The Press is running a series about the different artists whose work has appeared in the Kasieta Center’s rotating art gallery at Badger Prairie Needs Network (BPNN).
BPNN opened the Kasieta Center, a 4,800 square foot event space, in August 2022. The additional square footage has allowed BPNN to expand its programming to include career training, community gatherings and fundraisers.
Kasieta Center Director Karen Dettinger said while the venue began with many bare walls, BPNN has aimed to create a more welcoming environment for guests through collaborations with local artists.
“We work hard to create a space that is welcoming, and art is such a big part of that,” Dettinger said. “Our goal is to highlight the work of local artists from a diversity of backgrounds through a rotating art program while at the same time creating a welcoming and respectful space for our guests.”
One of these artists is Kristi Johnson, a Verona resident and longtime volunteer at BPNN. For three months through January 2024, Johnson displayed a variety of homemade quilts on the walls of the Kasieta Center.
To learn more about Johnson and her experiences with quilting, the Press emailed her a questionnaire.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
A: “I grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota and attended college at North Dakota State University majoring in speech pathology. I married my husband, Curt Johnson, in 1970. We moved to Lexington, Kentucky where we both attended graduate school at the University of Kentucky. We decided we wanted to return to the Midwest, so in 1978 we moved to Fitchburg, Wisconsin and then to Verona in 1990. My most recent job before retiring was working with the early childhood special education program in the Verona Area School District. I have two daughters, Carrie Torres and Betsy Lundgren, both of whom live in Fitchburg with their families. I have four grandchildren.”
Q: You are a longtime volunteer at Badger Prairie Needs Network. When did you get involved with BPNN and how?
A: “I have been volunteering with BPNN for 20 years, so (I) have seen much growth and change during those years. For a period of time during those 20 years, I served as co-coordinator of the food pantry. Currently I volunteer helping guests go through the pantry as a shopping support volunteer. I also work on Mending Day on the first Saturday of each month where we volunteer to mend clothes for people.”
Q: What do you enjoy about volunteering at BPNN?
A: “What I enjoy most about volunteering at BPNN is the opportunity to help others. I feel that we are all in the position at some time in our lives where we need help of some kind. We are all also at some time in our lives in the position where we can help others in some way. I have the time now to volunteer to help others. I think it is the right thing to do. I enjoy it and hope that I am making a difference in someone else’s life.”
Q: You displayed handmade quilts at the Kasieta Center. How and when did you first get into quilting? Did someone teach you or are you self-taught?
A: “My grandmother taught me to sew when I was about 10 years old. I never took any sewing classes as she lived close by, so (she) was my go-to person whenever I had a question or needed help. When my daughters were growing up I sewed many of their clothes. I knew I wanted to learn to quilt, but I also knew once I started I would become addicted to it and it would take up too much of my time, so I did not let myself learn to quilt until my youngest daughter graduated from high school. That summer for my birthday, my daughters gave me a gift certificate for quilting classes at a Madison quilt store. I have taken a few classes since those beginner classes but have also taught myself new techniques along the way.”
Kristi Johnson, a Verona resident and longtime volunteer at Badger Prairie Needs Network, displayed her homemade quilts in the Kasieta Center’s rotating art gallery for three months. Her favorite quilt from the gallery is pictured above.
Q: Can you explain the process of creating a quilt?
A: “The process of creating a quilt is likely different for each quilter. For myself, I usually have a specific purpose for the quilt. It is often for a gift for a new baby, anniversary, Christmas, etc. I do sometimes make a quilt because I like the pattern or fabric. The first step for me is deciding what occasion the quilt is for. That will usually determine the colors, pattern and style, which are the next decisions to make. After those decisions are made, I get to go shopping for fabric!
Again, the decision for fabric color and style is influenced by the pattern I am using, who the quilt is for and where it will be used. After the fabric is purchased, the next step is to cut out all the pieces, which for many quilts, is a lot of pieces. Then on to the fun part: sewing the pieces together. It is fun to see the quilt emerge as you sew the pieces together. Once the pieces for the front of the quilt are sewn together, you layer the front, batting and the backing and quilt the layers together. Bind the quilt and you are done!”
Q: What do you enjoy the most about quilting? Are there any other types of art you enjoy working on?
A: “I think the thing I enjoy most about quilting is sewing the pieces together. I just have always loved the act of sewing and there is a lot of sewing in putting together a quilt. At one point I asked myself what I enjoy most about quilting. Is it the actual process of making the quilt or is it the final result of a finished quilt? I think my answer to that question is that I most enjoy the process of sewing the pieces together to create the quilt. One other craft that I also enjoy is knitting, though my favorite is quilting.”
Q: What did it mean to you to have your quilts displayed for the community? Did you hear/see any reactions to the gallery?
A: “I appreciate that other people valued my quilting enough to ask me to display it in the Kasieta Center. I hope that it might inspire others to give it a try!”
Q: Is there a certain quilt that was on display that’s a favorite of yours?
A: “Because quilts are so large, we were not able to display very many of my quilts. Of the ones that were displayed, I think my favorite is the pumpkin quilt. However, my all-time favorite of the quilts I have made is a Bali Wedding Star quilt. I attended 12 hours of classes to learn to make this quilt which took 270 hours to make (yes, I kept track). There were 2,276 pieces plus the binding in this quilt.”
Q: What is your biggest piece of advice for someone looking to get into quilting or another type of fiber art?
A: “Just jump in and go for it! You may be more creative than you think you are. It is a wonderful outlet for creativity and a great way to relieve some tension in your life and allow you to relax and focus on something creative.”
Kristi Johnson has made quite a few quilts, however her all-time favorite is the Bali Wedding Star quilt pictured above. She attended 12 hours of classes to learn to make this quilt, which took 270 hours total.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to add?
A: “I often marvel at how quilting has changed over the years. My grandmother quilted and I have some of the quilts that she made. When she was quilting, quilts were made to be useful and to keep one warm in cold North Dakota winters. Today, we make quilts more as quilts of art rather than to be used for warmth. In my grandmother’s day, quilts were made from fabric cut from old clothing that could no longer be worn. Today, we buy new, expensive fabric, cut it up and sew it back together again. What would my grandmother have thought of that! I have several quilts that she made. They are treasures to me. I even have a dress that she made for my mother and fabric from that dress is in a quilt that she also made.”
