The Wilson Park Quilts are done! What a dream to have my work in such an iconic Fayetteville space! I started #thequiltsquareproject in 2014 with a wonky 8x8 barn quilt on a since torn down warehouse, and my hope then was to create work that would evoke feelings of warmth and comfort from an audience that may or may not consider themselves patrons of the arts. This project has traveled far and wide- shown at @crystalbridgesmuseum during the American Made exhibit, and at @ozarkfolkways , in a @mottobyhilton and even on the National Mall during the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. I think it resonates so well with people because most of us do have memories of loved ones making quilts, or of being little and tucked into a soft warm quilt. 10 years later, and I’m painting bigger and bigger quilts and loving every minute of it! If you have a perfect space for the next piece of this project, holler!
The last couple of years have been huge for Sleet City, and full of wild projects that deserve more recognition than a space or two on the grid. We’ve been slowly adding to the ‘Special Projects’ tab over on the website, and the blog on the @smithsonianfolklife festival is up! Check it out to learn more about the wild and wonderful month that @sleetcitywoman and @themessypaintress spent in DC last summer! 📸 katwilsonartist #thequiltsquareproject
I’m back in Fayetteville after a much needed vacation to research and recharge before some massive projects that are rapidly approaching. New murals, new partnerships, new products, and a dream coming true: ✨I’ll be opening a studio and supply shop on College Ave this fall✨ It’s all happening in my beloved Fayetteville, and I couldn’t be more excited.
New selfie station just in time for #uofarkansas graduation weekend! Shout to the one and only @sleetcity & @sleetcitywoman for making this happen at the Farmers Table!
I had the chance to celebrate Pi Day (March, 14) by collaborating with mathematicians like Chelsea Saunders from UALR and architect Heather Davis to create a traffic calming crosswalk mural in SoMa, Little Rock. Thank you to SOMA501 and the Infinite Sums initiative for making this possible! This design shows the relationship between the radius, diameter, and circumference of a circle.
The multicolored circumference of the first circle unrolls to match the line along the bottom. the longer segments (white yellow fushia) show the length of the radius. two radiuses equals one diameter. the line is 6 radiuses or 3 diameters long, plus the last little pink bit which is 0.14, making the total circumference 3.14 (π).
It's been a whirlwind of year so far, with some big things ahead. I'm taking commissions for April and May, and taking June to dive deep into production design and creation for @arkansas_folklifefest ! I'll pick back up in July, so holler if you've got a sign or mural idea that you'd like to bring to life.
I've been working on a very special project this week, brick signs and a wild doorway mural for Fayetteville's newest ART SUPPLY STORE @irisarthaus !!! I've worked with the owner Heather Chilson for a long time, she gave me one of my first faux ghost sign projects in downtown Springdale. I am so proud of her for taking this big step to offer a much needed resource to our art community. Please be sure to get in there as soon as you can and support your local art supply shop!
I recently had the honor of curating the new exhibit at Fenix Gallery, 'Companions'. The show opened last night, and it was a dream to see all of the gorgeous work contributed by our local artist community. We had a great turn out with lots of new faces, and I even had @calliopejanecreates style me for the event! Be sure to swipe through to see the pieces in the show, and carve out some time in the next few weeks to see it in person!
I'm feeling nostalgic about my first quilt mural today. Painted in 2016, this baby is now 10 years old and still standing! She's been on album covers, in senior photos, and in magazines. You can find her by @craigcolorusso 's Sound Swings at @uptownfay .
It's always a treat to find my small works in the wild! I painted this over many years, taking big breaks between painting sessions. The painting is on a piece of MDO, and briefly served as a very beautiful tabletop for my seed propagation station when I took a long break from working on it. I finally picked it back up and finished. I think the whole process lasted 6 years. I'm so happy that my dear friend @whiteriverred has given it a sweet home. Fingers crossed that I can spend some time in the studio soon, I do love creating small pieces.
I recently had the honor of painting a new mural as part of the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter rebrand into @everhopearkansas ! The work done there is so important, so it was crucial that my design turn the space into a warm and welcoming experience. Thank you for trusting me, @everhopearkansas and thank you for your support @ozartnwa ! Major thanks to @hopeisjustaword for the excellent paint and documentation skills! What a dream it is to do this work for a living.
