Statement

I'm not a photographer, I'm a painter who uses photography.

My mixed media artworks of hand dyed and embroidered photographic story-quilts are a

way for me to combine my passion for taking photographs but also not letting go of my

love for painting and unique processes.

After creating and exhibiting my unique surfer indigo photo quilts for several years, I

began hand embroidering during the pandemic lockdown. I took up embroidering each

photograph in greater detail and sew each panel together weaving narrative stories with

my photo quilts.

I’m attracted to joyful images of floating petals, green algae, and sparkling blue waters

—and sew them together to create and tell individual stories. Within the long tradition of

women creating story-quilts, I take pride in joining this practice by enhancing my images

with hand-sewing, dyeing, and quilt-making. With each stitch, embellishment and with

every hand dyed fold, my photographs represent my made up hopeful future and

continue a rich history of women art and craft making.

My goal is to capture joy and beauty, often in nature, with one of a kind artworks and

share this with others, to transport us all back to those magical places.

Sonja Schenk

Shilla Shakoori