I am a mixed media fiber artist. I choose to express myself through quilts because of its personal connection to my ancestors and Southern roots. I find there are qualities inherent in art made of fabric and thread: the depth of the colors, the layers, and the texture of the stitches, that can’t be duplicated in another medium. I construct collage-like art quilts using fabrics which I pattern with a variety of surface design processes. The surface is layered with machine stitching, hand embroidery, paint, transferred images, found objects and graphite drawings. My graphite figures are drawn on unprimed canvas. It is characteristic of my work to focus on themes from the Antebellum South that address past taboos and controversial issues. Conversations with my mother, grandmother, and aunts have always inspired me to base my artworks on Southern expressions and idioms. I may start with a particular vision based on a southern expression or childhood memory, only to encounter some unexpected epiphany, or the discovery of a unique or rare fabric leading me into a completely new direction. - Beverly Smith