SAQA Announces Selections: Int’l Quilt Study Center Permanent Collection

Over one hundred eighty art quilts have been traveling in SAQA’s 20th Anniversary Trunk Show for the past year.  From this diverse and beautiful group, fifty-five quilts have been chosen to become part of the International Quilt Study Center’s permanent collection at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.  IQSC will maintain the collection and make it available to researchers and students interested in fine art quilting and fiber art. 

The collection will include work by SAQA-CT artists Vivika DeNegre, Karen Loprete, Linda Zimmerman and Margaret Phillips.

(image: Uncle Mike by Margaret Phillips)

Vou Best has been coordinating the traveling Trunk Show, which was separated into 3 collections in order to reach a wider audience. Members of SAQA-Connecticut were fortunate to have one of the Trunk Shows at our Regional meeting in Guilford in December 2009. 

According to Best:

“During the past year, many people have viewed the Trunk Shows in venues across the United States and in several other countries.  They have been shown at SAQA Regional meetings, to Quilt Guilds, in Gallery shows, at IQF receptions, and I’m sure to neighbors and friends wherever the trunks have visited. Everywhere they’ve traveled, they have received an overwhelmingly positive reaction”.

After the selected works have been transferred to the University of Nebraska, the remaining art quilts will continue to travel in two collections until January 2011.  After that, they will either be returned to the artist or sold on SAQA’s website.

SAQA’s Vice President Sandra Sider selected the works for the IQSC collection. 

“One of the best parts of the 2009 SAQA conference was the three hours spent in my hotel room, with the 20th Anniversary Trunk Show spread out over beds, tables, chairs and floor.  What an explosion of creative energy! 

My curatorial task was to select approximately fifty pieces that would be donated in 2010 as a SAQA collection to the International Quilt Study Center. This collection documents the various techniques, processes, materials and artistic styles in quilt art during the 21st century, and the SAQA Board envisions these quilts as research tools, far into the future”. 

To all the SAQA artists who exhibited their work in the traveling Trunk Show and the fifty five who will be part of the IQSC permanent collection…  Congratulations!!

Debbie Bein’s “Reel Time” at Blue Door Gallery

Congratulations to our CT/NY SAQA member Debbie Bein! 

Bein’s art quilt “Reel Time: Mona’s Party” has been juried into Women about Woman: A Broad Introspective Retrospective at the Blue Door Gallery in Yonkers, NY.

(image, left: detail of “Reel Time” by Debbie Bein)

This unique art quilt is fifteen feet long end to end, but it is usually displayed as a draped, bending filmstrip.  “Mona” won Best of Show, Small Quilts category, in the Northern Star Quilters Guild show last year.  This work, as with many art quilts, should be seen in person to be fully appreciated.

An Opening Reception will be held on March 20, from 2:00 – 5:00 pm.

The exhibition will run from March 20 – May 8, 2010.

The Blue Door Gallery

13 Riverdale Avenue

Yonkers, NY, 10701

(914) 375.5100

Gallery Hours: Wednesday, Thursday 12 – 5pm / Friday 1 – 6pm / Saturday 12 – 5pm

 

Solo Exhibition of Work by Kate Themel, Opens March 1st (Cheshire, CT)

The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery presents a solo exhibition of fine art quilts by Cheshire artist Kate Themel. 

Kate likes finding beauty in ordinary things.  Her quilted pictures feature anything from metal gears to colorful frogs to her own family members.  “I approach each composition as if I’m creating an intimate portrait,” says Themel, “the subject isn’t always a person”.

The exhibition will run from March 1 – 30, 2010.

 (image: Unity of Purpose by Kate Themel)

The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery

130 Elm Street

Watch Factory Shoppes

Cheshire, CT 06410

www.thefunkymonkeycafe.com

What’s Happening This Week – Fiber Art in Connecticut

Think Outside the Blocks opens at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury.  The artists of Fiber Revolution will display their work at NVCC’s Leever Atrium Gallery from February 25 – April 23, 2010. 

An Opening Reception will be held on Saturday February 27th from 1-3 PM.  

NVCC Fine Arts Building

750 Chase Parkway

Waterbury CT

The gallery is in the Fine Arts building, 3rd floor next to the theater

www.nvcc.commnet.edu

For more information about Fiber Revolution, visit their website: www.fiberrevolution.com

*

 The following exhibitions run until the end of the week.  Check them out while there’s still time!

