Becky McNeill 'United, Not Divided'
Drawer 4- "United, Not Divided" Quilted Fabric, 12'x12", May 2019
Artist Statement
McNeill uses her work to craft stories in fabric. These stories can be read as a book, often conveying messages about social justice, climate change, community, wellness, or current events. Her first piece, “United, Not Divided,” represents a reconstructed American flag, stitching together all the pieces of our fragmented nation. It is an ambitious goal for our future, one in which we unite to create beauty out of our differences instead of wallowing in the darkness of fear and hate. Her second piece, “Bleached Coral,” uses a surface technique of applied bleach to draw awareness to the effects of environmental pollution on the coral reefs of our world. Currently 75% of coral reefs are threatened and projections indicate that all reefs will be lost by the end of the century. McNeill highlights the peril of this ecosystem through her work on this piece.
Artist Bio
Becky McNeill is a self-taught, modern quilt artist who currently lives and works in Corning, NY. She learned the art of traditional quilting as a child, but knew, even at an early age, that the rules and repetition in the traditional aesthetic did not speak to her creative spirit. Part of the modern quilt movement, her improvisational designs and vibrant color palettes create bold geometric patterns and abstract, pixelated compositions. Her works often carry aspirational social messages that challenge the viewer to strive for a higher ideal in keeping with the values she holds most dear: nurturing, connecting, and protecting. McNeill’s work has been shown in exhibitions such as MQG QuiltCon, NC Quilt Symposium, 171 Cedar Arts Mosaic Exhibit, and Sacred Threads’ Backyard Escapes and in publications such as Curated Quilts and Fat Quarterly. She is a member of the Modern Quilt Guild, the ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes and the Studio Art Quilt Associates.
Drawer 4- "United, Not Divided" Quilted Fabric, 12'x12", May 2019
Artist Statement
McNeill uses her work to craft stories in fabric. These stories can be read as a book, often conveying messages about social justice, climate change, community, wellness, or current events. Her first piece, “United, Not Divided,” represents a reconstructed American flag, stitching together all the pieces of our fragmented nation. It is an ambitious goal for our future, one in which we unite to create beauty out of our differences instead of wallowing in the darkness of fear and hate. Her second piece, “Bleached Coral,” uses a surface technique of applied bleach to draw awareness to the effects of environmental pollution on the coral reefs of our world. Currently 75% of coral reefs are threatened and projections indicate that all reefs will be lost by the end of the century. McNeill highlights the peril of this ecosystem through her work on this piece.
Artist Bio
Becky McNeill is a self-taught, modern quilt artist who currently lives and works in Corning, NY. She learned the art of traditional quilting as a child, but knew, even at an early age, that the rules and repetition in the traditional aesthetic did not speak to her creative spirit. Part of the modern quilt movement, her improvisational designs and vibrant color palettes create bold geometric patterns and abstract, pixelated compositions. Her works often carry aspirational social messages that challenge the viewer to strive for a higher ideal in keeping with the values she holds most dear: nurturing, connecting, and protecting. McNeill’s work has been shown in exhibitions such as MQG QuiltCon, NC Quilt Symposium, 171 Cedar Arts Mosaic Exhibit, and Sacred Threads’ Backyard Escapes and in publications such as Curated Quilts and Fat Quarterly. She is a member of the Modern Quilt Guild, the ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes and the Studio Art Quilt Associates.
Drawer 4- "United, Not Divided" Quilted Fabric, 12'x12", May 2019
Artist Statement
McNeill uses her work to craft stories in fabric. These stories can be read as a book, often conveying messages about social justice, climate change, community, wellness, or current events. Her first piece, “United, Not Divided,” represents a reconstructed American flag, stitching together all the pieces of our fragmented nation. It is an ambitious goal for our future, one in which we unite to create beauty out of our differences instead of wallowing in the darkness of fear and hate. Her second piece, “Bleached Coral,” uses a surface technique of applied bleach to draw awareness to the effects of environmental pollution on the coral reefs of our world. Currently 75% of coral reefs are threatened and projections indicate that all reefs will be lost by the end of the century. McNeill highlights the peril of this ecosystem through her work on this piece.
Artist Bio
Becky McNeill is a self-taught, modern quilt artist who currently lives and works in Corning, NY. She learned the art of traditional quilting as a child, but knew, even at an early age, that the rules and repetition in the traditional aesthetic did not speak to her creative spirit. Part of the modern quilt movement, her improvisational designs and vibrant color palettes create bold geometric patterns and abstract, pixelated compositions. Her works often carry aspirational social messages that challenge the viewer to strive for a higher ideal in keeping with the values she holds most dear: nurturing, connecting, and protecting. McNeill’s work has been shown in exhibitions such as MQG QuiltCon, NC Quilt Symposium, 171 Cedar Arts Mosaic Exhibit, and Sacred Threads’ Backyard Escapes and in publications such as Curated Quilts and Fat Quarterly. She is a member of the Modern Quilt Guild, the ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes and the Studio Art Quilt Associates.