Alexis Deise is an artist working in quilts. Her fresh and modern designs incorporate motifs and techniques from traditional quilts, but place them in a current context. Usually working in series, her projects include: “Black and White”, variations on traditional quilt patterns using a stripped-down palette and alternative configurations; “Quilts for Ruth”, a series of quilts based on the feminist jurisprudence of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; and “Kintsugi”, quilts inspired by the kintsugi aesthetic tradition in Japanese pottery. Alexis’ quilt, Kintsugi VII: Birds in the Air, was a winner at this year’s QuiltCon, and her quilts have been juried into numerous shows and exhibits. Her work has been published in magazines and books including: Curated Quilts; Modern Quilts: Designs for the New Century; and Simply Moderne Magazine. Alexis is an attorney by day and lives with her family outside of Boston, Massachusetts. Welcome, Alexis!
Thank you, Alexis! Your quilts are full of thoughtful inspiration! For more about Alexis, visit her website, or connect with her on Instagram and Twitter. Would you like to be featured in The Creativity Project? Reach out! I’d love to hear from you! Contact me. Want to participate, but not necessarily be featured? You can do that! Click here to take the survey! The Creativity Project can be found on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or Bloglovin’. Or check back here every Friday of 2018!
How would you describe your quilting style/aesthetic?
Alexis: Modern quilts built on a traditional foundation.How would you describe the creative environment in your home as a child?
Alexis: My mother was a painter who started architecture school when I was about three years old. I had a small worktable in the corner of her home studio. While she hand-drafted (it was the early 1980’s, so no Autocad!) and built models, I made things using scraps of model Styrofoam; fancy architect markers and drawing pens; scales and rulers; and tiny stencils of toilets, sinks, and bathtubs.Carpenter Square Variation. Image courtesy of Alexis Deise.
What artists and makers do you most admire or have an influence on your work?
Alexis: My work is derived from quilting tradition, so my biggest influence is the generations of mostly-nameless women who have been making art in the form of quilts for centuries. That said, I am also inspired by the work of contemporary quilters like Tara Faughnan, Season Evans, Carson Converse, Meg Callahan, Sherri Lynn Wood, Nancy Crow, and many others, as well as visual artists such as Sean Scully, El Anatsui, Anni Albers, and Agnes Martin.Do you consider yourself a “quilter”, an artist, or some combination of both?
Alexis: That’s an interesting question. I have no problem being referred to as a quilter, though I would say I consider myself a visual artist whose medium is textiles, specifically quilts.Kintsugi III: Railroad Crossing. Image courtesy of Alexis Deise. This quilt is part of a series based on the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with precious metals. Image courtesy of Alexis Deise.
How would you define “making with intention”?
Alexis: Personally, I always start a quilt by establishing a set of rules and parameters. I usually work in series, so the rules transfer from one project to the next until the series feels “done” (and even then, I often revive it later).U.S. v. Virginia (Wedding Ring). Image courtesy of Alexis Deise.
Do you think that having a craft makes us more compassionate? If so, then how?
Alexis: I don’t think crafters are more compassionate as a group than any other group of humans, but I think craft is a good vehicle to demonstrate compassion and care for others.How does creating feed your soul/spiritual purpose?
Alexis: I don’t really consider myself a spiritual person, but I do struggle to manage anxiety, and quilting/creating helps me a lot with that. In a way, it’s like a mindfulness exercise, because it forces me to focus my thoughts on something positive and concentrate on what’s happening in the present.Second in a series of Irish Chain variations. Image courtesy of Alexis Deise.
Are there any rituals that you perform to prepare/ground yourself in your work?
Alexis: I always start with a tidy studio space. I find it difficult to focus and concentrate in a messy workspace. More importantly, my sewing room is tiny, and my cutting table doubles as our family office desk where my son does his homework, so it’s imperative that I keep everything neat and organized.What is the support system you have in place for creating your work?
Alexis: I work full time and have two school-aged children, so my free time is very limited. Luckily, I have a very supportive spouse and parents that live nearby, so I can usually grab a few hours of studio time on the weekend while my kids are doing something with their dad or grandparents. Otherwise, I sew after my kids are in bed and rely on the work I get done at my guild’s annual three-day retreat.Kintsugi III: Railroad Crossing. Image courtesy of Alexis Deise.
How do you deal with comparison to / envy of others? Can you describe a time when you used comparison/envy/admiration to push yourself in your own work and self-discovery?
Alexis: Quilting is not a job for me, so I try to approach it with only joy. I derive inspiration from others, but I rarely feel jealous or compare my work to others’ in a negative way.What was the most challenging thing you ever made?
Alexis: The hardest thing I have ever made was my recent “American Album Quilt,” which explores domestic gun violence. It was difficult on multiple levels. First, developing the concept and doing the necessary research regarding the human toll of domestic gun violence was sad and overwhelming. Second, the construction of the quilt was a challenge for me because I had never studied or done any hand applique work, let alone worked from an original design for which I had to develop my own templates, so there was a very steep technical learning curve.American Album Quilt, 2018. Image courtesy of Alexis Deise.
What does it mean to you to work in a traditionally domestic medium that historically has been regarded as predominately female (aka “women’s work”)?
Alexis: It’s one of the driving creative forces behind my work, which is why many of my quilts explore topics relevant to feminism and the female experience – like domestic violence, perfectionism/idealism, and feminist jurisprudence. I also try to utilize traditional techniques like hand quilting to emphasize the link between past and present.How do you see your current work in the context of quilting history?
Alexis: I hope that I am continuing the work of the many women before me.Kintsugi VII: Birds In The Air. Image courtesy of Alexis Deise.
Thank you, Alexis! Your quilts are full of thoughtful inspiration! For more about Alexis, visit her website, or connect with her on Instagram and Twitter. Would you like to be featured in The Creativity Project? Reach out! I’d love to hear from you! Contact me. Want to participate, but not necessarily be featured? You can do that! Click here to take the survey! The Creativity Project can be found on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or Bloglovin’. Or check back here every Friday of 2018!
Kudos Alexis!! Your quilts are gorgeous. I remember working full-time and having school-age children. During those years I very rarely sewed unless it was making a costume or clothing for the kids and mending, of course – tedious stuff. I can’t really imagine how you get this all done!!
Agree Bernie! We’re fortunate she is able to find the time to be creative and to share her stunning work with us all.