Susan Shie at the Texas Quilt Museum

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” 
― Coco Chanel

     I had the privilege of going to the Texas Quilt Museum in La Grange, Texas this weekend to hear one of my favorite fiber artist speak...Susan Shie. I have admired her work for many years and was fortunate enough to attend her workshop at her home in Wooster, Ohio, fall of 2014.  We, my daughter Andrea and I, stayed with her in her home where classes were held in her studio, Turtle Moon. Susan is very politically active...so much so the she had painted her garage door in homage to Obama even before he became president

Susan Shie's Garage door in Wooster, Ohio

 While we were there we felt as though we were living in a museum because her entire house is filled with her art. So when we heard Susan was going to be at the Texas Quilt Museum this month, Andrea and I knew we wanted to go see her.  She has not changed a bit!  She is as funny and outspoken as ever and it was a real pleasure to see her.  I took several pictures of her work...I don't have all the right titles for everything, but you can see the meaning behind each one.  Note that ALL the background is covered with her writing, either explaining  the quilt, telling a story, or just expressing her opinion. So try to enlarge each if you can.

Susan at the podium

There was a "No Photography" on the sign which Susan readily corrected!

Susan on the floor/me on the bench talking to her while she did sketches on the
pamphlets about the show. You can see the size of her work in the background.

Mandela by Susan Shie at the Texas Quilt Museum

Susan on her home with "Mandala" pinned on her wall in 2014.  We were
fortunate to see this original work before it went out to the public.  Libby
her labradoodle, is on the floor.

The label on the back of Mandela...her labels are as
unique and special as her quilts.

Trust and Tolerance

To understand a lot of the symbolism used by Susan, you can go to the links in my first paragraph.  There is also an explanation about her Tarot Cards from this interview by Debra Gabel.

Obama Taking the Oath of Office (enlarge to see all the script in the background and on the clothing)

Susan's Homage to "First Lady" Michelle Obama

Obama's Garden...all the good that Obama tried to do with Michelle
by his side doing her part.

Hillary by Susan Shie

A Closeup from "Hillary"

On the Immigration Policy

Fearless Girl...the sculpture on Wall Street and at the
bottom is a row of gals with Susan who all
attended the Woman's March in Washington. Susan
had made aprons for all of them to wear with different
slogans on all of them.

Being quite the pro activist all of her life,  Susan told of being at the protest against the Vietnam War at Kent State in 1970 when the National Guard was called in and students were shot.  She was a student there herself and was planning to protest but as soon as the tear gas began, she left as she was pregnant and did not want to do damage to her baby.

After the talk was over, Andrea and I as well as a few other friends and guests of the museum went to dinner.  She had a couple of small quilts that she showed us at that time.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience that was well worth the four hour drive to get there.  We spent the night and returned today (Sunday).