Linda Garcia, a creative force in the LSA’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, uses quilting and Barbies to channel inspiration from the scientists she admires. She crafts vibrant quilts and imaginative dioramas that uplift spirits during challenging times. “With everything going on in the world and how individuals on campus can experience heightened levels of agitation, it can be heavy, so I need to create a positive, light environment,” said Garcia, an executive assistant in EEB.
Garcia’s experience with quilting spans over a decade, offering her an escape from daily stress. During the pandemic, she transitioned to using brighter colors in her work. Her “Open Heart, Open Mind” quilt, a 7½-by-5½-foot masterpiece, exemplifies grace, courage, and hope. Crafted with foundation paper piecing, it was designed amid the pandemic’s chaos. “The material is vibrant colors, and it’s bananas,” she explained.
Visitors to the Biological Sciences Building frequently admire her quilt. “There was a lot of, ‘oh, wow,’ and they’re looking at everything and seeing the detail and also the messages that are there,” Garcia noted. Additionally, her Joan of Arc quilt, showcasing intense eyes, captivates viewers with its intricacy. “The eyes have probably 20 pieces in this little area of fabric that’s sewn on,” she shared.
Though her quilts adorn walls, Garcia encourages their use. “Don’t hang it on the wall, put it on your bed, wrap a baby in it… use it,” she advises. Her philosophy emphasizes practicality and connection. Currently, she’s working on a “Women in Science” quilt, inspired by female scientists like Patricia Wittkopp and Jillian Myers.
Garcia’s creativity extends to dioramas featuring Barbie dolls. Her first project mimicked the work of Jacob Allgeier on coral reefs, complete with miniature cinder blocks. A second diorama celebrated Liliana Cortés Ortiz’s research on howler monkeys. Garcia’s husband contributed small plastic monkeys for the scene. “The younger cohort who sees the dioramas on my desk say, ‘This is so cool,’” Garcia said, highlighting the excitement around science.
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