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Bio: heather k. powers

Mellanee Goodman

Entry into the Critical Craft Studies program was a serendipitous experience for fiber artist Heather K. Powers, who lives in the southeastern United States. Upon her first visit to the Warren Wilson campus for an “open classroom” discussion of the inaugural Class of 2020’s critical engagement with craft, Heather knew that she needed to enroll in the program. Heather’s research is not centered in one place but is an exploration of the physical spaces of craft studios. Her research approach includes close and conscious observation of textile practices as understood through her situated experience and embodied engagement with materials and processes. As Heather interacts with craftspeople around the world, she looks to their studios to better understand the stories and identities of craftspeople. Throughout Heather’s time in the program, tending to her garden, growing vegetables and flowers, and processing her own indigo have brought her joy and a sense of grounding in a disconnected time of pandemic. The act of tending to nature is an act of self-care, freeing her from the constraints of the virtualscape.