Artist
| Arts & Entertainment |
SPOTLIGHT
JACQUELINE HUGHES Local artists invigorate the community with thoughtful, creative pieces. Each issue, Starved Rock Country Magazine and Starved Rock Country Community Foundation are partnering to highlight artists and their work. 1
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acqueline Hughes grew up surrounded by artists and their designs. Her grandmother was a quilter, her mother a painter and creator of collages. “Over the years I have combined all these techniques,” says Hughes, who makes art quilts and other fiber art projects as the owner of Jacqueline Jo Ann. Hughes went to school for fashion design and marketing. Then, one day about 25 years ago, she experimented with creating a more dimensional
20 | Winter 2021 • Starved Rock Country
applique. “My visions have grown from there,” she says. One example of this dimensional fabric art is “A Walk in the Woods,” shown on the opposite page and the most challenging piece in her career, according to Hughes. “This idea was in my head for a few years before it made it onto paper and finally out of fabrics,” she says. “I struggled with the layers and how to display it.” The completed project was hung in May 2019 at Prairie Arts Center in Princeton. “The response was amazing. It has inspired me to work on
a spring one,” she says. Another piece shown here, “Summer Memories,” depicts a quilted 3D tree with a swing and abundant grasses in the foreground. “This piece has pushed my creative process. It is wonderful to see it come to life.” Hughes often visits Open Space Art Gallery & Studios and 408 Fine Arts Factory, finding it exciting to watch “young and old exploring art of all types.” “Art fills our souls and explores our emotions,” she adds. “It brings S R communities together.” C
