilting. In this small town, I knew only the male law professors with whom I taught and the folks who lived in the international house complex. Life was going to be pretty lonely so I filled it with art. At the international house I taught a few quilting classes for women from various parts of the world who wanted to learn how to quilt. It was through this effort that I was introduced to a famous quilter in a nearby area, Keiko Goke. Keiko became a dear friend. I quilted with Keiko and her quilting circle for the entire year of my fellowship and it was with her guidance that I was encouraged to “paint with fabric.” Keiko's show at the end of my visit was my first quilt show. I returned home bitten by the quilt bug and produced my first art quilt that was shown at a Fulbright artist exhibit at the East West Center in Hawaii.
My early art quilt influences were from Japan. It is not surprising, because I experienced Japanese and Chinese culture as a child. It was fitting then that as an adult these might become part of my art. In Japan I took many classes including calligraphy and painting. These became a part of my initial foray into art.
While my career focused on law and raising children it was a chance meeting with Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, the noted quilt historian, that caused me to return to quilting. Carolyn is focused on quilting. She encouraged me to make quilts. She also insisted that I decide whether I was going to be a hobby quilter or a quilt artist. It is she who pushed me to not only produce, but to produce quality. But the art of all of this I owe to Carolyn Crump, a talented sister who stretches quilts beyond their four corners. Carolyn Crump taught me to draw and to imagine more. I have her to thank for inspiring me to become an even better artist. When added to periodic trips to China, Ghana, South Africa and other countries I have truly had the opportunity to define and redefine my own style. Ever the student I can't wait to see what else I can learn.
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Dianne Boley's interest in art transferred to her daughter, now Chair of the Fine Arts department at Sinclair Community College. Although Dianne has had no formal training in art, she has been creating a variety of quilts for her family and friends for the past ten years. By recently joining the MVAQN she hopes to learn new techniques and ways to design more sophisticated quilting methods. Although in the past I have made a variety of full size bed quilts using numerous styles from patchwork to log cabin, I am now interested in learning more sophisticated, artistic designs. As a step to learn new techniques and perfecting my skills, I have recently jointed the MVAQN.
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Debra's father and grandmother were painters and amateur naturalists. Her childhood weekends were often spent with them learning to draw and paint, or taking hikes and fossil-hunting. Although she taught herself to sew as a child and designed doll clothes and constructed purses from fabric, cardboard and beads, it wasn't until much later in life that she became interested in quilting. After years of working primarily on garments, she decided to make a quilt and was hooked. Although she enjoys traditional quilting, she is more excited about the tremendous possibilities for design in art quilting. She is currently interested in exploring the use of texture and color to incorporate nature themes into her work. |
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