“Standing Ovation” 3rd Annual Fiber at the Garde

The Garde Arts Center

325 State Street

New London, CT

www.gardearts.org

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“Art & Fiber by Gail Kotowski” at the Connecticut Bar Association

Connecticut Bar Association

3rd Floor Gallery

30 Bank Street

New Britain, CT

860-223-4400

*

Kiernan Hall Nature Arts Gallery "Reflections" A collection of 29 quilts from the Art Quilt Network, runs until the end of February. Gallery Hours are Mon-Sat, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m.

Audubon Greenwich

613 Riversville Road

Greenwich, CT

203-869-5272

http://greenwich.audubon.org

*

Diane Wright at shopSPACE Gallery, part of the Guilford Art Center

411 Church Street
Guilford CT
(203) 453-5947

Gallery Hours: Wed – Sat, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm

www.guilfordartcenter.org

Diane Wright – juried into ARTQUILTS illuminations

Illuminations attract and affect each of us with clarity, insight, radiance, or reflection. Illuminations can light our visual path or enlighten us on our intellectual, spiritual, and/or emotional journeys. Whether it be through the illuminating effects of your work or the enlightened ideas you've chosen to reflect, we invite you to share your illuminations in quilt art form.

Congratulations to Connecticut artist Diane Wright and the 35 artists who were accepted into the Professional Art Quilters Alliance-South (PAQA) juried show, ARTQUILTS illuminations.  35 quilts were chosen from 136 entries, including entries from Canada and Taiwan.

(image: a detail of “Sticks and Stones” by Diane Wright) 

PAQA-South’s ARTQUILTS illuminations runs from March 26th through May 30th, 2010

Opening Reception Friday, April 16th, 2010 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm

The Durham Arts Council is located at 120 Morris Street, Durham NC 27701.  See the Arts Council website for more details: http://www.durhamarts.org

 

Fiber Art on Display in Kent, CT this March

The artists of Fiber Revolution will exhibit their work at the Robin Alexander Ltd. Gallery in Kent, CT from Saturday, March 6th through Sunday, April 11th, 2010. 

An Opening Reception will be held at the gallery on March 6th from 3:00 – 6:00 PM

Robin Alexander Ltd. represents artists and artisans specializing in handcrafted furniture and unique home decor.  SAQA-Connecticut’s Muriel Stockdale Grabe is one of the artists exclusively represented by the Robin Alexander Gallery. 
“Fiber Revolution in Kent” was curated by Ann Privee, Owner of Robin Alexander Ltd.

Fiber Revolution’s participating artists include: Cindy Friedman, Deborah Schwartzman, Susan Ferraro, Benedicte Caneill, Rachel Cochran, Kris Moss, Jutta Halpin, Kevan Lunney, Barbara McKie, Norma Schlager, Gwyned Trefethen, Virginia Adams, Melissa Fowler and Natalya Aikens, as well as Fiber Rev Alumna Nike Cutsumpas.   (postcard features Nike Cutsumpas’ art quilt “Jack’s Journey”)

The Robin Alexander Ltd. Gallery is located at:

The Village Barns
5 Fulling Lane,
Kent, Connecticut 06757

Telephone:   (860) 927-0919
Email: Ann@RobinAlexander.org 

Gallery Hours:

Wed. through Fri. 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat. 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sun. 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm

All other hours are by prior appointment only

News From Muriel Stockdale, the “E Pluribus” Project

I want to share with you two fabulous reports on my recent E Pluribus exhibit at LaGuardia Community College.

Ashley Balavender, a second year Liberal Arts and  Science major has written a great review of the show.

To read Balavender’s review, visit LaGuardia Community College website.

James Lynch, also a student, has created a very engaging video study of the project with some really great comments from many diverse students at the college.

It is such a thrill to hear these comments that confirm my hope that I am on the right track and getting the message across. Click here to watch James Lynch's video

ENJOY!

Muriel Stockdale

www.epluribus.us

News from Pat Ferguson, “Zentangle” class

“ZENTANGLE”

~Developed by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts~

Certified Zentangle teacher, Gwen Fuller, will visit Pat Ferguson's studio in Ashford, CT to teach this relaxing and rewarding form of art that can never fail. Requiring no artistic skills, this basic beginner class, is suitable for any and all skill levels. Even if you think you have no artistic skills you will find them here!

Open you mind to different patterns that can cross over and add to your free motion quilting repertoire. Are you stuck on plain everyday stipples? This class will give you inspiration and a new way to look at your quilt, in smaller sections, for some spectacular machine quilting possibilities.

Class is open to anyone age 12 an older.

Zentangles applies to many fields of interest. It is therapeutic, non technical, and takes on its own form with each person’s individual doodles. Learn many basic patterns to get you started.

