Feel the Magic of “Quilted Alchemy” in Saratoga Springs Susan Rivers/Greentree Fiber Arts

by Carol St.Sauveur Ferris - photos by Stephanie Sittnick

These days capturing special moments in life is as easy as grabbing your cell phone and snapping a photo on the spot. Then the image is shared with family and friends on social media platforms and saved in the Cloud where it may or may not be seen again, all but forgotten. For fiber artist Susan Rivers, capturing special moments often begins with a cell phone image as well but rather than storing it away, it is creatively re-imagined with layers of fabric to be remembered and cherished forever.

A lifelong New Yorker, Rivers was born and raised in the Bronx and had the privilege of growing up with active grandparents in her life whose influence is still felt years later in significant ways. One grandfather worked in the garment district of New York and the other was a pharmacist. Though their occupations were as different as night and day, a young Rivers was fascinated by both, observing and absorbing their unique characteristics over the years, which she now draws from in her own work!

Between then and now, Rivers attended grade school and high school at PS109 and Bronx High School of Science respectively. College followed at both SUNY Binghamton and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute earning her an undergraduate degree in political science and a Masters in environmental and urban planning. Her impressive career has included stints in the non-profit sector, municipal and state govern ment, private planning firms, and more recently at FEMA in Hazard Mitigation. Rivers credits her pharmacist grandfather for her fas cination with science and the methodical step-by-step process his business required that she used as an urban planner, and now years later, in her fiber art.

While the world of technology was central to her career, Rivers’ love of fabric never waned. It was like that cozy blanket we wrap ourselves in that is comforting and fun, and it was a welcome outlet for her creative right brain. She owes that love to her other grandfather who worked in the garment district, Henry Leo Grunbaum. His world was a feast for the eyes and wonderful to touch and feel. As a young girl, she was captivated by all the textures, colors, and patterns and would snatch all the scraps he brought home to make clothes for her dolls. Eventually. Rivers got a sewing machine and began to piece those scraps into quilts as well.

Now years later, these two very different inter ests and ways of thinking have magically intersected and became the foundation for her exciting second chapter as a fiber artist. Greentree Fiber Arts is the result of this unlikely pairing and was launched in 2010. Her venture owes its name to her Poppy, Harry Grunbaum, whose last name means “Greentree” in German and is a fit ting nod to the history of her love for fabrics, fibers, and family. And “quilted alchemy” is how she describes her process of creating such beautiful artwork.

“Quilted Alchemy is a multifaceted approach to the legacy and innovation of quilting. An en chanting mixture of folk art, technology, and personal experience.”

As you might imagine, her artistic medium is primarily fabric as is her canvas. Instead of brushes and palette knives as her main tools, Rivers uses some conventional and unconventional items including her computer, sewing machine, needles, and thread. Her compositions are more often than not rooted in memories and tell a story about the recipient of the piece or their loved one.

When she begins a custom project, Rivers clar ifies the who, what, and where details and then reviews the images that either she or her client has selected for consideration. She also assembles fabrics, threads, and trims that will best convey the memories or tributes to be preserved. As with other artists’ mediums, their colors and textures speak to the emotion to be imbued and conveyed in each one-of-akind piece.

On the computer, Rivers edits and scales the images she intends to incorporate into a composition. She might add additional details to enhance them as well. The image(s) are then emailed to an online company like Spoonflower, which does print-on-demand products such as fabrics and wallpaper for independent artists like Rivers.

Prior to printing, she will have also selected one of Spoonflower’s stock fabrics, usually a highquality organic cotton, taking into consideration the texture and durability needed for the project. Or she may design an exclusive fabric that Spoonflower will print, selecting colors, and adding patterns, if warranted, for a truly oneof-a-kind piece. The final work of art can be framed but most of her extraordinary designs are fabricated into quilts and lap blankets, sa cred garments like intention garments, and decorative pillows.

As is often the case, today’s life happenings in spire tomorrow’s creativity. When a close friend’s child was diagnosed with cancer and had to spend many lonely days in a sterile hospital room at Sloan Kettering, Rivers decided to make a quilt that would be special and meaningful for him. Ryan was just four years old at the time spending days that turned into weeks without his family, toys, books, and stuffed animals. Rivers lovingly designed and fabricated a cozy quilt for him incorporating pictures of his family, friends, and familiar toys so that he didn’t feel so alone.

“I loved the idea of adding images so that the child can see their family while they’re in the hospital struggling.”

Ryan would wrap himself in it and look at the pictures which brought him tremendous comfort during such an awful time; it gave his parents a little comfort as well knowing that he had something special to cuddle. Sadly, Ryan lost his battle and passed at age 12. But that little boy’s special quilt was the first of many Comfort Quilts that Rivers continues to lovingly create.

In fact, she received a grant that helped sub sidize many more quilts for patients at Sloan Kettering and the Albany Ronald McDonald House.

In addition to Comfort Quilts, Rivers also de signs and crafts one-of-a-kind Memory Quilts. Memory Quilts are designed for those left behind and capture the precious life of a loved one. Once again, with the same gentle heart and respect that is at the core of her being, Rivers studies the images a client will provide along with all the special bits and pieces of their loved one’s life and creates beautiful quilts to be embraced and cuddled for years to come. While designing and crafting each piece, she will often listen to the music and songs that were significant in the life of the de ceased. According to Rivers, the music honors, celebrates, and connects her to the person, which helps inspire her work.

Interestingly, she has also been asked by fellow artists who are now sick or elderly to memorialize their own work in a quilt to be cherished by fami ly after they pass. With these requests, Rivers believes she has been given a gift because she feels as if she is still collaborating with them after they pass. She calls them posthumous partnerships or collaborating with ghosts.

Marilyn Ramsdale, a good friend and fellow artist, made one such request prior to passing in 2011. She asked that Rivers create a special quilt to memorialize her work for her family. Rivers is in the midst of doing that now using many images of Ramsdale’s whimsical block prints and designing the fabric that will connect them. The result will be a unique piece showcasing her artwork but more importantly, it will provide Ramsdale’s family with very special memories.

Rivers also designs and fabricates custom gar ments she calls Intention Wraps which have special meaning as well. When beginning a wrap, she asks the recipient for three words that are significant in their lives. They can be anything such as accept, em brace, and cherish. She then asks for things a person loves like butterflies, flowers, and birds, and she also asks for favorite colors. Rivers gathers that information and more to start her creative alchemy process. Then the magic happens. The result? A beauti ful wrap designed and fabricated with intention.

When asked if she teaches quilting classes, Rivers shares that she offers drop-in demos and classes that are an extension of her Collaborating with Ghosts concept. The concept is reflective of the same process she works through with her custom pie ces. Would-be quilters learn how to create their own fabric memoirs using pictures and the bits and pieces that define their loved one’s life to be incorporated into a treasured quilt or lap blanket.

“Creating with fabric is much more than cut ting up material and sewing it back together. It is a personal expression that can convey a celebration of joy, be a catharsis for dealing with loss, or be meditative with purpose and peace in every stitch.”

Through her work, Rivers hopes to convey the fact that textiles, often under appreciated, are an important and historical medium in the world of art.

“Fiber Art is art.” Indeed it is... and so much more. Visit www.greentreefiberarts.com to see and purchase her pieces and fabrics, or better still, see them in person at: The Cottage of Art & Design, 73 Beekman St., Saratoga Springs, NY.