A life of farming, fibres and quilts
- Maura is a quiltmaker who marries tradition with improvisation
- She cherishes the earthy roots of natural fibres and dyes
- Using what is readily available provides her with constraints and creativity
After shifting her art school studies from woodwork to fibre, Maura Ambrose was struck by the potential inherent in textiles to record heritage, history and personal legacy. The process from farm to fabric to quilt spoke to her values of an authentic and well-lived life, planting the seeds for her career and practice today. Maura had a few farming jobs after graduation, which evolved into growing her own plants for dyes and incorporating natural colours into her quilts. "Quilters Denyse Schmidt and the women of Gee’s Bend opened my eyes to the freedom of improvisation and allowed me to create work that unfolds soulfully and spontaneously," she says. "These women demonstrated how to beautifully improvise with joy and a song in your heart."
Interview
- What do you love about quilting?
- Quilts are soft and approachable, and natural dyes make them painterly. There is no end to a quilt’s possibilities, from the stories it can tell to the power it can wield. Quilting is a rewarding way to connect with others. I am continually delighted and never bored.
- Is there a mentor who had an influence on you?
- Three years into college, Pamela Wiley, dean of fibres, introduced me to the art of quilting, probing me to consider the conceptual aspect and personal meaning in a quilt. As a teacher, she exemplified a life of integrity with which I connected deeply.
- What role does the environment play in your work?
- Consumerism and waste are always on my mind. I enjoy the challenge of simply making do, rather than stockpiling fabrics, and I order or mix dyes as needed. When you work with limitations, you become resourceful and inventive, which adds to the quilt’s story.
- Has your craft taught you any life lessons?
- A focus on helping others find their voices allowed me to step back from the production and commerce aspect of my own quilts. I was able to reexplore the joy of improvisation, and share the simple ingredients of good practice and play so that my students can shape their own expressions.
Maura Ambrose is a master artisan: she began her career in 2006 and she started teaching in 2011
Where
Maura Ambrose
