Altoona Virtual Lecture Series: Pictorialism

This virtual lecture series is designed to present the artworks of the contemporary artists while highlighting the importance of the two galleries of permanent collection pieces. These scholarly conversations will explore the medium of photography through its history, contemporary uses, and its possible future.

Explore fine art photography’s origins and Pictorialism with curator Hannah Harley and learn how Pittsburgh-based artist Patty Kennedy Zafred weaves society’s history, photographs, and fiber arts together in her artistic practice. Join the discussion on Zoom on January 4th, 2020 at 12:30 pm. This conversation will last one hour and is free to the public. Participants may join using the link provided upon registration for the free Zoom app or website. Please register at least 24 hours in advance of the program to receive the Zoom link.

Patty Kennedy-Zafred has been telling stories through the medium of textiles and art quilts for nearly thirty years, creating thought provoking narratives using fabric, dyes, silkscreens, and ink to develop a visual dialogue with the viewer. The interpretation of each piece is conceived through the lens of individual experiences, memories, or perspectives. Her quilts marry a lifelong fascination with photography, history, and stitch, often reflecting faces of pride and dignity,

sometimes under challenging circumstances.

Kennedy-Zafred’s work has been exhibited in major national and international exhibitions, including Fiberart International, CraftForms, Art of the State Pennsylvania, Quilt National, Visions, Artist as Quiltmaker, Fantastic Fibers, Quilts=Art=Quilts, Fiber Options, New Legacies, SAQA Global Exhibitions, National Fiber Directions, and numerous invitational exhibitions and

print publications. Her work has won top awards at both American Quilt Society competitions and International Quilt Festival, including the prestigious Masters Award. She was recently honored as a Master Visual Artist as part of the Preserving the Legacy Project in Pittsburgh. Her work has traveled across the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, China, and Australia, and is part of the permanent collections of the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA, The Textile Museum, Washington, DC, International Quilt Museum, Lincoln, NE, San Jose Museum of Textiles, CA, and Senator John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, PA, as well as private collections.