Aynex Mercado

“Bearries and Blossoms” highlights two of my favorite things about western North Carolina: the flora and the fauna. The brilliant colors of daffodils, tulips, peonies, rhododendrons, and roses vibrate against the lush green background. I love to stroll around Lake Junaluska, especially the Rose Walk. Countless roses of every hue blaze against the blue sky and reflect in the lake. It’s impossible to be a witness to this beauty and not feel uplifted.

North Carolina is the first place that I have lived where bears also preside. All the residents seem to have stories about a bear stealing their birdfeed, or entering their garage and eating their dog food, or hiking about their property. I haven’t seen one yet, except in friends’ and neighbors’ videos. Someday, maybe, I’ll see one from a safe distance. Until then, they’ll invade my artwork.

Hand-dyed fabric; leaf pounding; hand painting; fused appliqué; quilting. Materials include: cotton fabric; cotton thread; cotton batting; fabric paint.

La Veda Longfellow Myers grew up on a farm in Indiana. She began sewing with her mother at the age of three. Her first quilt was created in 1970. Since then she has received a Master of Fine Art degree from the University of South Florida and has pursued multiple art media, but always returns to textiles. Her art quilts have been shown in many exhibitions around the country, including Houston and Paducah, as well as internationally. She has also curated art-quilt exhibitions in the Tampa Bay area which set new attendance records. She spends her time designing, creating art quilts, painting, making jewelry, beading, crocheting, doing Swedish weaving, hand embroidering, dyeing, surface designing... and rescuing cats.