Local Artist Helps Bring Attention to a Good Cause

by Ellen Breitner Earlier this year, Soroptimist International of Coronado (SIC) went to local artist Kathleen McCabe and asked her if they could use her art piece “Sisters” for the cover of their 17th Legends Luncheon invitation and program. McCabe graciously agreed to let them use the image.

Members were excited over the art, one volunteering, “This is perfect. The image brings to mind SIC’s mission of joining together to help women and girls, and it represents the friendship bonds that are formed with the women in SIC working towards that shared goal.”

Two days after the invitations began arriving in everyone’s mailbox, SIC announced that they were unable to go forward with the luncheon this year due to the pandemic, but they still wanted to further recognize McCabe, a talented artist and supporter, and share her story with others. McCabe was 9 years old, her mother had a discussion with Marjorie De Laurentis, who was lamenting about wanting to teach sewing to her children, but she had six sons. McCabe’s mother didn’t hesitate to volunteer her; she was one of five in the first sewing class and that’s how it all began.

McCabe is from Coronado, one of nine children born to a Naval Officer and his wife. She has spent most of her life here, and her history and feelings about Coronado can be seen in her works on the subject. When During the time McCabe was a young mother, she found she needed a creative outlet and became serious about creating art with fabric. McCabe went on to receive an art degree at San Diego State University, served on the Board of Directors for Quilt Visions, became Regional Representative for Studio Art Quilt Associates (saqa.com), and a founding member of Paradise Textile Artists in San Diego. Her artwork has been exhibited nationally and internationally along with being published in books and magazines, and she has curated and juried at art quilt exhibits.

As her website explains, “Kathleen interprets people, places, natural elements and life situations through images, primarily

representational, rendered in cloth. Her unique fiber work has been described as painting with fabric, drawing with thread, and creating with cloth.”

McCabe categorizes her subject matters, and they include Succulents, Coronado, Portraits, Structures, Floral, Guatemala, and Desert. When asked what inspires her pieces, she said “Often it’s when the sun hits something just right” and she needs to capture the vision. With her portraits, they’re usually inspired by her family, and as she explained “are poignant for that moment in time.” When seen from a distance, you think her works are done in oil paint, and it’s only when you move in close you realize it’s all fabric and thread.

“Sisters,” the cover art SIC selected, was inspired by an image of a cave drawing in France. The shape of one of the women reminded McCabe of one of her sisters, so in 2005 she created an image of herself with her three sisters, using mostly fabrics from Guatemala, along with U.S. sourced denim. Her mother had traveled to Guatemala several times, and inspired by those trips, McCabe traveled there twice, bringing back colorful fabrics that she used in “Sisters” and continues to weave into her artwork, especially the vibrant works she’s done of Guatemala.

“As an artist, it is important to me that the viewer takes a step back to consider what my art means. I have something to say. What the viewer interprets is personal to that individual, but it is most gratifying to me

when my artwork speaks to the viewer, evokes thought, and especially gives them something to contemplate afterward,” said McCabe.

McCabe became familiar with SIC years ago when she was a single mother. She shared her view of SIC by saying “The encouragement and assistance the members of this organization provides opens the door of possibility for so many women who may have no other avenue of hope.”

McCabe’s most recent show, “Shifting Tides” at the Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg, Oregon ended on April 27. Upcoming shows that will include McCabe’s works are “Southern California Contemporary Quilts” at Oceanside Museum of Art, May 9 - Sept. 13, 2020; and City of Coronado “Celebrate Local Artist Series” banners on Orange Avenue 2020. Gallery openings will depend on the current status of the pandemic.

For more information on McCabe, go to kathleenmccabecoronado.com. She is also featured on the Coronado Arts Commission’s website, coronadoarts.com.

SIC is grateful to her for allowing the use of her art to celebrate their annual fund raiser. SIC’s re-imagined fundraising venue - that you can enjoy right in the comfort of your home – will be an online, virtual fundraising event. Please look for more details in the near future, coronadosoroptimist.org.

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