The Creativity Project Week #23: Victoria Gertenbach

Victoria Gertenbach is a textile artist living in, working in, and drawing inspiration from her rural surroundings in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Victoria is continuously inspired by the old, weathered barns that she lovingly photographs for posterity and shares on her instagram feed. The colors and textures of the farmland itself also serve as a source of inspiration for her work. In addition, Victoria draws inspiration from old Amish quilts, Japanese boro, Indian kantha stitch work, Korean pojagi, American folk art and outsider art, abstract art, and mid-century modern design. Victoria creates quilts and intricate textile objects that inspire in their beauty and seeming simplicity. She sells her needle punch brooches and small quilts in her Etsy shop. Her “objects of comfort” have been featured on the cover of Quilting Arts Magazine and she has appeared on Quilting Arts TV. Her blog, The Silly Boo Dilly, continues to serve as a source of inspiration for the quilting community by sharing her well-written tutorials and encouraging others to live a thoughtful, creative life. Welcome, Victoria!

How would you describe your quilting style/aesthetic?

Victoria: Eclectic in the sense that I am attracted to so many styles and different aesthetics that seem to be polar opposites… I love worn, patched and heavily stitched as well as clean, streamlined and minimalist. I am drawn to folk art and whimsy, and I also have a real thing for industrial modern. Faded and earthy colors thrill me as well bright and bold ones. Much of it has woven its way in and out of my work over the years. As for my methods, I definitely prefer working in an improvised way, gravitating to off-kilter lines and shapes and intentional imperfections. A connecting theme in my work is Lancaster County, using the rural countryside as inspiration… the off-kilter shapes found in the old barns, or the lines of a fresh plowed field… it all tends to work it’s way into what I am creating.

How would you describe the creative environment in your home as a child?

Victoria: I was lucky, as art and creativity were always given a high priority in our home. Both of my parents chose careers in the field of education, but in their free time they both enjoyed expressing their artistic sides, with my mother painting and sewing, (clothes not quilts), and my father acting in the theatre. Some of my earliest memories revolve around art and I was always encouraged to draw, paint, stitch or explore anything that was of creative interest to me. I think it was always just a given that I would pursue the arts throughout my lifetime and that was always presented to me as a noble and worthwhile direction.

What artists and makers do you most admire or have an influence on your work?

Victoria: My list of artists that I admire is long and varied, but if I were to list the ones that have had a most direct influence on my quilt work it would be Gwen Marston and her book Liberated Quiltmaking. I bought it in the late 90’s when it first came out, devouring it with relish as it lit the bulb over my head to the fact that a quilt didn’t have to be all about straight lines and matching points. The Gee’s Bend Quilters for their bold self-expression and fearless use of line, shape and color. Seeing their work in person was like a religious experience for me. I actually wept at some of their works as I found them so beautiful. All the unnamed women and men who have stitched the most beautiful works including old utilitarian quilts, folk art quilts, Indian kantha quilts, Japanese boro, and Korean pojagi. The inspiration that I have received from all of them is huge and I am most grateful.

Do you consider yourself a “quilter”, an artist, or some combination of both?

Victoria: I consider myself an artist. Sometimes I say, “quilt artist” but that’s kind of limiting as I make other things besides quilts, (such as punch needle, weavings, and small objects covered in fabric and hand stitching). Sometimes I say “textile and fiber artist” as that incorporates a wide range of things, yet sometimes that seems too vague. Plus sometimes I paint or do mixed media, so what about then? It would be lovely to just say, “I am an artist”. Period. But people seem to like that declaration defined more, don’t they? On my last batch of business cards, which I recently ordered, I simply put my name at the top, then underneath I put the words “Stitched Works”, and underneath that in tiny type I wrote (and sometimes other things). And that about sums it up… I am an artist of stitched works and sometimes, other things.

How would you define “making with intention”?

Victoria: Hmmm… interesting question. I can see that from a few angles in regards to how I work. First, I often times will see a project, or at least certain parts of said project, in my mind’s eye before beginning… so I start with an intention to head towards what I envisioned. (Important to note though, I am always willing to stay open to detours that present themselves along the way once I begin to create.) Second, (and this connects with that willingness to stay open) when I work, I intentionally keep an on-going dialogue between the work and myself. I try and respond continually throughout the process and listen to what the piece has to say, because admittedly, I feel that I am often just the conduit that the work has chosen to travel through. Third, I sometimes purposely incorporate imperfection, (which is much different then imperfections being present due to sloppy work). Fourth, sometimes I have an imaginary backstory about the piece I am developing going on in my head… sort of the type of backstory an actor might tell themselves to help them get into character. For example, I might make a quilt based on a story that I tell myself about a farmwife who lived during the depression, and she only had the worn out pieces of her family’s old clothes to sew with. And how that quilt had to be patched and mended over the years from all the use… It’s that kind of story that I will conjure up that then points me towards the direction I want to take in sewing that quilt. So, when I create that way, I am working very intentionally. And lastly, would be the intention to putting good wishes and vibes, along with good craftsmanship, into what I am making. So hopefully, when it is sent out into the world, it will carry that positivity.

