• Often

    "Often" is made from a blue towel my mother had from the 60s, white silk from Memphis College of Art given to me by a friend that was dyed with Osage Orange shavings, upholstery material from my sister-in-law, and various other remnants from previous pieces. It is held open with a hand lathed piece of black walnut. It’s how I think of you…often.
    46” x 23” x 33”  |  2024

  • Proboscis

    "Proboscis" is made from part of a second hand Chinese silk jacket and upholstery material my sister-in-law gave me, a green towel my folks have had since the 60s, and the remnants from previous pieces made, black out lining, and the inside is dusted and fixed with curry powder.
    26" x 18" x 14"  |  2024

  • Fritillary

    "Fritillary" is constructed from a red bath towel my folks have had since the 60s, Chinese silk placemat, dresses, tablecloth from our 1980s restaurant, "Chopsticks," and other house linens, and black out lining.
    47"x 21"x 24"  |  2024

  • Peek

    "Peek" is made from Chinese pink silk material my mother recently found in the back of her closet, the origin of which she cannot recall. The striped border is made with a tablecloth from our 1980s restaurant, "Chopsticks," along with other house linens. Some of the linens were stained with black walnuts from our backyard. The three sticks of black walnut balance one on top of the other and prop up the quilt allowing the viewer to get a glance at what is typically hidden underneath.
    62” x 27” x 20”  |  2023

  • Oh

    "Oh" is made from the inside out sleeve and back panel of a second hand Chinese silk jacket and upholstery material that my sister-in-law gave me, and black out lining. It is held open with a hand lathed piece of black walnut.
    24”x 24” x 16”  |  2023

  • Ahh

    "Ahh" is made from the inside out front panel of a second hand Chinese silk jacket and upholstery fabric that my sister-in-law gave me, and black out lining. The striped border is made with a tablecloth from our 1980s restaurant, "Chopsticks," along with other house linens. Some of the linens were stained with black walnuts from our backyard. It is held open with a hand lathed piece of black walnut.
    20” x 20” 10”  |  2023

  • Visceral Peak

    "Visceral Peak" is made from Chinese pink silk material my mother recently found in the back of her closet the origin of which she cannot recall. The striped border is made with a tablecloth from our 1980s restaurant, "Chopsticks," along with other house linens. Some of the linens were stained with black walnuts from our backyard. It is free motion quilted over the preexisting pattern. The quilt is then turned over and each section is cut open, trapunto style stuffed, and hand stitched closed. It is about what is coming undone or not done at all.
    42”x 27”x 4"  |  2023

  • Ah

    "Ah" is made from the inside out sleeve of a second hand Chinese silk jacket and upholstery fabric that my sister-in-law gave me; and black out lining. The piece is held open by a stick of purple heart. The scrap of purple heart, though lathed just now, was a 1994 gift from a college mentor.
    13” x 18” x 13”  |  2023

  • Salmon Skin Fried

    The “skin” is hand and machine pieced together with our worn out shirts, black velvet pants, upholstery material, and other scraps. The silvery “scales” are from a sari my sister-in-law gave me. The sari pattern is delicately quilted trapunto style. Each diamond piece is then stuffed again from behind for extreme trapunto. The entire thing is quilted for a third time from the other side, or “flesh” side, as I call it. White silk is dyed flesh with avocado pits and skins then sprayed with coffee and paprika. A hand embroidered micro landscape meanders along the stains. It is cinched to give shape and form. The piece hangs from the ceiling with a rod skewered through the top. Salmon Skin Fried is about celebrating the delicious.
    39” x 39” x 8”  |  2021

SHARON HAVELKA Website CV

Memphis, TN | Sculpture, Mixed Media
Bio:

Sharon Havelka was born and currently lives in Memphis, TN. She experiments with the traditional craft of quilting by using clothes, linens, and other found materials given to her by family and friends. The history and experience of the three generations of her family who once immigrated from southern China to the Mississippi Delta are worn in these unique, threadbare fabrics. As also an ICU RN she is inspired by the physiology of the body and brain, permeating her art as shape, form, and function. She received her BFA from Memphis College of Art. Her work has been shown in local, national, and international shows such as Delta Arts, Quilt National, and Fiberart International. She received the Arts Accelerator grant, was a Crosstown Arts resident, and had a solo show at Christian Brothers University.

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Statement:

My work highlights the marginalized, the overlooked, that which is considered weird or unusual, and sewn into beautifully crafted and highly detailed objects. I honor the precious material given by family and friends as well as the meticulous process of the handcrafted. In addition to incorporating and reforming memory and history, using leftover materials is a direct response to the disparities in access vs excess in today's world. It also involves learning to work with what I have rather than choose what I want. My intent is to engage the audience with themes of past and present, permanence and temporary, growth and decay, life and death.

The quilts presented here are free motion quilted over the preexisting pattern. They are then turned over and each section is cut open, trapunto style stuffed, and hand stitched closed. The stuffing is also from family and friends - such as old pillows and stuffed animals, and cut up clothes. The hand lathed black walnut used is from local and naturally fallen trees.

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