Artist Statement

My current body of work depicts the ancient prairie once inhabited by native plants, animals and fauna, and the farms that dominate the modern horizon.

I use natural materials and processes to demonstrate the progression of the native prairie from its ancient origins to the present through color, texture and form.  When working with natural dyes, Ocher's, Earth pigments, and rust on cloth I'm able to explore the tension between the natural and the unnatural (man made).

Biography

Kimberly Baxter Packwood is a multi-media artist who has shown her work in museums and galleries in the US and abroad. She is the Art Instructor for The Prairie Fibers Company, LLC. and has been teaching nationally and internationally (online) for 6 years. Her art quilts are featured in America from the Heart: Quilters Remember September 11, by Karey Bresenhan, Material Images: Contemporary Midwestern Quilts, and various fiber and art magazines.

Education

Masters Interdisciplinary Studies: Natural Dyes of the Central Plains

Department of Integrated Graduate Studies

Iowa State University

BA Art and Design: Surface Design emphasis

College of Design, Iowa State University, August 1999

Solo Exhibitions

2003    Prairie Remnant, a Dyers Paradise.  Gallery 181, Design Center, Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

2002    Prairie Remnant.  Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, IA.

Group Exhibitions

2008   Focus Grant Reunion Exhibit.  Memorial Union, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

2003    Focus 2003.  Memorial Union. Iowa State University. Ames, IA

Up Close and Far Away. Surface Design Association.  Kansas City Art Institute, KS

2002    Runs With Scissors 2.   Fiber Artists of Greater Des Moines.  Polk County Heritage Gallery.  Des Moines, IA

Invitational's

2008   Not Your Granny’s Quilt Show.  Rowland Gallery in Maves Art Center at Greenville College,  Greenville, IL

2007    Quilts: Fiber for Thought.  The Plains Art Museum.  Fargo, ND

2003    Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  Sloss Women’s Center.  Iowa State  University, Ames IA

Focus 2003 Grant Exhibition.  Memorial Union, Iowa State University. Ames, IA

2002    Heritage Gallery Invitational. Polk County Heritage Gallery. Des Moines, IA

2000    Focus 2000 Grant Exhibition.  Iowa State University. Memorial Union. Ames, IA

Juried Exhibitions

2010    42nd Annual Clay, Paper, Fiber, Wood, Metal, Glass.  (National). Octagon Center for the  Arts. Ames, IA

2009   Iowa Crafts 39. MacNider Art Museum. Mason City, IA

2008    Community of Artists 2008 Exhibit.  (Statewide) Octagon Center for the Arts. Ames, IA

2008    Focus Grant Reunion Exhibit.  (Iowa State Memorial Union and Focus Committee), Ames, IA.

2005     Clay, Paper, Fiber, Wood, Metal, Glass.  (National). Octagon Center for the Arts. Ames, IA

2004     I Remember Mama.  (International).  International Quilt Festival, Houston, TX.

Quilts for Change.  (International).  Cintas Center Xavier University.  Cincinnati,   Ohio    

2003    The Next Wave.  Hands On.  The 12^th International Surface Design Conference. Opie Gallery.  Kansas City Art Institute.  Kansas City, MO.

A Portrait of My Mother... Things Left Unsaid. (National). Center for Contemporary Art-Sacramento.  Sacramento CA

Fiber Celebrated 2003.  (International).  Yavapai Art Gallery.  Yavapai College.  Prescott, AZ.

Northern Lights.  (Regional). White Bear Center for the Arts.  White Bear, MN.

New Design/New Dynamics: Quilt Concepts for the 21^st Century.  (National)  Rotunda Gallery, University of Nebraska at Lincoln, NE.

2002    Fiber Arts 2002.  (International).  Gallery 510 Arts Guild, LTD.  Decatur, IL

Material Witness.  (National).  University Art Gallery.  Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI

Art Quilts: Encrustations.  (International).  Page-Walker Arts & History  Center. Cary, NC.

