Meet Julie Woodard | Textile Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Woodard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
For me, pursuing a career as an artist is choosing to pursue a life of joy. In 2020, my mom passed away from cancer and I found myself in what would become a year-long job furlough. Thankfully, I grew up in a family where my creativity was fostered and celebrated, and I was able to turn to art-making, storytelling, and songwriting as a way to process my grief. My visual arts practice has always centered on textiles, specifically repurposing and upcycling materials, and nature is my primary inspiration.

Over the past two years, I’ve created framed and wearable textile landscapes out of my collection of heirloom textiles I’ve inherited from three generations of family. My grandfather’s wool blazers have grown into mountains, my grandmother’s cotton remnants are woven into blue skies, and my mom’s love is stitched into canyons and ocean waves through scraps of denim, wool, velvet, and other fibers that once belonged to her. It gives me great joy to give new life to these old things and celebrate the lives of my loved ones along the way.

In addition to repurposing more sentimental materials, I also incorporate vintage goods, damaged textiles donated by community members, and items salvaged from the trash and recycling. Every item, no matter its origin, is repurposed with purpose, and every piece of art has a story. As I’ve begun sharing my art and stories with others, the feedback has been so affirming. Folks say things like, “Your experiences are so relatable, “and “your work reminds me of my favorite hiking trail.” I now take on commission projects where individuals are invited to provide their own special textiles to be integrated into a piece.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The juicebox workshop is a framed and wearable art collection that celebrates nature, storytelling, and the power of repurposing with purpose. Every piece is one-of-a-kind and is crafted from salvaged textiles.

My process incorporates elements of collage, applique, embroidery, quilting, painting, and soft sculpture. The “juice” is the joy I seek to create and the “box” is my platform for storytelling and advocacy.

Much of my work is inspired by places I’ve explored– from the American Southwest, to the coast of Maine, to the mountains and glacier lakes of New Zealand. In addition to relying on my memory, I also call on my imagination.  It’s fun to create art that allows viewers (myself included) to be transported to places they’ve never been.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I split my time between Colorado’s mountain trails and the streets of Philadelphia. When out west, we’d start with coffee and breakfast at Clint’s Bakery & Coffee House in Breckenridge before hiking up to Mohawk Lakes. We’d refresh with some beers at Outer Range Brewing Company, followed by an evening of live music at the Dillion Amphitheater. Back East, we’d begin with breakfast at High Point Cafe before a hike in Wissahickon Valley Park. Then we’d hunt for some treasures at Philly AIDS Thrift and Raxx Vintage and grab takeout from Circles Thai and beers from Brewery ARS. We’d finish the night by catching Pig Iron Theatre Company’s latest production.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family has been endlessly encouraging and I wouldn’t be here without the patrons who collect my work! NextFab’s Artisan Accelerator Program has helped me to expand my entrepreneurial skills and introduced me with a supportive network of other makers and resources. I’m also grateful to independent stores like Revampt Goods (Denver) and Create & Curate (Indiana, PA) that carry my collections, and Philadelphia-based small businesses like Good Buy Supply and Cultivaire that have installed my work on their walls.

Website: www.juiceboxworkshop.com

Instagram: @juiceboxworkshop

Facebook: @juiceboxworkshop