Linda Parker artist resume

Fiber artist Linda Parker of Montana Quilts has been a quilter since 1976. She is the author of Montana Star Quilts and designer of quilt patterns. Linda spoke at the Smithsonian, Common Threads Symposium in 1999. Her work is currently on display at the Holter Museum of Art in Helena Montana. In 1993 Lady’s Circle Patchwork Quilts, featured Linda’s book and collection of Native American Indian star quilts. In September of 2003 she had a one woman show at the Myrna Loy Theatre in Helena.

Publications

Book

Montana Star Quilts

Patterns

Bitterroot Star, 1984

Sweetgrass Mountain Star, 1984

Grandfather Spider, 2003

Grandmother Turtle, 2003

Butterfly Star, 2003

Butterfly Wish, 2003

Sea Turtle, 2003

Turtle Island, 2003

Purple Smoke, 2003

Morning Star Sunrise, 2003

Exhibitions, Special Appearances

Myrna Loy Theatre, Helena Montana, 2003

Common Threads: Creating Cloth for Empowerment, An International Symposium: The Role of Textile Collectives in Women's Empowerment and Recent Research on African American Quilts, at the S. Dillon Ripley Center of the Smithsonian, Washington D.C. March 19th 1999 Linda spoke about Montana Native American Star Quilts.

Montana PBS (KUSM/ KUFM-TV) broadcast a Quilting show in 2001: TEXTURES a documentary about quilters in Montana, did a segment on Almira Buffalo Bone Jackson, most of the Native American Indian Quilts shown are part of Linda Parker's collection.

Holter Museum of Art, gift shop, Helena Montana

Bridles, Bits and Beads: The Enduring Folk Arts of Montana, an exhibit which traveled to 11 different museums and galleries in Montana from March 1998 through Feb.. 2000, featured star quilts from Linda and her collection of Native American Indian quilts. The exhibit was sponsored by the Montana Arts Council, the Montana Art Gallery Directors Association and funding from the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Community Folklife Program.

Ravalli County Museum, Hamilton Montana

Liberty Village Arts Center Chester Montana

Jailhouse Gallery, Hardin Montana

People’s Center, Pablo Montana

Arts Chateau, Butte Montana

Copper Village Museum, Anaconda Montana

Art Museum of Missoula, Missoula Montana

Livingston Depot Center,r Livingston Montana

Mon-Dak Heritage Center,r Sidney Montana

Custer County Art Center,r Miles City Montana

Western Heritage Center, Billings Montana

MONTANA STAR QUILT

BOOK SIGNINGS

The Silver Thimble, Havre Montana, 1997

The Fabric Shop, Hamilton Montana, 1998

Calico Cupboard, Helena Montana 1998

Electric Avenue Books, Bigfork Montana 1998

Chara’s Books, Atlanta Georgia 1998

Magpie Book,s Three Forks Montana 1998

Two Bobbins Full, Polson Montana 1998

Barnes and Noble Feb.. 1988 Billings Montana

Past Events Articles and Shows

Billings Gazette interview Feb. 14, 1982

Billings Gazette Art In the Atrium Billings Montana

Yellowstone Fair Exhibition, Artists in Action 1982

Billings Montana

Yellowstone Art Center Summer Fair, 1981

Billings Montana

Yellowstone Art Center Summer Fair, 1982

Billings Montana

Yellowstone Art Center Summer Fair,1983

Billings Montana

Yellowstone Art Center Summer Fair, 1984

Billings Montana

Western Heritage Center Antique and Art Show,

Billings Montana

Helena Art Center Annual Juried Show, Helena Montana

First Security Bank One Artist Show, Montana Star Quilts Havre Montana 1979

Security Bank One Artist Show, Montana Star Quilts Billings Montana 1979

Dixie Land Jazz Festivals Sidewalk Art, Helena Montana

Holter Museum Christmas Tree - Folk Art Entry

Today In Montana - promotion for Shrine Auditorium annual art sale Billings Montana

Today In Montana - promotion for Yellowstone Art Center Summer Fair - highlighted star quilts

Quilt, Spring, 1985

Quilt Almanac, What’s New For Quilter’Montana Magazine, Jan 1997 Love In Every Stitch Lady’s Circle Patchwork Quilts, Jan 1993 Indian Star Quilts

Lady’s Circle Patchwork Quilts, Sept 1993 Indian Star Quilts

Lady’s Circle Patchwork Quilts, Jan 1985 review by Carter Houck

Helena Independent Record Your Time March 1 2002

Helena Independent Record Your Time November

‘Native Star quilts Radiate at library display’ Jan 21 1994

Helena Independent Record Your Time November

Needlecraft’ Nov 21 1997 Helena MontanaHelena Independent Record Dec 21 1991

Pioneer Press ‘Author Spins Tribute to Star Quilt makers’ Dec 1997 Cut Bank Montana

International Quilt Festival,TLC 1997 Houston Texas

International Quilt Festival ,1991 Kansas City Missouri

American Gallery of Quilt and Textile Art Gig Harbor Washington

“History of Star Quilts” Guest Speaker Central Elementary School Helena Montana

YMCA Pre- school Helena Montana

Kalispell Montessori School Kalispell Montana

Kalispell News, April 1987 Kalispell Monatana

Helena Quilter’s Guild Newsletter, April 1988 Linda Parker Quilting is her Business Helena Monatana

