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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 2021)
12 Wednesday, July 7, 2021 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon RICHARDS: Display is in Cindy and Duncan Campbell Gallery Continued from page 3 allowed Richards to cap- ture the energy, personality and essence of her subjects. Richards studied their stories and learned interesting facts which helped inform her final images. <I like to do lots of research so I bring the story to the quilt and share aspects of people9s lives. I love bringing science into my work. I like to teach with my quilts and enhance people9s appreciation for these worthy human beings and hopefully feel my fascination with nature,= said Richards. Richards said when she was pondering who to fea- ture on an art quilt, she decided to introduce people who were grassroots folk heroes. The first portrait quilt she did was Sitting Bull, who she learned was a Hunkpapa Lakota chief and holy man known for his leadership and compassion for his people. <I9ve always found Indian culture compelling and I was able to put all those feelings into the quilt,= said Richards. Her next quilt was of sharpshooter Annie Oakley, who was friends with Sitting Bull and worked in Buffalo Bill9s Wild West Show with him. Richards9 next quilt was of folk music legend Bob Dylan. After completing the PHOTO PROVIDED Farmworkers’ civil rights advocate Cesar Chavez. Dylan quilt she made a pro- posal to the SOQS to have a special exhibit and they accepted. With only three quilts finished, Richards had to produce nine quilts in nine months to make the dead- line. She laughed when she remembered the effort it took to fulfill her obligation. The final products were worth the late nights and have served as ambassadors for insights into Americans both well- known and obscure. Hearing people9s feed- back from the show has been rewarding. Richards wanted to provide access to inspir- ing role models. She hopes it will get people thinking about how they, too, can have a positive impact on others, whether big or small. <What are we supposed to be as human beings? We can choose to be hateful and complaining or do we have some kind of deed to take on in life? People don9t start out as folk heroes; something happens in their life where they do something that makes a difference and they build on that,= said Richards. There are also four bota- nists in the exhibit as well as musicians, activists, an aviator, innovator, and Arctic explorer. The group has something of interest for just about everybody and it invites viewers to learn more about people who lived life fully and with a purpose. After the show9s final exhibit during this year9s SOQS, Richards will say goodbye to Our agents are ready to meet your insurance needs LIVE MUSIC SATURDAY NIGHT! As life changes, so should your policy Call or come in today for a free Farmers Friendly Review Please call for details. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 3 to 8 p.m. 391 W. W Cascade d A Ave. | 541-549-2675 corkcellarswinebistro.com 541-588-6245 • 257 S. Pine St., #101 www.farmersagent.com/jrybka AUTO • HOME • LIFE • BUSINESS PHOTO PROVIDED Artist Leotie Richards with her fabric portrait of Annie Oakley, American sharpshooter. the quilts and let them move on to their new homes. Over the past two years, she9s been working in wool. Once she learned how to work with wool, she took the medium in an innova- tive direction. She9s been doing botanical studies and has done three pieces. One is focused on coleus plants, another on tropical plants, and the last on succulents. She just taught a week-long course using the technique she developed and hopes to keep teaching more classes. For Richards, it9s not about recognition but more about her artwork teaching and inspiring people to learn along with her. <I could do more public- ity about my work, but I9m really pretty relaxed about that. I had a whole other career as a graphic designer for 35 years. Right now I9m taking a rest. The fabric por- traits took it out of me. I9m doing projects for myself like throw blankets and pillows with wool applique tech- niques. During my SOQS exhibit at the Campbell Gallery, I9ll sit in the gallery and sew those flower designs on those pillows. I9m not good at doing nothing,= she said. The Cindy and Duncan Campbell Gallery is located inside the Sisters Art Works Building, 204 W. Adams Ave. Holistic Mental Health Solutions Medication Management Counseling • Functional Medicine Audry Van Houweling PMHNP-BC Quick and Affordable Help 541-595-8337 • www.shesoarspsych.com 204 W. Adams Ave., Ste. 202, Sisters Staycations were great, but it’s time for a VACATION! Choose your adventure: romantic weekend getaway, family road trip, bucket-list adventure Sisters, Oregon Port Townsend, WA Okanogan County, WA Newport, Washington Leelanau, Michigan www.SistersOregonGuide.com www.PTLeader.com www.OmakChronicle.com www.PendOreilleRiverValley.com www.LeelanauNews.com