Do you think that having a craft makes us more compassionate? If so, then how?

Victoria: I don’t honesty know if having a craft makes us more compassionate, but certainly our compassion can be expressed through our craft and by our desire to help and support others, whether that means creating quilts for charity or sharing our knowledge of the craft with others. However, I do feel that having a craft gives us a wonderful opportunity to be more connected to others. (And that connection often leads to compassion.) I definitely feel a strong connection to the quilters who came before me. And I am grateful for the knowledge that they have passed onto us through their legacy of quilts, which we can study and learn so much from. I feel connected to the amazing community of present day quilters that I have gotten to know over the years, many of whom I still have yet to meet face to face, yet I consider them friends. What a mind blowing thing the internet has been for allowing so many of us, from all corners of the world, to connect, share, learn and support one another in our craft.

How does creating feed your soul/spiritual purpose?

Victoria: I have a very “dog sees squirrel” mind, meaning I am easily distracted and often find myself going down many rabbit holes, which can be exhausting and obviously not very productive. However, the act of creating allows me to internally calm down, focus, and become more present. I can actually feel my heart swell with joy during these times…not just happiness, but joyful bliss, which I think one feels when they are connected to spirit and doing the work that feeds their soul.

Are there any rituals that you perform to prepare/ground yourself in your work?

Victoria: No, not really, other then I love to start off with a clean space before each new project, but in truth that doesn’t always happen these days, as creative time is more limited for me then it use to be, and I’d rather be creating then cleaning.

What is the support system you have in place for creating your work?

Victoria: My family has always been supportive of my creative work and I have always been able to have some section of our home that was set up just as my studio space. When my husband and I were raising our two girls, it was a section of our bedroom that I took over. After my oldest graduated from college and moved out of the house I converted her bedroom into my studio space. My youngest is also now on her own, so it is just my husband and I and he, as always, is most supportive of honoring my creative time and space. He also never complains when some of my projects spill out into other areas of the house, which I really appreciate as I am not so tolerant of other’s messes.

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?

Victoria: Comparison… sigh…I do marvel at how prolific and pulled together some folks are… the ones that produce one top-notch piece after another, post daily beautiful photos of their gorgeous work and/or spotless homes on social media, still blog regularly… and do this while raising families and sometimes working a day job to boot. I admit, I do sometimes compare myself with them, (it’s hard not to) and truly wonder are they super human, or am I just really defective in some areas? In truth, I tend to side with the notion that I’m a bit defective. And I guess in years past I tried to use that as motivation to excel more, but it just backfires. I have come to mostly accept that I work at a slower pace, will never have a spotless home, (maybe a room on a very good day) and if I manage to do a blog post once a month I feel like I am on top of things. As for envy… well, I try not to be an envious person, as it seems destructive. And admiration… I’ve always admired well-executed craftsmanship as well as exploration of new ideas or fresh spins on old ideas, which are all things that I strive for.

What was the most challenging thing you ever made?

Victoria: I’d have to say working on some of my recent “Objects of Curiosity” pieces, where I take an ordinary object, such as a bottle or a stone, and partially cover it in a piece of fabric and some embroidery. The purpose is to slow down and look at the ordinary in a new way. The actual stitching of the cloth around the object takes some practice and patience, however when it works it’s pretty cool. (And it doesn’t always work. I’ve tried several times to wrap an old number 8 cue ball and have failed every time.)

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”)?

Victoria: I find it empowering and a privilege to play a role in carry on this tradition of, (mostly) women’s work. We are so fortunate today that we as women have the ability to work and express ourselves in such a vast array of outlets, unlike many that came before us. Sometimes, the only way that women in the past had the opportunity to express themselves in a way that was approved by society, was through the act of quiltmaking… whether that was simply a chance to express their individual creativity while keeping the family warm, (and thus give quiet voice to their inner selves) or, a way to express their observations and emotions about the world around them, including their views on life and politics, etc. By carrying on this tradition, we honor their voices and add our own to theirs. What a humbling thing that is, and something that we must not take for granted, as unfortunately, we still live in a country and a world, that does not always equally value the female voice, and that there are still some who would like to strip us of certain rights and freedoms that we have gained. (And of course, women are not alone in this fight for equality.) Quiltmaking isn’t just about making something pretty… it never was.

How do you see your current work in the context of quilting history?

Victoria: Well, as suggested above, sort of like a continuing thread of what came before and hopefully of what will come next. I think of all the old quilts I have seen either in person, or in books, or on the internet that made me just stop in my tracks. And I think of how a bit of this one and a bit of that one influenced the way that I approached making a quilt, or moved me as a pure work of art by the beauty of its composition. It would be nice to think that in the generations to come, something that I have made along the way will remain and influence or inspire. Or simply move someone so they feel that same flutter in their heart that I feel so often looking at the works that were created before me. That’s a nice thought, indeed.

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Thank you, Victoria!  Your words and work are so inspiring! To learn more about Victoria, visit her website,  or connect with her on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook and Flickr. In addition, you can purchase items from her Etsy store.  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! SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave