My name is Melanie Testa.
I am a spiritual person and like to explore the meditative aspect of the creation of art. When my mind is open and calm, I feel directly linked to my higher power. I can do anything in the world! Staying open to new ideas and alternative ways of thinking is important. I keep journals where I draw, paint, tape rip sheets (images from magazines that inspire me) and just plain play. Visual journaling keeps me artistically and intellectually engaged. Many of the works in the gallery are taken from my own original sketches! Do NOT censor your journals!
I was schooled at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Textile/Surface Design. I have taken many fantastic courses from well-known quilt and surface design artists including Natasha Kemper-Cullens, Ann Johnston and Carol Soderlund and most recently Jane Dunnewold. I do not hesitate to learn from books either; in this respect Jean Ray Laury has taught me an innumerable array of techniques.
The major rule of art: There are no rules.
Please do not hesitate to contact me!

Exhibitions:

2007
Quilt National, Athens, OH
Fiber Force, Mancuso Show Management
Art Concentrated, Belski Museum, Closter NJ
Naked Truth, Rahway NJ
Art Concentrated, Academy of Music, Spotswood, NJ

2006
The Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, Millville, NJ
Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich CT
Northern Star Quilt Guild Show, Somers, NY
Chip Center at University of Connecticut

2005
A Survey of Styles New England Quilt Art Museum, Lowell
Visions of Women Stevens Gallery, University of Connecticut
Second Miniature Textile Exhibition, Island Heights, NJ
Art Quilts at Amherst, Amherst Ma.
Chip Center University of Connecticut
Charter Oaks Cultural Center, Hartford, CT

2004
Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT
Long Beach Island Foundation, Loveladies, NJ
Expressions In Textiles, New Haven, CT
Martucci Gallery, Irvington, NY
Northern Star Quilt Guild Show, Somers, NY
Chip Center at University of Connecticut
Rathbun Free Memorial Library, East Haddam, CT
Ellen Traut Gallery Collection, Hartford, CT

2002
Loft Artists Association, Stamford, CT
The Black Crow Gallery, Guilford, CT

2001
American Quilt Society, Paducah, KY
Sacred Threads, Cincinnati OH

Education
Fashion Institute of Technology 1997-1999
Associate Degree in Textile Surface Design
Improvisational Screen Printing by Jane Dunnewold
Color Mixing For Dyers by Carol Soderlund
Stamping with Dye by Ann Johnston Design and Composition by Natasha Kempers-Cullen

Present Employment:
Coconino Community College Fiber Arts Instruction 2007-present
Kidz Art of Northern Arizona 2007-present
Poster Conservation Inc. - Art Restorer. 1999-2006
Expertise in restoration of vintage and antique works on paper
Freelance Work
Designed and implemented the creation of a canvas rug/labyrinth for use in workshop situations for
the Presbyterian Hospital of Westchester County, New York

Articles:
Quilting Arts Magazine D-R-A-W-N to Stitch Spring 2007
Quilting Arts Magazine Freezer Paper Resist Spring 2006
SAQA Journal Create an Art Retreat Spring 2005

Teaching Experience:

'Thickened Dye on Cotton and Silk', ‘Small Works, Big Impact’, 'Metallic Foil Transfer, 'Bead, Embellish, Encrust!’, ‘Freezer Paper Resist’, ‘Art at the Library’

Affiliations:

Fiber Revolution.com, SAQA_CTNJDE, Surface Design Association