ARTIST STATEMENT
As an arts educator, I like to explore lots of different media. I particularly love making usable art—and baked goods—that bring people together, make them feel cozy, and bring comfort. Before 2020, I would have primarily labeled myself a ceramic artist. When the pandemic hit and I couldn’t go to the pottery studio, I needed something to occupy my hands and feed my creativity. I taught myself hand-piecing and -quilting, mostly improvisationally, during this time.
In early 2025, I was inspired by current events to create something that vented my feelings into a work of art, kept my hands (and mind) busy, and helped me make sense of the state of the union, bringing together the various slogans and causes I felt so drawn to. Sunbonnet Sue is a traditional quilted character, and I wanted to bring that traditional femininity to the front lines of protest. As headlines continue to veer towards the absurd and we find ourselves more and more politically divided, I continue to explore feminine power in protest through timely responses to the news cycle and using thrifted and upcycled fabrics from my local community.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
I am an arts integration specialist, music teacher, playwright, and mom in Columbia, MO, our safe little blue dot in a sea of mid-America red. My work has been shown at Access Arts, Columbia Art League, the George Caleb Bingham Gallery, and Matthei Botanical Garden.
© Jenn Book Haselswerdt