Interview with Linda Dunn, March 7, 2008

Partial Transcript: This is Karen Musgrave, and I'm doing a Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories interview with Linda Dunn, and Linda is in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and I am in Naperville in Illinois, so we're doing this, uh, interview by telephone. Today's date is March 7th, 2008. It is now 9:15, um, in the morning. And, I am, hmm, I'm sorry, what? Yeah, we're going to do it my time, because I have the clock. Um, let's see. And we're doing a special Quilters' S.O.S. - Save Our Stories, that's based on the exhibit Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece.

Segment Synopsis: Dunn responded to Ami Simms' call for quilts by making her quilt, "Trying to Remember." Her father died of Alziheimer's around the time that call was issued. Dunn was still processing his loss, "so this piece was a chance to make those thoughts visible."

Keywords: Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece; Ami Simms; Karen Musgrave; Parents; Quilt purpose - Mourning

Subjects: Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.

Partial Transcript: Tell me about the techniques used in the quilt.

Segment Synopsis: Dunn describes her approach to quilting as intuitive and tending towards collage, rather than traditional quilting. She uses techniques like dyeing fabric, printing on fabrics, and transferring photos (in this instance at least one from her father) onto fabric. She usually starts with one piece of fabric that inspires her and looks for companion pieces to expand the quilt and its message.

Keywords: Art quiltmaking; Art quilts; Collages; Fabric dyeing; Fabric selection; Photography/Photo transfer; Techniques

Subjects: Art quilts; Mixed media textiles

Partial Transcript: Tell about how you chose the things that you put on this quilt.

Segment Synopsis: Dunn describes the imagery on her quilt including illegible handwriting and photographs. She describes how choosing to make the handwriting and images unclear was an intentional part of the quilting process. The imagery symbolizes the cognitive skills her father lost from Alzheimer's.

Keywords: Aesthetics; Alzheimer's disease; Design process; Family; Parents; Photography/Photo transfer; Quilt purpose - Mourning; Quiltmaking inspiration

Subjects: Art quilts

Partial Transcript: How'd you feel when the piece got accepted, when you heard from Ami?

Segment Synopsis: Dunn recalls her reaction to hearing that her quilt was accepted into the Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece exhibition. She describes her belief that quilting is an art form. She is motivated to communicate visually with others through quilting.

Keywords: Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece; Ami Simms; Quilt purpose - Exhibition

Subjects: Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.

Partial Transcript: And I was also very excited when I saw the whole...

Segment Synopsis: Dunn describes her different experiences seeing the exhibit, including the digital catalog on CD and seeing it in person. She was impressed by the range of quilting techniques shown in the exhibit. Dunn describes her piece as abstract contemporary art, which was different from other quilts in the exhibit that used more refined, traditional techniques. She saw the exhibit in Vermont and found it to be powerful and moving.

Keywords: Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece; Art quilts; Quilt shows/exhibitions; Quiltmaking style; Traditional quilts

Subjects: Art quilts; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.

Partial Transcript: Did you have any favorites? Are there any quilts in the exhibit that speak to you particularly?

Segment Synopsis: Dunn describes her favorite quilts in the Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece exhibit, including pieces by Diane Gaudynski, Beth Hartford, and Linda Huff. She says it's difficult to view all of the quilts in one visit, since there are so many quilts to see.

Keywords: Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece; Beth Hartford; Diane Gaudynski; Female quiltmakers; Linda Huff; Pictorial quilts; Quilt shows/exhibitions; Quiltmaking style; Traditional quilts

Subjects: Art quilts; Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.

Partial Transcript: You mention the CD, where we had to read our artists' statements, so there's an audio component in that. Tell me about that experience for you.

Segment Synopsis: Dunn tells about her experience of recording an artist statement for her quilt in the exhibit. She describes recording the statement as humbling and taking several tries to get right. Dunn explains that the process for recording artists' statements for the exhibit involved calling Ami Simms' answering machine and leaving a message. Because Simms was not able to edit the recordings, Dunn had to call back several times until she got the recording right. Dunn discusses the impact of having an audio component to the exhibit, and how hearing the artists' statements is powerful and has more of an impact than reading them.

Keywords: Alzheimer's: Forgetting Piece by Piece; Ami Simms; Artists' statements; Computers; Digital archiving; Quilt shows/exhibitions

Subjects: Quilts--United States--Exhibitions.

Partial Transcript: What are your plans for this quilt when you get it back?

Segment Synopsis: Dunn describes her plans for the quilt after it is returned from the exhibit. It was previously hanging in her living room, and she plans to put it there again. Dunn may consider entering it into other exhibits if it is accepted in the future. She doesn't plan to sell the quilt because it is so personal.

Keywords: Quilt purpose - Art or personal expression; Quilt purpose - Exhibition

Subjects: Art quilts

Partial Transcript: Tell me about your interest in quiltmaking.

