Come see Mary Ruden’s powerful quilts honoring the Centennial anniversary of women’s right to vote.

“Quilts and textiles are an old age way of expressing ideas and giving identity. My quilts express historic events by using old photographs printed onto the fabric. I enhance the fabrics with paint, dyes, small pearls, beads, and use old fabrics from my grandmother’s quilts which are 100 years old.  This mixed media technique allows for appliqué and incorporating elements from different periods in history and of various materials. This makes expressing an idea more vibrant and personal. Colors and textures help the textiles come alive and leave a lasting impression while weaving the past and the present.”

Mary Ruden  taught Art at the college level for over eight years; her artwork and sculpture is in Public Art projects in several states.  She was awarded a  Preservation Award by the Knox Heritage  East  TN  Preservation Alliance. Her bronze statues and recent quilts feature historic people and events such as the Centennial of women’s right to vote. She has an online portfolio with the North American Orchid Conservation Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian and at her website maryruden.com