Judee Moonbeam Studio

Specialties

I create wearable art, using a combination of piecework and silkscreen which I sell at juried art shows, festivals and in some shops and galleries.

I do custom clothing and design; often a great idea a client brings me – her/​his need for something unusual… such as chasuble sets for a local cathedral, graduation stoles for the science school at Portland State University.

I offer classes and workshops at my studio or other locations involving cultural fibre art and wardrobe «upcycling.»

During the summer I run the fibre art studio at Grace Art Camp with a flock of busy, budding artists… where we «swim» in cultural fibre and color.

Most of the custom work I do is through referral.

Clients approach me having been told, «Ask Jude. She’ll figure it out.» This has given me amazing creative opportunities.

History

Established in 1980.

I have been designing and creating wearable art since I was a teenager.

My degree is in clothing design, but wonder if I should have gone on for a fine arts degree… one foot in fashion, one foot in art.

In the 70’s I had a booth at Portland Saturday Market and began traveling to various art shows.

In the 80’s I took a break from my craft to open Favourites Bakery with my partner of the time, Ric Seaberg, on the corner of 47^th and Fremont.

In the 90’s I opened a shop on NE Alberta… the first space rental from Guardino Gallery, right next store.

I then went on to buy a big old building on the corner of Mallory and Killingsworth, converting it into a gallery, my studio and home.

2001, I bought a property with my current partner and converted part of it into studios, where i work now.

Meet the Business Owner

Judee M.

Business Owner

Fabrics are my paints – but it doesn’t stop there. I believe the difference between «fashion» and wearable art is the detail. I don’t think you can buy 3 yards of fabric, make a skirt and call it art. There’s a focused investment, a story… much like the investment one puts into a painting.

I form color/​texture «groups» on my bench – a palette, similar to the way an interior designer would begin to design a room.

Pulling out fabric bits to silkscreen, I then add them back to the pile and proceed to form fibre collage pieces on the sewing machine which develop into individual wearable art items, both accessories and garments.

It’s art in functional form.

I continue to be inspired by Celtic, Middle Eastern and African cultures as is evident by my silkscreen motif collection. A great amount of my work includes the re –use of existing supplies in the way of fabric and embellishment.