Art Chowder May | June 2023 Issue 45 | Page 27

“ A Good Day ” | Karen Straight
Montana , saying “ My nana taught me crocheting and embroidery , but it was the fiber arts community here in the Flathead Valley that played a pivotal role in my artistic development . Specifically , Monique Kleinhans kindly agreed to take me under her wing with a private lesson . After that , my fiber arts journey began in earnest , and I also gained a new best friend .”
Seattle-based Betz Bernhard is inspired by nature and history . “ The woods surrounding my house , my garden , old Japanese kimonos , calligraphy , kantha quilts , the work of other artists , and quilt makers everywhere . Lately I ’ ve been exploring sewing with paper .” A project she describes involves turning old Japanese and Chinese medical books into quilt blocks . She takes pride in the experimental and exploratory nature of her work and says it often feels more like collage . For much of her life Betz was “ working predominately with clay , concrete and glass ” Her fiber arts journey began about 10 years ago . “ I found some vintage Japanese kimono fabric and fell in love with the beautiful
“ Sun Struck ” | Betz Bernhard May | June 2023 27