Introduction
Geri Beam - Where Color Meets Texture. Transforming ordinary textiles into extraordinary works of art through 15+ years of surface design mastery, turning plain fabric into expressive, tactile art. I am a surface designer who reimagines textiles from scratch.
My work bridges the gap between fine art and craft, utilizing a diverse toolkit of textile manipulation techniques:
Coloring: Hand-dyeing raw fibers to create custom, vibrant palettes.
Upcycling: Giving new life to existing textiles through strategic over-dyeing.
Deconstructing: Using discharge techniques to selectively strip away color for depth.
Patterning: Applying unique imagery through precision printing, stamping and stenciling.
Mixed-Media: Incorporating unusual substrates like Lutrador, napkins and delicate tea bags.
Illuminating: Enhancing surfaces with metallic foiling, mica powders and lamination.
Sculpting: Manipulating fabric through intricate weaving and three-dimensional folding.
Structuring: Stitching and quilting the final layers to build rich, tactile texture
With over 15 years of providing education, I deliver highly engaging, technique-driven educational experiences.
Inspirational Lectures/Programs: Dynamic, concept-focused programs lasting 45 minutes to 2 hours.
Workshops: Start with beginner friendly. For the more experienced, concise skill building masterclasses. For the advanced, multi-day intense multi-day sessions. All are designed to build creative confidence and technical precision.
Color Theory: Master the art of color confidence and map your own personal color profile.
Technical Mastery: Navigate specialized equipment with ease, from choosing the right fabric cutting machine to selecting the perfect fusible for your project.
Eco-Printing: Learn surface transformation through everything from beginning heat press to advanced botanical heat press printing.
Project Studios: Design and construct unique, hand-crafted functional art like custom buttons and bags.
I design with evolution in mind, constantly pushing past traditional boundaries to transform ordinary textiles into unexpected, high-art forms. If your guild, shop or arts organization is seeking an innovative fresh perspective that stands out, we can build it together.
Innovative and evolving taking the ordinary to new heights, meets the needs of groups who are seeking something unique and fresh. Discuss your needs to see if there is an existing program/workshop, or if a custom experience is desired,
Curated Curriculum: Select an established, time-tested program from my current workshop catalog.
Custom Experiences: Collaborate with me to tailor an exclusive, one-of-a-kind educational event.
Collaborative Design: Share your group’s specific goals, skill levels and creative interests.
Tailored Formats: Adapt existing content into a timeline that perfectly fits your schedule.
Let’s discuss your group's unique vision to see if a classic class or an entirely custom-crafted experience is the perfect fit for your next event.
Artist's statement
II am a fiber artist and surface designer. With over 15 years of experience transforming plain fabric into expressive, tactile art.
Surface design is the art of changing the visual and physical texture of textiles. Using a mix of hand-dyeing, discharge painting (removing color), screen printing, stamping and stenciling, I treat fabric as my canvas.
I then layer these rich, patterned surfaces with intricate stitching and quilting toadd dimension, structure, and shadow.
This turns raw cloth into a finished, multi-dimensional story.
I continue to create classes and lectures to teach others how to tap their creative voice. I hope to inspire and influence the lives of others through my art, and through sharing the gifts I have been given.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Mixed Media and Art Quilt
Specialize in art quilts and mixed media 2009 - Present
Computer Software for Quilting, Embroidery and Digitizing
RNK CraftNCut and Total Quilter, Premier+, EQ7 and EQStitch digitizing
Theatrical Costume Design
Costume Department Sonoma State University 2001-2003
Costumer for Roswell Village Playhouse, Atlanta GA 1992-2001
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
CraftNCut and ScanNCut classes at Meissner's Sewing and Vacuum Center 2018-2020
Assistant to Jane Dunneworld The New Art Cloth at Art Quilt Tahoe 2012
Art Quilt Classes New Pieces Quilt Shop, Berkeley CA 2012-2014
Art Quilt Classes Village Sewing Center, Santa Rosa, CA 2012-2016
EXHIBITS
Fiber Expressions, Napa CA
2019 Saint Helena Library - Traditions on Highway 29
2019 Napa Valley College - Concealment, RLS Park On a Clear Day
2016 Pacific International Quilt Show - Traditions on Highway 29
2014 Saint Helena Library - Wicked
Pointless Sisters, Santa Rosa CA
2019 Finley Hall Community Center - Time Learns How to Fly, Floating to the Top
2019 Sonoma County Quilt Show Featured Artist - Traditions On Highway 29
2018 Spring Lake Village - 12x12 inches, Iris, Bleeding Heart
2018 Pacific International Quilt Show - Bee-Loved
2018 - Occidental Center of the Arts - Floating to the Top, Favorite Flowers
2017 Wine Country Quilt Show - Concealment
2017 Finley Hall Community Center - Over the Rainbow, Molly Mantis Does Social Media
2017 Occidental Center of the Arts - Molly Mantis Does Social Media
2016 Heron Hall Art Gallery - Laguna de Santa Rosa - Concealment
2016 Wine Country Quilt Show - X-Dash
2016 Occidental Center of the Arts - Concealment, X-Dash
2015 Occidental Center of the Arts - Windshield, Two Halves Make a Hole, Awesome Wonder
2015 Rincon Valley Library - Awesome Wonder
2015 Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club - Two Halves Make A Hole
2014 Finley Hall Community Center - Point of View
2014 Sprint Copy Center, Sebastopol CA - Two Halves Make A Hole
Napa Valley Quilt Show
2016 - Mucha Nuevo Seasons, Gold Beam Wine Label, Traditions on Highway 29
2015 - Spring Fuchsias, Wicked, Window View, Allegro Risata
Ladies of the Lake, Lakeport CA
2015 - Dandelion Lifecycle, Awesome Wonder
2014 - Flower Tuft, Lizard, Window View, Winter Wood
Art Master 2012 Jane Dunnewold Program
Houston Quilt Show - Dandelion Life Cycle, Dragonfly Life Cycle
MEMBERSHIPS
Member - Fiber Expressions - Napa, CA 2013 - 2021
Member - Finding Voice Design Group, Berkely CA, 2014 - 2021
Member - American Sewing Guild, Atlanta Chapter, 2010 - Present
Member - East Bay Heritage Quilters - Kensington, CA 2014 - 2021
Member - Emeritus Member Pointless Sisters, Santa Rosa, CA Present
Member - Active Member Pointless Sisters, Santa Rosa, CA 2014 - 2019
Member - Actors Equity Association 2002 - Retired 2016
Member - Art Beyond the Surface - Online gallery
Member - Northern California Quilt Council (Teacher) - Pleasant Hill, CA 2014 -2019
Member - Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild - Lake County, CA 2013 - 2016
Member - Napa Valley Quilt Guild, Napa, CA 2013 - 2019
Member - Santa Rosa Quilt Guild, Santa Rosa, CA 2012 - 2016
Member - Waste Water Women Design Group, Santa Rosa CA 2009- 2012
Member - Embellishment Club, The Sewing and Vacuum Place, Santa Rosa CA, 2011- 2014