Joan Fisher

Hi, I first became interested in textiles in Kuwait where I lived for 12 years.
I was invited to a textile arts association meeting at the Bedouin weaving cooperative there. I fell in love with the sheer beauty of the work from a very diverse group of nationalities each with their individual styles and the social history embodied in it. I joined the society and never looked back. I started a quilt group and learnt to quilt myself , I am not perfect but love the use of fabric to express my emotions. I am also passionate about the social history side of quilts and where they have come from.
I am also fascinated by Islamic design and the geometry of it, I am sure stemming from weaving patterns and the interrelationship of design elements. There is a considerable amount of research going on at the moment into the Egyptian 'quilts' from the tentmakers some of which will be coming out in the next 18 months very exciting
I now help to look after the 'Tentmakers of Cairo' in the UK and Europe and offer talks and also run a small community art gallery 'The Upstairs Gallery' in Berkhamsted Hertfordshire. We always love to see new work there especially textiles so if you feel like exhibiting please get in touch.