Artist finds healing and expression through fiber art and poetry
“In the Best of All Possible Light” by Stephanie Space
Although she grew up in a household of politicians, Stephanie Space of New Philadelphia chose to go in another direction and become an artist. The 65-year-old has devoted much of her life to artistic pursuits.
Recently, Space was awarded first place at the Carroll County Arts Center for her entry in “A Woman’s Perspective Experienced Through Art.” She will be the featured artist in Minerva’s Market Street Art Spot and its reception May 9.
“I don’t sell much of my work,” she said. “Most of it is in the homes of family and friends, but what I have in Minerva will all be for sale or commission.”
Her work was on display at the Dover Public Library during the month of March.
A 1977 graduate of Dover High School, Space said she has always loved art but felt she was not known as one of the more talented art kids. She praised teachers Bryce Browning and Jeannine Kennedy as examples of people who fostered creativity and made school tolerable for her.
Space dropped out of college, and as a single mother with boys age 2, 4 and 6, she moved to Kent and attended the university, where she received her degree in English literature with minors in creative writing, studio art and a focus on poetry. There she took every art class available.
“I loved painting with oils and making larger abstract pieces,” she said. “This wasn’t very practical due to space issues, and I could never seem to get the saturated color I wanted with the paints I was able to afford. So I worked a little smaller and began adding scraps of fabric to my paintings, and over time it evolved to what it is now. I hardly ever use paint anymore, but I might start adding it back some day. The techniques I use are still evolving.”
Quilting is something Space admired but knew she couldn’t do.
“Art quilts and their unconventional use of fabrics were a wonderful inspiration and influence,” Space said. “While I use fabric to create my pieces, it really isn’t quilting. I fall somewhere in the spectrum of fiber art. I affix small pieces of textiles on a tarp-like material, using glue, heat bonding, and occasionally needle and thread. And yes, it is very time-consuming.”
Space said she uses fabrics from old family clothing and used clothing stores and has used saris from India for their texture and color.
“Some of my fabrics that I most appreciate are gifted to me by family and friends who see something interesting they think I could use,” she said.
Space also is a poet.
“Poetry and painting are all one to me,” Space said. “I am compelled to create. It is hard for me to separate my poetry from my visual art. There are poems I’ve written that were sparked from a visual piece and vice versa. I never used to tell people I wrote poetry because I was afraid they would think I was weird.”
Space’s husband Tom Johnson shares another of her artistic interests: grapes and gardening.
“He is really the expert on the grapes,” Space said. “When we moved into this house, there were all these grape vines with leaves but no grapes. He taught himself to prune and nourish the vines, and within three years we had enough beautiful grapes to make wine, juice and jelly and still have some left over to give away.”
The couple, who has five adult children and five grandchildren between them, said winemaking is a great family project. In making red, pink and white wines, they also use juices from Italy and Chili and have developed their own brand named Raspbummy, a combination of raspberries and grapes.
“We have a heated greenhouse where I can keep geraniums alive all winter,” Space said. “I start seeds for the garden, and we are lucky enough to have fruit trees on our property so we can also make peach and plum brandy. I love to make cuttings from the original fig tree my grandfather planted. Gardening is great therapy.”
The couple recently held their annual lamb roast for 100 people.
“This celebration was started years ago by my Greek Orthodox extended family in honor of grandparents Zachary and Despina Space and was held in a number of different places,” Space said. “Now it has found a home with us, and we have been hosting it every Easter.”
Johnson and Space are both retired — he from the City of Dover and she from taking care of developmentally disabled adults in group homes.
“Although being able to create art every day is fulfilling, I think it is more a source of healing and therapy,” Space said, “and if it makes someone feel something positive or meaningful when they see it, that’s good too. I don’t know where we are going to put all of it, but I know it will keep giving us the greatest happiness.”