According to Fairfield fiber member Wendy Read “The Iowa Art Quilters began meeting in 2005 in Grinnell, Iowa, to encourage and support one another in making art quilts, or art made of fabric.
By 2021, many members of our group had expanded their use of fibers to include art that could no longer be categorized as an art quilt, and our name was expanded to include all fiber artists.
The simple definition of “a quilt that you hang on a wall” no longer addresses the complexities of some of the art quilts, or their artistic originality, which is lacking in the beautiful traditional quilts that have kept us warm for many generations. Our members currently include artists that work with felted wool, as well as fiber sculptures.
Our group includes approximately 20 members from around the state, and includes professional artists, as well as amateurs just learning and exploring the many techniques and tools available to make great art.
Our monthly meetings include time to teach, learn, and play with new materials and techniques. The group is open to anyone interested in fiber arts, from beginners to advanced; all are welcome. Our emphasis is to learn from one another with a spirit of helpfulness, as we share techniques and discoveries.
We can be contacted by email: iowaartquilters@gmail.com”