Kathryn Gorman Lovelady

I am a Canadian First Nations textile and multimedia artist, and teacher. My textile work focuses on art quilts and clothing which primarily reflect Canadian Indigenous stories and spiritual themes. “Turtle Mother” earth is precious to me so I bring natural elements into all my work. I delight in melding traditional quilting techniques with contemporary threads, fibres, dyes from nature, fusible materials, embroidery, and appliqués. Third-dimensional topical embellishment using elements from nature such as wood, bone, seeds, earth crystals, shell, feathers, leather, and fur are utilized to complete the art quilts. Dynamic colours of the medicine wheel permeate my wearable quilt art - red, blue, yellow, green, silver and gold. Additionally, my knitwear has evolved through making sweaters to complex prayer shawls utilizing sacred geometry in the pattern drafting. The shawls often represent bird wings. I continue to explore spinning unique yarn blends using llama, alpaca, rayon, bamboo, silk, and hemp which I utilize in my cocoon wraps and shawls.

The jewellery work is an extension of the topical embellishment adorning my quilts. I use stone, crystal, bone, semiprecious and precious gems, ceramic, shell, wood, leather, feathers, kiln-made dichroic and plain glass and various metals to fabricate custom necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. The use of natural crystals and gems evolved from my learning sacred indigenous healing techniques - I see them as agents of change. Presently my partner and I manufacture hand drums, which we also paint with acrylic scenes and decorate. My current collections include wooden bowls, lathe-turned pens, dichroic glass jewellery, charcuterie / serving platters from reclaimed historic woods, wooden and mixed media statues, pendulums and leather work. As my artistic life evolves I am expanding into leather and cloth purses, handbags, shoulder, and drum bags. I can transfer all my previous training and skills with quilting, jewellery, and topical embellishment into the purses and bags.