Segment Synopsis: Dunn describes her introduction to sewing and the transition to quiltmaking. She discusses important moments from her life, including learning how to sew garments from her mother in high school, starting to quilt in the 1970s, and returning to art school at age 32. She also attended a quiltmaking workshop taught by Laura Cater-Woods that was highly influential.

Keywords: Art quiltmaking; Children; Computers; Gender roles; Grandmothers; Home economics; Kaleidoscope quilts; Laura Cater-Woods; Mothers

Subjects: Craft and art; Quilting arts workshop; Quiltmakers--United States

Partial Transcript: Do you belong to any art or quilt groups?

Segment Synopsis: Dunn talks about her involvement with the Lowell Fiber Studio in Lowell, MA. The group was formed by students who attended a class taught by Laura Cater-Woods. She works in the Lowell Fiber Studio several times a week and also does finer work in her home studio. Dunn is also a member of the Quilters' Connection guild, the Surface Design Association, and the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA).

Keywords: Home studio; Lowell Fiber Studio; Lowell, MA; Quilt guilds; Quilters' Connection; Studio Art Quilting Association (SAQA); Surface Design Association (SDA); Work or studio space

Subjects: Quilters' Connection (Group)

Partial Transcript: How many hours a week do you quilt?

Segment Synopsis: Dunn explains that she is less interested in quilting and stitching at this point in her career. She is motivated to make fiber art pieces that will be displayed, rather than being used as functional quilts. She discusses incorporating salvaged fabrics into her pieces and specific techniques, including collaging and dyeing. Dunn says she spends about five hours per day on her fiber arts work, and she makes distinctions between creative work and finishing work. Dunn and Musgrave also discuss poetry by Marge Piercy and the creative process.

Keywords: Collages; Fabric dyeing; Fabric stash; Fiber - Linen; Gender roles; Marge Piercy; Rhode Island School of Design (RISD); Techniques

Subjects: Mixed media textiles

Partial Transcript: Describe your studio.

Segment Synopsis: Dunn describes the small home studio in her condominium. She mentions that it has wet and dry areas, a library, and a sitting area. Dunn says that she has "wedged in as much as you can wedge in. You actually have to go in sideways to get through the door." She discusses the equipment in her studio, including an industrial sewing machine from the 1930s, a home sewing machine, her iron and a six-foot cutting table. She has several bookcases on the walls to store supplies. Dunn mentions trying to find balance between visual stimulation and quiet focus in her studio.

Keywords: Fabric stash; Home sewing machine; Home studio; Work or studio space

Subjects: Quiltmakers--United States

Partial Transcript: Do you work on more than one thing at one time?

Segment Synopsis: Dunn describes her process of working on more than one project at a time. She says that it is often difficult to finish pieces when they are in the final stages of completion. Her process takes time to figure out how smaller pieces might fit into a larger work. Dunn also still makes products including purses and notebooks that she sells to support her artwork. Part of Dunn's time is spent managing her business. She also explains that working as an artist can be lonely at times, so socializing is an important part of her creative life.

Keywords: Friendships through quilting; Professional artists; Small business; Time management; Unfinished objects (UFO); Work and life balance

Partial Transcript: What's the typical size of your work?

Segment Synopsis: Dunn tells about how her previous fiber arts pieces were very small. She explains that is a result of working in a small home studio. Now that she has more space to work in the Lowell Fiber Studio, Dunn is able to make pieces on a larger scale. However, Dunn says that working on a larger scale is challenging. Larger pieces require more finishing work, additional equipment, and different techniques.

Keywords: Gee's Bend quilts; Home studio; Lowell Fiber Studio; Quiltmaking process; Studio quilt artists; Techniques; Work or studio space

Subjects: Quiltmakers--United States

Partial Transcript: So actually at school I had a class where they were trying to teach us -- it was a sculpture class, an introductory sculpture class -- and she tried to teach us about making a little model, and then a medium model, and then a half-sized model, and then the big thing.

Segment Synopsis: Dunn discusses her thoughts about progressing as an artist and in everyday life. She has noticed changes in her work over time and heard feedback from others about her progress. Dunn explains that working as an artist requires constant progress, since there is no final goal to achieve in her creative work.

Keywords: Art quiltmaking; Professional artists; Quiltmaking process

Subjects: Quiltmakers--United States

Partial Transcript: Whose works are you drawn to and why?

Segment Synopsis: Dunn says that she always has a difficult time answering which specific artists she enjoys. She describes artistic specialties and design elements that she loves including fashion, costume design, textiles, and clothing from different cultures. She also discusses being inspired by painting and sculpture. Dunn mentions visiting Storm King Art Center in New York to view contemporary sculptures.

Keywords: Costumes; Fashion; Painting; Quiltmaking inspiration; Rhode Island School of Design (RISD); Sculptures; Storm King Art Center

Partial Transcript: Well believe it or not, we have talked for forty-five minutes... and I always give people the opportunity to say anything else that they would like to add.

Segment Synopsis: Musgrave thanks Dunn and concludes the interview.