Kathy Murphy-Childs

Kathy Murphy-Childs (Art) - Growing up in Alaska with a Yupik Eskimo mother and a bush pilot father gave fiber artist Kathy Murphy-Childs daily access to the beautiful and rustic scenery of the state. The deep scarlet red of spawning sockeye salmon, the rich moss greens of the tundra on a rainy day and the rough and cracked gray-brown of an old spruce tree were the inspiration that she has carried through the years. After earning a BA degree in English Kathy did everything from coaching a college debate team, to opening and running an employment agency, to grant writing for a food bank. But in 2010 she found her true passion when she discovered fiber art. Natural fibers would be her canvas for sharing the colors and textures remembered from childhood. Through books, internet and in person courses Kathy explored a number of fiber art techniques and chose traditional silk painting (French Serti technique), Shibori (Japanese resist technique used to create designs and pleats on fabric) and wax batik as main areas of focus. Her wearable art is how she shares her vision of the world. The last few years have given Kathy time to explore new areas of fiber art and she has found a new passion; natural dyes and eco-printing (image transfer of flowers and leaves to fabric). “They have much less impact on the environment than synthetic dyes and require no harmful chemicals.” Since her first juried show in 2011 Kathy has participated in over a hundred art shows, craft festivals, fashion shows and markets and has sold her items through her Etsy shop.

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