Textile artist Heidi Parkes reflects on her transformative 13-month residency at Milwaukee's historic Pfister Hotel, discussing how the experience deepened her artistic practice, expanded her community connections, and prepared her for her upcoming mid-career retrospective exhibition.

What happens when an artist's private practice meets the public eye for an entire year? Fresh from completing her prestigious residency at Milwaukee's historic Pfister Hotel, Heidi Parkes returns to SEAMSIDE to unpack what it was like to work in full public view for thirteen months. From unexpected revelations about her own work to the delicate dance of public engagement, Heidi shares how this residency in a busy hotel studio reshaped both her work and her perspective.

In this SEAMSIDE conversation, Heidi and I explore:
① how public interaction informs the work we make
② how to ask meaningful questions when you step into a gallery
③ why she’s so glad to be back home

You can hear Part 1 of our conversation here.

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