Nan Renbarger

Artist Statement

I have a strong connection to fabrics and threads. I am beguiled by color, texture, and my sewing machine. I hand dye and paint my own fabric. Spontaneity is precious to me and I am awed and inspired by the natural world. My art unfolds as I let my intuition guide me to produce fiber vessels and three dimensional wall hangings.

Bio

My fascination with the sewing machine began at a young age in Topeka, Kansas when I would hide in Grandma Bessie’s sewing room and press the knee lever to engage the motor of her sewing machine. In High School and College, I honed my sewing skills to make unique outfits. As I was raising my daughter I poured my creative energy into starting a restaurant and, later, a wholegrain bakery. My earth tone palette yielded to my rainbow palette when I taught classes in fabric dyeing and freeform machine embroidery. So far, my grandchildren have shown no interest in learning to sew.

During the pandemic, I temporarily lost my creative sparks. The whir of the sewing machine brought me back and I am creating rich, textural and sculptural surfaces from my hand dyed and painted fabrics and threads. I belong to Kaw Valley Quilt Guild, am a member of the Fiber Maevens, a local art quilt group, and SAQA, an international art quilt group.