07 Jun So What’s a Textile Pillow Artist Anyway?

As some of you have heard, or read about, on Social Media, two of my Textile Art Pillows were accepted into a Fort Collins, Colorado art exhibition at 3 Square Art Gallery, which opens TODAY! An art exhibit designed specifically for interior designers and architects, the “DECO-R: Decorative Arts Exhibtion’s” Opening Reception is tonight, June 7th, from 6 – 9 p.m. and the show runs through July 6th.

As you can see in the image above, The Anastasia, probably THE piece I’m most proud of because it’s very complex and was challenging to create, was accepted and selected for the gallery graphic. I talk about the creation of this artwork further down in this post.

But first I want to share why this exhibit is such a big deal to me. For many reasons:

1. Creating textile pillow art is my passion, what I love to do,
2. I’m celebrating 14 years of having my art studio, Deborah Main Designs,
3. Art exhibitions are juried shows, so you have to apply and get accepted,
4. I only began applying to art shows just 2 years ago in 2016,
5. I’ve done 4 art exhibits at Round Rock Arts (a great gallery to start in!) and their annual show, IMAGINE,
6. I’ve participated in the WEST Austin Studio Tour for 2 years,
7. The exhibition in Colorado is my first time exhibiting outside of Austin area, and lastly,
8. I’ve written a NEW Artist Statement that really answers the question “So how did you get started making pillows?”

Here I am in my very first juried art exhibition at Round Rock Arts in August 2016. The exhibit was “Artists Interpret Red”.

So for me, this Colorado exhibit is a turning point in my career!

For a couple years now I’ve been part of a few incredible private online groups from Art Career Growth to Interior Design Community to attending the BOLD Summit last September. I’ve chosen to #GOBOLD and all of the talented women and men in these groups, and many other dear friends and supporters for the past 14 years,  have helped get me to this point.  They’ve all helped me feel part of a larger supportive community of artists and designers. I finally feel confident enough in my artwork to share more about my story and how I really got started.

You may be surprised by my story, or you may not. It doesn’t really matter. Not because I don’t care what you think, because I do. But what matters most, is it feels safe enough for me now to tell you the truth, to share all of me, not just the “happy-dressed-up-event” me that shows up on Facebook.

You see, the only reason I started making pillows was because I got sick. Very sick. So sick I had to quit my job in 1995 and never work again. Pillows became my only creative outlet and making them helped me get better.

Below is my brand NEW Artist Statement that will be shown with my work for the first time in Colorado at the “DECO-R: Decorative Arts Exhibition” at 3 Square Art. I wanted to share it with you too. It feels good to finally share ALL of me and no longer have to hide the part of me that is not always well.

The creation of The Jett, handcrafted from vintage textiles, 1960’s belt, and hand-beaded necklace.

Deborah Main Artist Statement – 2018

Inspired by European travels and cherished family heirlooms passed down from her mother’s side of the Main family, Deborah has always been rooted in family history, art and beauty. However, she never had the opportunity to practice art until she got sick and was bedridden for 5 years and homebound for 10.

“I believe art heals. Because of the many years of sensory deprivation I experienced while ill, I had this pent up creativity, unbeknownst to me, that finally revealed itself at a fabric store. I selected from the store’s shelves, gorgeous vintage French trim and luxurious textiles full of color and texture, and created a ribbon pillow on their cutting table. I didn’t even feel present when it was happening. That was my artistic epiphany.  It kind of spooked me a little and I stuffed the ribbon in the back of my closet for a few years. Later, I took a pillow making class to learn how to sew and was hooked. I had a burning passion for creating beauty in this world and made more than 50 pillows in my first creative burst!” 

Deborah has been creating textile pillow art for over 14 years, selling to interior designers and luxury fine linen and gift stores across the country. Only in the last two years has she exhibited her work in art galleries and studio tours.  Steeped in history, Deborah’s pillows tell stories through the diverse materials she incorporates into her work.  With a respect for fine craftsmanship of prior generations, Deborah combines, arranges, and layers contrasting textures and colors with rare and collectible materials into one-of-a-kind and limited edition pillows.  The character and quality of the materials Deborah repurposes – vintage cocktail dresses, brooches, French trim, lace, fur, belts, and chain – present endless opportunities for her to create new visual landscapes for the viewer to appreciate the authenticity and history of the materials in a fresh, contemporary way.

Deborah is a strong supporter of the arts and opens her home and studio annually to guest artists for the WEST Austin Studio Tour. She also donates her work to silent auctions for charitable causes and art organizations.

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The creation of The Anastasia, handcrafted from vintage cocktail dresses, antique French embroidery, lace and chains, and vintage mink and brooch.

As I said above, I truly believe art heals.  It keeps me grounded. It helps me slow down so I can continue to take care of myself, because I have to rest a lot. If you’d like to find out more about my chronic health condition please watch the film UnRest which is now available on Netflix.  This award-winning film came to Austin one year ago for SXSW film festival and since I saw the film, and turned 60, I now feel a sense of responsibility to educate the public and, if I can, help someone else that might be struggling with this debilitating disease as I have done for half of my life. I’ve also been part of a small group starting a local Austin chapter of the ME/CFS Action non-profit with the goal of bringing the film to the Dell Medical School with a panel of experts and patients to increase community awareness.

I’m one of the lucky ones, I can function. 75%, or more, of those with my condition cannot. I hope that my new level of confidence will embolden some of you to find a way to be creative like I did. If not for my supportive husband, friends and family, I would not be here to share this with you, and I most certainly would not be a textile pillow artist or a design blogger.

So I am very happy to celebrate with you this Colorado art exhibit “DECO-R: Decorative Arts” opening today!  RSVP on Facebook and please go check it out and tell all your friends and family in Colorado to go see the 20+ artists. I am honored to be part of this exhibition and look forward to many more ways to share my art with you!

So now that you know that part of my real story, please catch me LIVE today 11:00 a.m. CST on Designer Showcase: LIVE with Deborah Main.    Many thanks to Kathleen Bandaruk and Mark McDonough with Tastefully Inspired for having me as a guest on their show. (Update: Here’s link to the LIVE video replay).

Also enjoy the video below that tells you a little bit about all the unique materials that I used in creating the one-of-a-kind textile art pillow, The Anastasia.  This video was made by Yian Quach of House Digital Design at BOLD Summit 2017.

Thank you for listening to my story and I hope you get to see the “DECO-R: Decorative Arts Exhibition” in Fort Collins, Colorado June 7 – July 6th. Till next time, when I share exciting events to attend at Dallas Market and LIGHTOVATION, please take care and thank you for reading my blog.  XO PG