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Joan Schulze, Pioneer in Fiber Arts

A condensed history of Joan Schulze’s art-making on cloth and paper begins in 1970. Starting with her first quilt in 1974, Schulze altered fabrics in a variety of ways. In the late sixties, she was dyeing fabrics. Moved onto photography and photocopy processes in the 1970s. By the 1980s, she was painting and applying transfers – Xerox, direct, and glue. Later in 1990, she was using digital technologies and to this day her fearless interest in technology continues. Many curators have noted that Joan Schulze’s work relates to collage and poetry. Themes have evolved over the years. Her quilts from the year 2000 continue to show her interest in nature and the urban landscape. More recently Schulze has been exploring and combining new themes related to dancing and movement.

Her black and white compositions on silk are the result of experiments to reinvent the drawing process. These toner drawing quilts use the photocopy machine to not only print on cloth but to create new images and marks layered on previously altered surfaces. These complex artworks combine favorite themes in new ways only possible by layering digital photography, the older photocopy processes, and painted cloth and paper.