Today I have the great honor of giving the monthly Artist Spotlight to Maddie Ley! (Yes, it’s a new thing I’m doing. Monthly Artist Spotlights!) I met Maddie about a year ago, and I can tell you, she is one astounding talented human! I was there when she got that rigid heddle loom from a mutual friend. I can claim I saw parts of the beginning!

From the Amazing Maddie herself:

I’ve been absorbing and teaching myself fiber art for about a year and a half, and I didn’t start a consistent art practice until after I finished college in 2018 – so I am very new to the title of ‘artist’. I am more familiar with the role of voyeur, earning my B.A. in Art History. The largest influence in my direction toward fiber art has been my employment at Textile Center in Minneapolis, MN. My immersion as a fly on the wall in classrooms, a liaison for the many different guilds affiliated with the center, and an organizer of youth summer camps quickly assimilated me into the world of textiles and fiber. I took home a hand-me-down rigid heddle loom, after I had outgrown the 2” x 3” cardboard looms we were using with youth campers. 

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