Shelly Hedges

Shelly Hedges is a mixed-media fiber artist. Her initial interest in quilting arose from the tradition of saving fabric scraps and then turning them into beautifully composed quilts, but her work later blossomed out of an ever-expanding list of materials such as candy wrappers, wine foils, cocktail umbrellas, used stamps, sugar packets, bottle caps, produce twist-ties, clothing labels, metal spice-tins, and fruit stickers.

Since receiving her certificate in ceramics from the Oregon College of Art and Craft, Shelly has had solo shows at Shoalwater Cove Gallery in Ilwaco and at the Kent Arts Commission Gallery, among others. She has also been featured in a number of group shows around the country at venues such as the Florida State University of Fine Arts, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Oregon College of Art and Craft, Arts West, Fuller Craft Museum, Side Door Studio, Arts Council of Snohomish Gallery, Meadows Gallery, and Nicolet College Gallery.

As part of her Fellowship’s Meet the Artist requirements, Shelly gave a slide presentation of her mixed-media textile pieces to the Long Beach Peninsula Quilters Guild. She explained the influence of African American quilts and early American folk art on her work, as well as social politics. Quilting and construction techniques were discussed, as well as her use of found materials such as candy wrappers, used fireworks, wine foils, old letters, and stamps. The lecture was followed by a brief quilting demonstration and workshop using found materials. Attendees created their own yardage, and the group discussed possible uses for the pieces and what sort of impact or double meaning the found materials might bring to each object they created.