Material Images: Contemporary Midwestern Quilts. (Regional). Illinois State Museum.  Southern Illinois Art Gallery.  Whittington, IL

2001    America: From the Heart.   (International). International Quilt Festival and Market. Houston, TX

Fine Line/Fine Surface.  (National). Fine Line Creative Arts Center.  St. Charles, IL

Material Images.  (Regional). Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences.   Peoria, IL

Iowa Exhibited Sixteen.  (Regional). Polk County Heritage Gallery. Des Moines, IA

Sacred Threads 2001.  (International). Reynoldsburg High School Field House. Reynoldsburg, OH

Clay, Paper, Fiber, Wood, Metal, Glass.  (National). Octagon Center for the Arts. Ames, IA

2000    Iowa Crafts 33.   (Regional).  Charles H. MacNider Museum. Mason City, IA

Community of Artists 2000 Exhibition.  (Regional). Octagon Center for the Arts. Ames, IA

Iowa College Salon XXII.   (Regional).  Brunnier Art Museum. Ames, IA

Clay, Paper, Fiber, Wood, Metal, Glass.  (National). Octagon Center for the Arts. Ames, IA

1999    Iowa Crafts 32.  (Regional).  Charles H. MacNider Museum. Mason City, IA

On-line Exhibitions

2008    E Pluribus Unum II: Cultures in Cloth.  Ann Flaherty http://culturalcloth.wordpress.com/

2003    Soul Hole Challenge http://www.quiltart.com/challenges/soulhole

Publications

2005   Baxter Packwood, Kimberly (2004) Mark Making with Nature: Surface Design with Natural Dyes DVD

2005    Baxter Packwood, Kimberly (2003) Compost Dyeing and Other Fermentation Dyeing Techniques (Self Published)

2005    Baxter Packwood, Kimberly (2003) Rust and Clay Dyeing (Self Published)

2002    Bresenhan, Karey. (2002). America from the Heart: Quilters Remember September 11, 2001.  C&T Publishing.  Lafayette, CA, USA.  125.

2001    Material Images: Contemporary Midwestern Quilts. (2001). Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences, Peoria, IL, USA. Pp.20,

2000    Sketch.   Iowa State University, Ames, IA., USA.  Sins of the Father (detail), Vol. (64).2.  Pp. 45 & 80

Proceedings

       Baxter Packwood, Kimberly. (2002) Colour Congress 2002, The Art, History, and Use of   Natural Dyes.  Ames, IA, USA.  p.18

Interviews

2002    The Tribune. Ames, IA.  Fiber Art Design. pp D1-6. Jan 2002.

           Iowa State Daily.  Ames, IA.  Natural Dyes.  Apr 2002.

           The Ottumwa Carrier. Ottumwa, IA.  pp12, Entertainment and TV section. Oct 4th, 2002

Grants

2003    Professional Advancement Grant.  Funded by the Graduate Student Senate, Vice Provost For Research and Advanced Studies. Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

FSFC Grant.  Funded through the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

2002    Focus Grant.  Funded through GSB. Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

2000    Focus Grant. Funded through GSB. Iowa State University, Ames, IA.

Awards

2009  Iowa Crafts: 39.   MacNider Art Museum.  Mason City, Iowa. (Juror's Special Mention)

2005   Nominated teacher of the year by The Professional Quilter

2005   Clay, Paper, Fiber, Wood, Metal, Glass.  (National). Octagon Center for the

           Arts. Ames, IA (Honorable Mention)

2001   Iowa Exhibited Sixteen, juror (Terrance Pitts) Heritage Gallery, Des Moines, IA,   Honorable mention.

Teaching/Lecture Engagements

2009   Fisher Arts Center, Marshalltown, IA

2006    Peters Valley Arts and Crafts (August)

2006    Iowa Wool and Sheep Festival

2003     Weavers Guild of Greater Cincinnati.  Workshops and lecture.  Cincinnati, OH.

2002    Colour Congress 2002.  The Art, History, and Use of Natural Dyes.

Surface Design Workshops.  Iowa State University.  Ames, IA

Ottumwa Arts Council.  Indian Hills Community College.  Lecture.  Ottumwa, IA.

Contact kbaxterpackwood@hotmail.com