Rising Stars: Meet Diana S. Fox

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Diana S. Fox.

Hi Diana, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a Denver native who has seen my home city morph from what was referred to as a “cow town” into a metropolis. As I reflect, my story has changed as much as the city has over the years, and what a blessing that has been! Always an introvert, I was a young mother, had a lengthy (and unintended) career in local government, and have moved full-time into my life’s passion – making art.

I began quilting in the traditional style in the 80s when calico cotton fabric was prevalent and one of the few quilting materials available. I was attending MOPS (mothers of preschool children) at a local church and some wonderful women invited me to their quilting bee, Thursday Therapy. Forty-some years later we still gather, although we are now fewer in number.

After years of making patchwork quilts, something switched in my brain, and I lost interest in following traditional patterns. There was a wonderful art quilt movement transpiring and I was enamored by the freedom of expression these pieces allowed the maker. I began to take classes, did a lot of mediocre work, did some better work, and finally feel that I have reached a space of confidence based on solid skills. I still make art that I wouldn’t show, which I believe is all part of the process.

I’ve had the good fortune to be featured on Quilting Arts TV on PBS, The Quilt Show, have been published in numerous print publications, mounted several solo shows, and have won numerous prestigious awards. I still have so much to learn and I’m excited when a new concept springs to mind or I have dedicated time in the studio. Recently, I’ve ventured into teaching and lecturing and find it exciting to share information and my “ah-ha” moments. I am very much looking forward to seeing what the next chapter brings.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have certainly had my share of challenges, struggles, and obstacles. One of the initial difficulties I faced was shifting the format from traditional and pattern-based quilts to free-form and conceptual artwork. I paint with threads placed on fabric using a sewing machine– this is what constitutes my brushstrokes and my canvas. The process is very time-consuming, so I feel that I am always up against the clock.

Being largely self-taught, I had to look squarely in the mirror and begin to believe in myself as an artist. It has taken many years to develop an authentic voice and to pay attention to it while simultaneously realizing my ideas. It’s an interesting balance to create work that resonates with potential buyers and collectors while staying true to my artistic integrity. Finally, finding visibility and recognition has proven to be a challenging task, which I believe to be true for artists working in any medium.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My current series, Gifts from the Universe, is inspired by nature and this body of work is characterized by its sculptural quality and lack of negative space. It is a nod to the amazing creations of our landscape and environment. I have observed first-hand that the tactile nature of fiber compels the viewer to examine the stitching, details, hand-made prints, etc., and ask, “How did the artist do that?”

My goal is to create both an internal and external dialogue between the artwork and the viewer and create a space in which to invite curiosity and reflection. I consider myself a “quiet” activist for our planet and I choose to be in a conscious relationship with our ecosystem. The series invites the observer to consider that we are part of nature and not separate from our earth and its wonders.

Some of the features of this body of work include the intricacies of the rings of a tree, an 18” blossom, a colossal sand dollar, and the beauty of a geode. My core materials for making are thread, fabric, and dye and this slow form of art is textural and multi-layered. I am committed to finding ways to employ recycled materials to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Because I have entirely removed the background, each piece casts a unique shadow on the wall behind it, offering a slight dimensional effect.

This format also energizes the space in and around each piece. Every roundish “block” is heavily stitched, and the edges are finished with even more stitching. Finally, the blocks are sewn together into a pleasing design. One of the challenges in this format was figuring out how to hang the piece without the hanging apparatus being evident. This process is a perfect example of letting the artwork take shape and evolve into what it needs to be rather than forcing the process.

An additional component of my creative process is that I dye my fabrics. This allows me to have unique and custom colors, and transforming white cloth into brilliant hues is invigorating and adds a personalized element to my pieces. I am most proud of taking the leap of faith and listening to my voice.

We’re always looking for lessons that can be learned from any situation, including tragic ones like the COVID-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Tears and banana bread. That was all that I was able to produce during the first 4 months of Covid isolation. When I was done with the crying, I began to see the gifts that were available if I could just stop, look, and listen. Also, my life partner, Rick, and I moved in February 2020 just when things were shutting down. We couldn’t meet our new neighbors, and there weren’t many places open to explore and get out.

During this period, one of the events that changed my work significantly was being invited to become a member of a newly formed art quilt group called 4 Common Corners. All 13 members live in the four connected states of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. We bring together divergent viewpoints and artistic styles to create cohesive, thematically linked art exhibitions unique to the 4 Corners region.

One of the quarterly themes was The Wisdom of Trees, which had me at loose ends. We have a large woodpile on our 3-acre property that is used to partially heat our home, so I went and sat amongst the logs. I observed the texture of the bark, the character of the cut ends, holes, and cracks, and investigated the concept, “How are trees wise?”

The resulting answer was that “Tree rings contain all the climate and atmospheric conditions that occurred during different periods in the life of the tree. These rings create a library of information, in essence, a record of heat, cold, availability of water, and other elements. Listen closely as they have many tales to tell.”

To obtain the look that I wanted, I chose to work with recycled materials and raw-edge applique. Next, I began to wonder what the artwork would look like, if, similar to trees in the forest, the trunks barely touched and held their own space. What if I remove the negative space entirely and work on a new technique to connect the tree trunks?” That is how the Gifts from the Universe series began.

Lessons learned from Covid-19:

* be present with the work and oneself
* listen– both internally and externally
* find a community of encouraging artists
* explore new techniques and approaches
* Join a critique group. This is not a criticism group – they are not your people
* nature is a wonderful reset button
* continually ask “what if” and be open to the answer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.contemporaryquilter.com
• Instagram: @dianafoxcontemporaryquilter
• Facebook: @Diana Fox Contemporary Quilter

Image Credits
Melanie Zacek and Richard Garduno