How the Fabric Gallery Came to Grace
Relationship rebuilds between student and her former professor.

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Story by Kristen Thompson


Shortly after coming to Grace in May to work as the Girl’s Director for WaterShed youth, I joined the Fine Art team.  I did so for several reasons -- I am devoted to fine art in general; I love the process of creating, and I adore being part of this kind of community. To me there is nothing better than sitting around with a group of people who have the same passion as you.

Kristen and her former professor, Dr. Mary Ruth Smith

But I never fully realized an even greater concept:  Art as ministry.  As I began to understand the Fine Arts team, I started to see how amazing it is to be able to reach out and love on artists who aren’t part of our church and at the same time support the artists within our congregation through their passion.

During my first meeting with everyone we were discussing upcoming shows and more specifically who to show. Because I love fabric and use that as one of my mediums I asked whether the team had ever done a fabric exhibition. I learned one had been attempted early on, but had not gone as well as hoped.   So, I suggested using my professor’s work from college to build those relationships back again.

I worked for Dr. Mary Ruth Smith for almost two years and took courses from her for three at Baylor University in Texas. Basically she was my entire college career. Because of her my eyes were opened to a completely new kind of art form -- one that, in my opinion, is completely overlooked and underestimated. Dr. Smith also taught art education courses, which is how I met her. I eventually switched my major to studio art, started taking her fabric design classes and became her Teacher’s Assistant.  I don’t know what to say other than I loved almost every minute of it. There were times staying up hand-stitching all night that I don’t feel nostalgic about because man does your back hurt from being hunched over with thread and needle all night. However, everything I know about dying fabrics, threading a loom, hand stitching, screen printing, I wouldn’t give up for anything.

And that isn’t even touching the surface of all the beautiful knowledge she bestowed upon me. Her passion and energy for her work is incomprehensible. There were many occasions where she would bring one of her pieces in and tell us she did it in a week. Our projects lasted all semester and obviously never scratched the surface of how much detail hers possessed. Night and day belongs to her art and all she wants for her students is to see the beauty in creating and to strive to make every piece memorable. She is definitely a teacher who pushes her students to be greater then they even know. She gave that passion to me. If I ever create even one piece that is as meticulous and marvelous as hers, I will consider my artistic career a complete success.

In a small way, my relationship with a church who cherishes and loves art, providing a place for her wonderful work, feels a little like giving something back to her.  I am proud to introduce our church to Dr. Smith and Dr. Smith to our church.  I really feel like a piece of my old home has come here to intertwine with my new one and I cherish that. I hope and pray that the presence of her work in our gallery will restore relationships with the fabric community here in Asheville. Dr. Smith strives to show the integrity of fabric everyday; I believe it would make her proud to know that I’m trying to do the same thing here.