Great Falls Tribune ‘Monatana Indians Heritage shines in Star Quilt Book’ Dec 21 1997 Great Falls Montana

Bozeman Daily Chronicle ‘Author, quilter Linda Parker signs “Star Quilts” at Magpie Books’ Jan 23 1998 Three Forks Montana

Lakeshore Country journal “Monatana Star Quilts” at Electric Avenue Books Feb. 26, 1998 Big Fork Montana

Lake County Leader ‘Star quilt author plans visit Polson Fri March 5, 1998 Polson

Quilt Shows

Miles City Quilt Show 2003, Miles City Montana

West Overton Museum Quilt Show Scottsdale Pennsylvania

Western Heritage Center Patchwork and Piecemeal 9th Annual Quilt Show 1981, Billings Montana

Western Heritage Center 10th Annual Quilt Show 1982, Billings Montana

Western Heritage Center Annual Quilt Show 1985 Billings Montana

Flathead Quilters Guild Quilt Show 1984, Kalispell Montana

Highland Historical Society Quilt Show 1982, Highland Illinois

International Quilt Exhibit 1981 Rancho Santa Fe New Mexico

International Quilt Exhibit 1983 Rancho Santa Fe New Mexico

Letters from readers

Linda Parker is at present composing a book on the origin, history and the making of colorful star quilts. I find it most fascinating and rewarding in its resource and composition to bring unique composition to its reader Sincerely Yours Ed Barbeau Naive American historian Indian Elder & Adwoode

Things the book does not tell you

A century ago, Plains Indians recorded their lives on painted buffalo robes. The Star Quilt today is its contemporary equivalent, presented with honor to all who are given a star quilt. Over the years the star quilt perhaps gained acceptance among Native American Indians because of its resemblance to the morning Star (Venus- Goddess of Love, Beauty and Gardening) or the Sacred Circle - representing life’s continuous cycle - painted on buffalo robes of old. According to Indian lore if you were up early to see the Morning Star, the Creator had given you another day to live. Star quilts are usually made for give- always, a ceremony giving thanks to the Creator for all you have relieved, whether is be a promotion, a basketball tournament, comfort from friends during the loss of a loved one or a new baby. It is a unique glimpse of a society which measures wealth by the gifts one gives away. The star quilt is second only to receiving an eagle feather headdress, even horses are not regarded so highly. Montana Star Quilts is a quality book about the history, spiritual and ceremonial significance of Native American Star quilts. For your enjoyment there are over 90 color photos of unique Indian star quilts and also clear precise instructions for making your own warm star quilt. The Fast Star a Native design is also included as well as the the diagrams for Jerry Belgarde’s Eagle Star. The diagrams for the Eagle Star were done by John Flynn and Jerry for a class they had planned to teach together and presented to me to include in the book by Jerry. Most of the designs were created by Linda Parker. See our new patterns with a star theme. Some of the Things the Book does not tell you While doing research for the book I was fortunate enough to be able to spend quite a bit of time with Almira Buffalo Bone Jackson We attended several pow- wows together as well as a couple of Veteran’s ceremonies. Jerry and I once hand quilted 4 queen size quilts in a week , she turned white woman pale after a week in her basement. Jerry is fast, she did two thirds of all of them to my slow third. Meeting Jeannie Oyawin Eder made me realize that I formed a part of the circle of the star quilt in bringing it the attention of those off the reservation Each hand quilted quilt is baptized in blood, because at least once I prick my finger on a needle or pin and bleed profusely, usually on the quilt, way before I am able to take it off the frame to be washed We also have Marty the curmudgeonly old fart who does our design work and constantly challenges our political lethargy. In the old days way back when my children were small, I could judge their growth by the size of the bump they created when walking under a quilt Jami’s favorite ‘quilt’ memory is playing under the quilt on the frame reading stories and listening to music under the quilt with my mom and my brother. Montana Quilts currently resides in an old mining shack, nestled in a gulch on the edge of Helena Montana, with one small stained glass window, we share our humble abode with the deer wondering through the yard, eating the flowers. The squirrels on the roof knowing at the window attempting a new route in to the ceiling, where they like to have their children (the last one had at least five in the kitchen). The gold fish who live next to the kitchen sink did not seem to mind the squirrels, but I did. We really enjoy the bird life both in and out side. Montana Quilts, Inc. (1990) is owned and operated by Linda Parker. Linda has made hundreds of quilts, mostly stars, her great passion. You can learn more about Linda in her book "Montana Star Quilts". was launched by Linda Parker in 1990 to disseminate her knowledge of Star quilts to the general public. "My journey with star quilts began in 1976 in Havre, Montana, when I discovered my grandmother's 1937 Needlecraft Supply Company flier advertising three star quilts. I told my grandmother that I was going to make a star quilt ...I then proceeded to cut hundreds of diamonds in an array of different colors...." (excerpt from "Montana Star Quilts" by Linda Parker.) As the years passed, Linda acquired knowledge of Native American Indian star quilts traditions, a piece at a time. Thus began the journey of the book. So if you want to learn more about the history, tradition and of star quilts, then you've come to the right place...and the best place to start is by discovering "Montana Star Quilts"