OAKHURST — Creating art is a big part of Vivian Helena Aumond-Capone’s day, but mixed-media fiber art gives her “free rein” to create and surprise the viewer with a surface that is touchable.
On Saturday, July 15, Vivian Helena will conduct a special workshop at the Oakhurst Branch Library from 10:30 a.m. – noon entitled “From the Traditional to the Art Quilt” where attendees can view some of her quilts while learning about different styles of quilting and fabric dyeing.
According to Vivian Helena, quilts are found on every continent and in every culture. They can be given as gifts, decorate a room, commemorate important events and, yes, warm a bed. Art quilting, which is her current interest, uses quilting techniques to create art objects.
“Art quilts have more to do with fine arts than traditional quilting,” says the artist whose creations have won awards, been featured in several books and grace walls at the Timberline and Madera Circle galleries among others.
She enjoys adding beads, buttons and other found objects to her quilts and is also known for her hand dyes which she uses to paint many of the fabrics she uses in her art pieces.
Vivian Helena started her art career painting with oils in the 1970s before progressing to watercolors and photography. She transitioned to traditional quilting a decade later. In the workshop, she will talk about her journey to art quilts which have been described as “quiet and thought provoking or wild and colorful.”
“I am not exacting about the process, but spontaneous, and the surprises that come after the fabric is washed and ironed is inspirational,” says Vivian Helena, who also teaches fabric dyeing and beginning gourd art at her home studio in Coarsegold.
Besides working with fiber and gourds, she also enjoys creating new pieces of jewelry from her collection of beads and found objects. Sometimes, these little surprises are added to her art quilts. When viewing her pieces you can see the texture added from hand stitching and beadings.
The artist also enjoys memberships and/or volunteers with several local organizations including the Coarsegold Historical Society, the P.E.O., Sierra Art Trails, Madera Circle Gallery, Yosemite Western Artist, Timberline Gallery and Sierra Mountain Quilters.
The free presentation is sponsored by the Friends of the Oakhurst Branch Library.
The workshop will be held in the Community Room of the Oakhurst Library located at 49044 Civic Circle. For more information, call (559) 683-4838 or visit: www.oakhurstfobl.com.
