Today we’d like to introduce you to Janie Stidham.
Janie, before we jump into specific questions about your art, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I studied and earned my bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin in the mid-’80s. During my senior year, I interned at the Austin Ballet making costumes for the ballet company productions. Austin was a such a great place for me, free to be creative and fuel my independence. I wasn’t able to go home as much as other students on weekends because my parents had moved to Philadelphia… so I gained a lot of independence during those years and soaked up all of that great (weird) Austin art and culture! In 1985 I moved to Dallas after graduation where I interned with Victor Costa that first summer. For the next several years I went on to work for several Fashion designers & manufacturers in the DFW area.… Bea Harper, Ginnie Johansen, Hairston-Roberson, Atlantis Underground….. learning So much about the textile and apparel industry. It was at Atlantis Underground during the early ’90s, where I met and worked for Judy Aldridge (still a great friend and supporter) who turned me on to thrifting and upcycling. I don’t know that this was even a thing back then… she was so incredibly original and inspiring as she still is today!
One thing I continually noticed throughout those years was the significant amount of beautiful fabric left on the cutting room floors which would eventually be thrown away. There was also a great amount of yardage wasted with the sampling of fabrics when designing for future seasons. Those issues paired with a concerning amount of discarded garments in the public sector would go on to be a driving force in my teaching and artwork for years to come.
During those same years, I decided to go back to school and work on a graduate degree at Texas Woman’s University so that I would someday be able to teach in my field. For many years I freelanced in fashion design, attended graduate school, and held a part-time restaurant job at City Café on Lovers Lane. It seems like I juggled a million things back then, but it was such a fun and exciting time in my life that I never felt overwhelmed (or maybe I just don’t remember).
Fast forward to 2019………. married for 25 years with two grown daughters in college and I have been a professor in the College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas for almost 25 years as well. I work with young designers by helping them pursue their passions and dreams, and always encouraging them to be mindful with their work by recycling and upcycling. It is a great way to challenge yourself and will always keep your work original, especially important in this era of mass production where goods are so homogenized.
In 2016, while traveling, I had an epiphany while trying to find a piece of original art for my home. I wanted something contemporary with texture and bold color. I was at an art museum in NYC and was inspired by a painting. I came home from that trip and made my first piece, “Fractured Remnants,” out of thrifted garments and textile remnants. It wasn’t in my home very long before a friend ended up purchasing it from me. Three years later … my body of work has grown and I have been exhibiting my work throughout Texas and the Southwest.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Probably my biggest struggle or obstacle is finding the time to work on my art while teaching full-time and raising a family. Getting my work out there and finding the right venues is another area I continue to work on. I have exhibited my work in several galleries and juried exhibitions, but hope to someday soon have a relationship with a gallery to represent my work.
Please tell us more about your art.
I create in the late-night hours, weekends, and summers in my studio in Argyle. My work explores color, pattern, line, and shape through the use of textiles and sometimes enhanced with intuitive stitch. Through the use of reclaimed textiles, I am challenged to explore patterns through the inconsistently saturated & faded colors, worn elements, and distressed materials. The imperfection of reclaimed materials keeps my work unique. I have exhibited my work in Louisiana, Kansas, Santa Fe, Fort Worth, Dallas, Plano, and most recently in Corpus Christi.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Hands down, my most meaningful memory was a trip that I took when I was seven with my mom, dad, brother, and cousins. We drove from Philadelphia to California and then back… seeing as many different states as we could in three weeks. We camped out every single night in a tent and drove a car with no air-conditioning in the middle of the summer! From that day on I have always loved to travel and explore! Although now, I much prefer hotels over tents!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.janiestidham.com
- Email: janiekstidham@gmail.com
- Instagram: jane_time
Image Credit:
Kala Bennett
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
