Coming of Age with Jane Dunnewold

It could be said that Jane Dunnewold’s coming of age as an artist, author and teacher coincided with the development of surface design itself.

Like the development of any media or technique, Jane's route has been circuitous and each stage has built on the previous one. She holds a degree in psychology and amongst other undertakings, she also co-owned a restaurant!

Eventually she turned her creative life into a career by becoming chair of the surface design department at the Southwest School of Craft and Art. This grew into a decade-long position in a department that she developed herself! Surface design was virtually unknown at that point.

As Jane says, “When I started teaching in 1990, all of the processes were still very new to people, even though many of them were drawn from century old techniques for patterning cloth. We were in the infancy of the movement. A few artists were established, but most of the interest was in art quilts – and most of those used commercial fabrics. Surface design wasn’t too big a deal yet.” 

Interest began to burgeon, and along with her own teaching, new conference and workshop offerings by QSDS, Empty Spools, Split Rock Arts Program, Art Quilt Tahoe and the Surface Design Association she continued to show artists how they could master basic techniques and incorporate their into their work.   

Fast forward almost 20 years (and two watershed books later), and Jane feels that now we are in a “post-adolescent” phase of surface design.

 “Lots of artists have developed technical skills, so there is a need for mid- to advanced-level workshops, with a focus on meaning, personal vision and voice, and also on how to push the techniques we have mastered.”

Jane is still dedicated to the beginning students, and the pure joy of watching them pull their first fabrics out of the dye bath as well as the mid-level learner who is striving to hone their craft and seek meaning in their art.    

After all these years, Jane continues to seek an authentic voice in her work.  When asked if she is ever overwhelmed by becoming a figurehead for the surface design world, she replies, “I have cultivated the belief that there is enough to go around. I have also established a pace and discipline that allows me to experiment in an effort to keep my work unique and different from others. I try to stay open-minded and before I go to sleep at night I invite the Universe to send me new ideas.” 

A self-confessed silk broad cloth addict, Jane just finished 48 pieces that were all done in versions of gray, white and black.  And what’s next? Color! Stop by Complex Cloth to see Jane’s latest work and be sure to return often so you can see those new pieces that will be, above all else, colorful.

It’s safe to say that Jane Dunnewold has furthered the world of fiber arts and textiles; we are all grateful for her artistic influence, techniques, workshops, and marvelous books that keep us learning. 

Jane Dunnewold's titles include: Complex Cloth (Martingdale Press, 2000) and Art Cloth (Interweave Press, 2010).