Made of Hug – Curiosity Quilt the Cat
In celebration of the 15th anniversary of LAIKA’s debut film Coraline, the studio partnered with the Visit Downtown Campaign, Wild in Art, and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital to create a trail of 30 sculptures modeled after one of Coraline’s most memorable characters, Cat. The sculptures are stationed throughout downtown Portland, creating a free art trail for visitors to complete.
How many have you seen?
Learn more about the project on their website and follow the trail cat trail by downloading the app below.
About the Artist Stephanie Hower Derheimer
Stephanie Hower Derheimer is a Portland-based designer of quilts, like the one on display, art, illustrations, and—most recently—the cat statue on OMSI’s front plaza, Curiosity Quilt the Cat!
Stephanie’s quilted cat design was inspired by her work with the Portland Modern Quilt Guild, a nonprofit organization and thriving community of quilters. Part of the Guild’s work includes making charity quilts, some of which are donated to Oregon Health & Science University’s pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Since the project is in partnership with OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, it felt fitting to wrap this cat statue in a cozy quilt of its own!
Explore Made of Hug – Curiosity Quilt the Cat
Q&A with the Artist
My name is Stephanie Hower Derheimer, and the cat’s name is Curiosity Quilt the Cat! I am a Portland-based maker of quilts, art, illustrations, messes, and snacks. I believe in the power of public art, both as a quilter whose work has been on display in Powell’s Books and other venues, as well as an employee of Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, a place where the walls are full of color and joy even when hearts are heavy.
This year, I was trying to think of what I want to do with the rest of my life. If I could picture the ideal rest of my life, what would it look like? What would I be doing? What would my job be? I’ve always been a doodler, a drawer, so I decided that I wanted to devote this year to that. Growing up I was a singer and an artist, but when I went to college I had to pick one and I picked classical singing. So that’s kind of why, when I thought about it, I wondered: What if I could do art?
I work at OHSU with the pediatric ICU doctors. I got an email to staff that there was a call for artists for this project. I looked at it, and the deadline was that same day. I felt like, why not? So I just went ahead to see what I could do in three hours. When I received a notice that my cat was chosen, I was blown away. I did not expect this honor because Portland is full of such creative people, and I was just happy that it resonated with someone.
I was inspired by the Portland Modern Quilt Guild, which I’m a part of, because they make and donate quilts. Some go to the pediatric ICU to make the rooms of longer-term patients feel less clinical. I knew the proceeds from the project were going to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, so it felt fitting.I also thought it would be a good combo, cats and quilts. And I figured that if the cat had the option, it would just want to become a quilt if it could.
Two years ago I had an unexpected illness. I was in the emergency room and the Neuro ICU followed by a surgery. It was so stressful and awful. I was happy to be at OHSU, which was at least familiar, because it’s so disorienting waking up in the hospital. And then one of my friends asked if I needed a quilt. I had come home with a central line with antibiotics, and everything was uncomfortable and scary, but I had this quilt that I dragged around with me like Linus from The Peanuts. And I realized how much of a difference it can make to have something of comfort that someone made and gave to you. It drove home the importance of the donated quilts. The Guild doesn’t know who the quilts go to, but they know it’s going to someone who needs it.
Artist Sophie Taeuber, one of the only women in the Dadaist movement, inspired two circle designs on the cat’s stomach. I also included some fun details like my two dogs and Davis, the service dog from Doernbecher. In the charity quilts, there’s always some fun little pieces to find in the design like a little pretzel or fish. So I wanted to be able to put some things like that in there.
Partners
