The exhibition reflects the artist’s journey through grief using her medium of clothing design. Killingsworth is the owner of the Ivory Thimble in Lindsborg. Located downtown since 2016, the tailor’s shop offers custom clothing, alterations, and mending.

Killingsworth, originally from Geneseo, Kan., grew up on a farm a few miles outside of Kanopolis Lake and graduated from Quivira Heights High School in Bushton, Kan. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in apparel and textiles with specialization in design from the college of human ecology at Kansas State University in 2012. She worked as a tailor/costume designer in Los Angeles before returning to Kansas to make one-of-a-kind clothing.

“The past year was a year of big loss, big change, and lots of learning for me,” she says in her artist statement. “It is sad that sometimes it is only through loss that we get to take account of all that is good and find peace in the stillness. But also wonderful that through loss we can be grateful for all the good we have. I am thankful for it all – change, sameness, peace, stress, sadness, happiness, loss, and God’s gifts.”

The Smoky Valley Arts and Folklife Center is open 1-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday and is supported by the KCAIC, NEA, and the Raymer Society.