We recently had the chance to connect with Ann Harwell and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Ann, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I get up at 5 AM and immediately go to my studio and start to work. This is the best time of the day to get something done. It does help that the studio is a few feet from the bedroom.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
At age 5 I began my career in textiles when Santa Claus gave me a sewing machine. Starting with clothes for Ken and Barbie, making my own clothes, a job in a fabric store, then alterations in Belk’s; a bridal shop; a men’s clothing store; making handbags with a friend and dressmaking in my home. I made a quilt for my first son in 1977. It was so much fun that I made over 40 quilts for the bed and wall. In 1999 I was juried into a studio at Artspace and began creating fine art with textiles. I moved my studio to my home in 2012.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Three things happened that changed the direction of my life. I did a cold call to Cedar Creek Galley and Sid Oakley offered me a solo show. The first night one of my pieces sold. It was an interpretation of the Hale-Bopp Comet and I sent a thank you note to National Geographic and Astronomy Magazines for their inspirational photography. Astronomy published my work and National Geographic sent a photographer to my home. The same year my Governor’s Mansion quilt won Best-in-Show at the NC State Fair. An NYC art buyer purchased the quilt. So my head began to swell and I was able to call myself an artist.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
While at Artspace, Max Halpern Raleigh N&O art critic said I was using symmetry as a crutch. At the time I was making kaleidoscopic block quilts. So I was determined to never make one of those again and I stuck my toe into the pond of conceptual art.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I have a number of works concerning climate change. There is a Hurricane series, a Dinosaur series and many of the works in my Stories gallery in my website reference climate change.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What pain do you resist facing directly?
Two degenerative diseases I have to fight. Parkinson’s is fairly well controlled and should not prevent me from working. I try not to think about my diagnosis of Macular Degeneration. I know that it can not be cured and could eventually lead to blindness. What will I do when that occurs?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://annharwell.com
- Instagram: annjharwell
- Linkedin: [email protected]
- Twitter: [email protected]
- Facebook: Ann Harwell Art
- Yelp: [email protected]
- Youtube: [email protected]
- Soundcloud: [email protected]
Image Credits
photography by Dick Cicone
