Q & A – Questions and Artists – Wendy Carpenter

The Peninsula Pulse has teamed up with the Door County Art League (DCAL) to reprint portions of interviews conducted by Randy Rasmussen, DCAL Executive Member, with various artists. Featured in this issue of the Pulse is Wendy Carpenter. To sign up for DCAL’s monthly newsletter or for more information visit http://www.doorcountyartleague.org.

Wendy Carpenter is a master weaver and a three-dimensional artist. Her studio and gallery, Interfibers Design Studio, is tucked in the trees along County F in Fish Creek. Artists featured in addition to Carpenter include:  Daryl Asbury, oil paintings; Door County Art League Master IsAbel Beaudoin, multiple mediums; and Door County Art League Master Ruth Philipon, painted imagery with found-objects. The gallery is open May through October from 10 am – 5 pm daily. For more information call 920.868.3580 or visit http://www.interfibers.com.

Randy Rasmussen (RR):  Wendy, how did you get started in art?

Wendy Carpenter (WC):  I remember as a little girl working with my grandma making colorful quilts. I always appreciated art and took all the art classes I could in high school in Green Bay. I really enjoyed my high school clay sculpture classes.

RR:  Were you drawn to three-dimensional art?

WC:  In high school I enjoyed anything related to art…but I do remember enjoying learning silk screening and, as I said, clay sculpting. I think I needed to create.

RR:  Could you tell our readers about your extensive art education?

WC:  In the ‘70s I studied fiber art at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. I did an internship in Taos, New Mexico and received a B.A. at the University of Wisconsin, studying with paper artist Karon Winzenz.

RR:  Your gallery is now open for its 28th year in Door County. How did it start?

WC:  I exhibited my work at Fine Line Gallery…and I think opening my gallery came as a natural progression. Door County and the beautiful landscape we have here, along with the artistic community, made this seem a good place to be.

RR:  Your work is inspired by nature?

WC:  Yes, I use nature for form and colors.

RR:  Can you briefly explain how your work is created?

WC:  First comes the inspiration and then a black and white drawing. I follow the drawing up with another drawing using colored pencils and models. When I feel it is what I want, I work on the finished project.

RR:  In my tour of the galley I saw your fiber art along with jewelry and clay sculpture.

WC:  The jewelry is made with madeite, the Central American form of jade. I do enjoy working with clay.

RR:  Tell me about the baby-carrier that I saw in your studio.

WC:  I am weaving a contemporary version of the baby-carrier forms found in China. These along with other work will be part of the upcoming exhibit.

Since retiring from his career in chiropractic medicine, Randy Rasmussen has pursued his art with unmitigated passion. In addition to his role as Executive Member in charge of exhibits with the Door County Art League, Rasmussen paints three times a week, almost entirely plein air, and is a charter member of the Peninsula Plein Air Painters. His work can be seen at http://www.penpap.com.