Gallery
Exhibit
twisted threads | Wendy Read & Kathryn Roe
September – October 2025
Artist Information
You are invited to view our latest galley show and meet the artists (yes, two!) at a reception in their honor. Friends, Wendy Read and Kathryn Roe, are both fiercely talented fiber artists. Wendy’s works are quilted and stitched layers of magic and Kathryn’s works are felted and stitched pieces of enchantment.
The Opening Reception will be held on September 19 from 5-7 PM. Refreshments will be provided. Twisted Threads will be hanging in the gallery through the end of October. Viewing by appointment outside of open hours. See you there!
Kathryn A. Roe – Fiber Artist
Kathryn Roe’s grandmother and mother believed that “idle hands are the devil’s playground” and taught her to embroider when she was in kindergarten. She was sewing doll clothes as soon as she was tall enough to stand up to her mother’s Singer Featherweight and knitting slippers when she was not much older.
Working with pure wool, silk, and cotton fabric, usually “recycled” from thrift store finds along with wool roving and thread, Ms. Roe uses many of the skills she learned as a small child. Her work encompasses representational work depicting flowers and the rural scenery of Iowa, and non-representational work expressing emotions and dreams. She often creates whimsical work that reveal her sense of humor and imagination. She combines needle-felting, applique, machine “thread sketching”, crochet, and hand embroidery in new ways – ways that set her work apart from traditional fiber arts.
Ms. Roe endeavors to honor her mother and grandmother, and the often anonymous work of women everywhere by using the so-called “womanly arts” to create unique pieces of contemporary artistic work.
Kathryn Roe can be reached at roeka@networkidea.com.
Wendy Read – Fiber Artist
Having grown up with several professional and amateur artists in my family, it was natural that I find a creative outlet. I first explored the artistic potential of the fiber arts over 35 years ago, under the tutelage of quilt teacher Kathryn Watts. While my favorite artist is Georgia O’Keefe, the early art quilts of Nancy Crow and Michael James first introduced me to the possibilities of utilizing textiles in art. Later, the work of my family friend, the late African-American folk art quilter Anna Williams, gave me a new sense of freedom to break the “traditional rules.”
The textile art I create today incorporates many of the sewing techniques I learned as a young girl, expands upon those basics, and integrates exotic and interesting fibers, materials, paints, and dyes into each piece. This multitude of fibers and materials has become my paint and my canvas. The tactile qualities of the fibers that I incorporate into my art are essential to my work. The sense of touch is as important to me in the creative process as the sense of sight.
I am always eager to explore and learn new techniques, and I strive to continuously grow as an artist.
Gallery
Oskaloosa Art Center & Studios
Open during all events and classes, as well as most Fridays.
Please call ahead as we are staffed by volunteers!
Contact Info
Phone: 641.676.4694
Email: faceofmahaska@gmail.com
Location
Oskaloosa, IA 52577
USA