Bio

No Turning Back

AS TODAY'S ARTISTS OF THE AMERICAN WEST SO VIVDLY PORTRAY, THE COMMITMENT OF THE WOMEN WHO SETTLED THE WEST KNEW NO FRONTIER

The Western woman is also the precursor of today's heroines who have traded calico and covered wagons for business suits and cell phones.

As resourceful as the women she depicts, Santa Fe artist KC Willis celebrates her "flowers of the prairie" through a fascinating art form she calls "fiber fiction”. Backed by her special "aged" canvas, the focal point of each work consists of photo transfers of Women of the West along with quotes that tell their unique stories. Willis enhances the effect by adding vintage touches such as velvet ribbons, pillow ticking, nosegays, bone buttons, and even old shoe buckles.

In Willis' eyes, all of her women are heroes. Some are famous historical personages such as Annie Oakley and Calamity Jane, but most are unknown women she has selected from her collec tion of old-time photos. She personalizes each piece by adding words appropriate to the character.

"Sometimes I don't even know their names," the artist says, "yet I have the audacity to put words into their mouths. I especially like doing this when the woman is anonymous. She has probably never been quoted in her life, and for the first time she has a voice through my work. One of my favorites is an image of a pioneer mom, just a Western-settler, sod-buster type. The mom reflects, “They look to the men to be heroes, but we were the women who raised the boys who became those men.”

KC WILLIS creates hightly original art featuring fiber collage and cowgirls. She begins with artist's canvas which she enlivens with photograph transfers of women of the Old West, quotations she writes herself which have led her to name what she does "Fiber Fiction," and a delightful mix of vintage treasures, textures and materials. She says of her popular pieces, "I want to do work that brings the American West to the attention of art collectors in a way that has never been done before." This talented artist lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico.