PETIT: Arti Exhibit - Color Stories

I am a visual artist, but a hobby quilter. I was inspired by the long history of quilt block patterns and the tradition of barn quilt painting. Creating color stories by re-imagining these very old quilt patterns, I hope to bring life and vibrancy to this historic craft and the women who first created them. 

For me, they are also a respite from the trying times we are experiencing in today's world. I often paint them in the evening, sometimes one per night, as a way to calm and focus my mind. The choosing of color and the precision of the pattern help me to organize my thoughts and feelings and let them go through this quiet process. They have become a unique kind of temperature quilt -  one that expresses myself, rather than the external realities around me. A meditation where I let go of the rush of my day as a teacher, and focus on being present to ready myself for tomorrow, and to bring myself a little bit of joy at the end of the evening. 

Andrea Buckvold is one of the Art/STEAM teachers at Dr. Martin Luther King Elementary in Syracuse, NY, but was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Previously, Andrea owned and operated her own studio + lab space in Syracuse. She also taught university level classes at Syracuse University, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Community College of Southern Nevada and University of Wisconsin-Madison, while also working with preschoolers making art. 

She holds a bachelor's degree from Colorado College, a MFA from University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a MS in Art Education from Syracuse University.

Lastly, She makes time to occasionally be a practicing artist. You can visit her work at andreabuckvold.com or on Instagram @andreabuckvold and @studio_ms._buffalo .