But that isn’t really where the story starts.  For 26 years, Judeen Theis was a junior high school guidance counselor in a small town outside Corpus Christi, Texas.  Ms. Theis loved working with the kids almost as much as she loved the creative sideline pursuit that kept her busy till the wee hours of the morning.  But after 31 years in the public school system, Judeen was ready to focus on her creative pursuits.

Judeen had seen an ad for the Paducah Artist Relocation Program (ARP) and had done some research.  But her research wasn’t entirely positive – in early 2003, the ARP program was very young and most of the neighborhood hadn’t been revitalized yet.  There were only a few available properties and most of those looked more daunting than inviting.

But consequences conspire and by the Fall, Paducah’s siren song had lured Judeen to Western Kentucky. 

At three in the morning, after a 22 hour drive from South Texas, Judeen found herself in Paducah at the Motel 6, exhausted and uncertain.  It was then that she had her first real taste of Southern Hospitality, Paducah-style. 

Now, Judeen has traveled all over the country and of course she had heard about “Southern Hospitality”, but she had never truly encountered it.  It is more than just unexpected kindness from a stranger; it is a stranger who is honestly and earnestly happy to see you, treating you with all the warmth and thoughtfulness one would act toward a treasured relative.  The hostess at the Motel 6 made her feel so welcome and at home that the Motel 6 actually became Judeen’s de-facto hotel of choice in Paducah.  Judeen will tell you that they are more family than hotel employees.   

Her second helping of Southern Hospitality came at the local library the following day.  Judeen had stopped in to do a little local research and find a map of Paducah.  Alas, the library had given away all of their maps, save the one hanging on the wall.  The librarian happily showed Judeen to the wall-mounted map of Paducah and spent another 45 minutes with her, helping her get oriented and showing her where specific destinations were.  Judeen left the library with a smile on her face and another new friend that felt like family.

She drove down Broadway in downtown Paducah and instantly fell in love with the charm and magic of the setting.  With the busy Ohio River on one side of her and the historic city on the other, Judeen Theis of South Texas found her home.

An independent, intrepid explorer in every sense of the phrase, Judeen’s art takes her on journeys that inspire and surprise not only her guests, but Judeen herself.  Quilting – yes, indeed, Judeen quilts, but she adds silk beadwork and liquid-looking bubbles and butterfly-wing spots…  Her quilts show you the ribbons of butterflies on their migration path south from Judeen’s youth.  There are landscapes with snow – or is that dew? – on rich fields of green and blue.  There are flowers climbing stone walls and leaves falling, falling.  And that is just her quilting.

Judeen has produced a series of paintings inspired by and based upon the ancient Indian cave paintings along the Rio Grande River in west Texas.   In a personal quest to save a bit of the rapidly deteriorating history (the original cave drawings date back 4,000 years), Judeen has dyed and treated canvas, then painted the actual images and symbols she took pictures of while touring the caves.  The finished pieces are captivating and enchanting.  So much so that Judeen was asked to participate in the Community Christian Academy’s art program, passing on the secrets of the cave drawings to local 4th graders and hanging a special show for the Academy’s Art Tour (May 9).

Judeen’s Art Studio and Gallery is located  at 720 Harrison Street, just up from Aphrodite Gallery.  Among her quilts and paintings, you can also see more of Judeen’s fiber and surface design work including batiks, knitted hats and scarves, fiber-wrapped wall hangings, elaborate gourd-work and so much more.

Contact Judeen at 270-444-9525 to set up a time to stop by and visit or pop in during her open hours – Friday and Saturday, 1-6 PM.  It is well worth the trip!

by Erica Moore