about the artist

     Jannel grew up in an environment that encouraged creativity, though it was not museums, art galleries or formal instruction. Her biggest influence was living in rural Grand Rapids, free to explore, to imagine and create new things with whatever was at hand. There were no rules about what might be accomplished. 

     Jannel finished her education at the University of Arizona. Eventually, she responded to a call to ministry, becoming an Episcopal priest. Along with the usual duties of leading a congregation, Jannel could not keep that free spirit of her youth at bay. She used stories and poems to bridge the gap between theological concepts and real life in her sermons and in the two books she has written, Confessions of an Ordinary Mystic and Translations: The Dance of Word and Image.

     After retirement in 2009, Jannel continued to link her spirituality and creativity by building Lumen House, a small building in her backyard. There she offers spiritual direction, writes poetry, and plans her next creative project. She designed her first quilt in 1998 for her oldest daughter’s wedding. Without regard for quilt rules and with the help of some experienced quilters, Jannel’s design included 20 different squares to represent the aspects of her daughter’s life – all different techniques – for a first quilt! And so has that fearless approach to textile art continued.

     This is Jannel’s first exhibition which demonstrates her early influences of creating without rules and fearlessly cutting and sewing fabric together to tell a story. Most of the quilts are accompanied by a poem which extends the meaning of the quilt to nature and broader human concepts. The composition of totes is a mini-gallery of the different techniques she has used in the larger quilts. 

     Thanks go to Pat Stinson who (without computer technology) has long-arm quilted many of Jannel’s art quilts and informally taught her some of the rules of quilting. Thanks also go to Jim Glennie who created her website, lumenhouse.org which contains the poetry and quilts on display.