Art Quilter in Africa
Dena Dale Crain lives in Nairobi, Kenya. She has a background in fashion design, textiles and consumer economics, and African art anthropology. She gives voice to these multiple interests as an art quilter.
Dena’s work is often seen in joint and solo art exhibitions as well as in shops and galleries in Nairobi. Her commissioned works hang in Nairobi hotels and offices, as well as in private collections abroad. She helped found the Kenya Quilt Guild and continues to support its growth. She writes magazine articles about art quilting, and she lectures at both quilting and non-quilting functions.
Dena’s work is often seen in joint and solo art exhibitions as well as in shops and galleries in Nairobi. Her commissioned works hang in Nairobi hotels and offices, as well as in private collections abroad. She helped found the Kenya Quilt Guild and continues to support its growth. She writes magazine articles about art quilting, and she lectures at both quilting and non-quilting functions.
All That Jazz, art quilt by Dena Dale Crain; featured in the Kenya Arts Diary
Teaching in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2002 moved Dena into the ranks of international art quilting teachers. She has taught at such prestigious events as the International Quilt Festivals in Houston and Chicago, the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England, the European Patchwork Meeting, Quilt Canada, the US National Quilting Association, the Kuwait Textile Arts Association, New Zealand Quilt Symposia, the IQCAfrica and South African Quilters Guild Festivals, and at many other smaller venues in Australia, the UK, Canada and the USA. Dena successfully taught online patchwork quilt classes for Quilt University, QuiltEd Online, and Academy of Quilting.
Dena works in a variety of styles, each one based on a different design concept or construction method. See, for example, her video on How to Make a Crystal Quilt:
Dena works in a variety of styles, each one based on a different design concept or construction method. See, for example, her video on How to Make a Crystal Quilt:
Dena is recognized by the South African Quilters Guild as a Certified Quilt Judge and a Recommended Teacher. She is a Juried Artist Member of Studio Art Quilt Associates, and a member of Surface Design Association, as well a co-founder and active member of the Kenya Quilt Guild. She also judges online art exhibitions such as the United Nations children’s art festival "Art for Peace" and the Visions Art Museum’s "Interpretations: Celebrating 30" exhibition.