By Amy Nichols

The exhibit features the rich, tactile worlds of fiber artists Twyla Marti and Cheryl Alderman. These two artists—each guided by nature, intuition, and decades of creative exploration—will share a joint exhibit that showcases the expressive potential of fabric, fiber, and mixed media.

Twyla Marti

How far can a hiking trail lead? For mixed-media and fiber artist Twyla Marti, it led from the desert skies of Phoenix to the forested hills of Tennessee—and ultimately, to Fairfield Glade’s Plateau Creative Arts Center.

Twyla is a mixed-media and fiber artist whose work is a tactile reflection of nature’s intricacy and emotional depth. Inspired by her love of hiking and travel, each piece she creates is a layered exploration of texture, storytelling, and organic beauty. Twyla blends found elements, fabric, and paper with raw edges and intentional design, inviting viewers to pause, look closely, and rediscover wonder in small details.

“My work is rooted in my deep connection with nature and my love for exploring the possibilities of Mixed-Media and Fiber Art. Each piece I create is an experiment in texture, layering, and storytelling — a reflection of the landscapes I hike through and the places I carry with me. I’m inspired by raw edges, unexpected materials, and the freedom that comes from letting a piece evolve on its own terms. Working with fabric, paper, and found elements allows me to blend the organic with the intentional, creating art that feels both familiar and surprising.”

Though her professional background spans decades in the construction industry, her heart has always belonged to art. Twyla studied business and received formal training under top national mixed-media artists, she brings both technical precision and intuitive creativity to her evolving practice. Twyla has taught classes at the Plateau Creative Arts Center and Tellico Village, where she shares her passion for collage, fiber, and mixed-media work.

Cheryl Kain Alderman

Cheryl Kain Alderman is a textile and mixed-media artist whose work is guided by intuition, resilience, and a lifelong fascination with color and form. A breast cancer diagnosis in 2000 was a pivotal moment that deepened her commitment to creativity—not only as artistic expression but as a source of healing and transformation. Her freeform quilt art, rooted in cotton batiks, silks, and rayon, showcases rich texture, asymmetry, and unexpected embellishments that reveal her unique artistic voice.

Her discovery of free-motion quilting unlocked a world of possibility— “I work in an intuitive, freeform style—without patterns or rigid plans—allowing each piece to evolve organically. Inspiration can arise from a single texture, a pattern, a found object, or even a specific fabric. What starts as a vague idea often transforms into something unexpected during the creative process.”

With formal art training in ceramics and academic degrees in Geology and Industrial Engineering, Cheryl blends technical knowledge with creative instinct. She has been an active member of the Asheville Quilt Guild and Fiber Arts Alliance of Western North Carolina and now continues her artistic practice in Middle Tennessee as part of the Art Guild and Fan-tastic Quilters Guild. Her work invites viewers to embrace imperfection, follow curiosity, and discover beauty in evolving forms.

Join us for the Gallery Opening Night reception and explore mixed media and fiber artistry of Twyla and Cheryl. This exhibit will run through October 2.

More Than Art—It’s Community

The Plateau Creative Arts Center is a place where art lives and artists grow. Come be part of it: enjoy the exhibit, take a class, or join the Guild to support local artists and programs.

For more information on the Plateau Creative Arts Center contact the Plateau Creative Arts Center at 931-707-7249.