Sat. April 10, 2010

1:00-3:00 pm

Class fee $35.00

“Zentangle is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns”. ~www.zentangle.com

*No supplies or sewing machine needed*

Just come to class ready to begin a new adventure!

*Gwen will supply basic tools needed.

*Pat will supply plenty of table space, great lighting, coffee & tea.

*Zentangle Kits will be available for purchase.

Contact pat@patfergusonquilts.com to register

Visit www.patfergusonquilts.com for other classes

Nancy Crow quilts at the Fuller Craft Museum (Brockton, MA)

(image: Constructions 96 by Nancy Crow)

Nancy Crow: CROSSROADS / NEW AND RECENT QUILTS is on display at the Fuller Craft Museum now until April 19th, 2010.  Special Event:  "BEHIND THE QUILTS" - March 13th 2010 11 a.m. 

Staff members will be in the galleries to turn back corners and edges of Nancy’s quilts giving you an up-close look at the back of her work. Get a first hand look at the backing materials, stitching patterns and finishing touches of these magnificent quilts.  Admission: Members $5 Non Members $10

SAQA-CT artist Catherine Smith recently completed a workshop with Nancy Crow and had this to say about her experience:

“The "Nancy Crow" workshop that I did in January was a great experience for me.  To be able to spend a whole week at the Fuller Craft Museum - in a huge studio space was the best.  Every participant worked extremely hard - basically 12 hour days - for 5 days.  We were able to preview Crow's show before the opening - she was very generous to include us in the walk through with the reporters on Friday.  I loved it all and would encourage all to check it out.”

Catherine Smith’s Yellow #4 was juried into the 67th Annual Connecticut Artists Juried Exhibition at The Slater Memorial Museum.  The show runs from February 21st - April 2nd, 2010.  An Opening Reception will be held on FEBRUARY 21ST from 1- 3 pm for artists, friends, and the public.

The Slater Museum (part of the Norwich Free Academy) is located at 108 Crescent Street, Norwich, CT 06360.

It’s a Good Month for Fiber Art

Barbara Barrick McKie was recently juried into 3 separate fiber art shows, with 2 pieces in each show.  Check out Barb’s work at AQS Lancaster March 24 – 27, 2010, the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival February 25-28, 2010 and Celebrate Spring, part of IQA.

Martha Sielman will be giving a lecture on Masters: Art Quilts at the Storrs Public Library on Saturday, February 20, 2010.  See the actual quilts featured in the book at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, Massachusetts, now until February 25th.

During the month of February, you can see art quilts by Diane Wright at shopSPACE gallery in Guilford, CT.  shopSPACE is part of the Guilford Art Center, located at 411 Church Street, Guilford CT.  (203) 453-5947.  Gallery Hours are Wed – Sat, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm.  http://www.guilfordartcenter.org

The artists of Fiber Revolution will display their work at Naugatuck Valley Community College from February 25 – April 23, 2010.  An Opening Reception will be held on Saturday February 27th from 1-3PM.   NVCC is located at 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury CT.  The gallery is in the Fine Arts building, 3rd floor next to the theater.

Fiber Art at the Garde “Standing Ovation” runs until the end of the month.   The Garde Art Center is located at 325 State Street, New London CT.

Art & Fiber by Gail Kotowski will also run until the end of this month.  See Gail’s work at the Connecticut Bar Association located at 30 Bank Street, New Britain, CT.

Until February 27th, Kiernan Hall Nature Arts Gallery presents "Reflections": a collection of 29 quilts from the Art Quilt Network.  Gallery hours are Mon-Sat, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. Audubon Greenwich is located at 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, CT. 203-869-5272, www.greenwich.audubon.org.

Community Threads runs until February 28, 2010. See beautiful quilts and fiber art throughout the Hartford region. 

For more details on these as well as upcoming events, see our Calendar of Events.

Opening February 7, 2010: Diane Wright at ShopSPACE Gallery (Guilford CT)

The Guilford Art Center has closed its gift shop and re-opened the space as a small gallery representing regional artists. 

The first exhibition as shopSPACE features SAQA artist Diane Wright.

Opening reception Feb 7, 3-5pm

shopSPACE is part of the Guilford Art Center, located at

411 Church Street, Guilford CT / (203) 453-5947

Gallery Hours: Wed – Sat, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm 

The Gallery Committee juries applicants' work for six week exhibitions throughout the year. For more info visit http://www.guilfordartcenter.org

Mark Twain House & Museum Offers Discounts for friends of “Community Threads”

Thursday, February 18th: To celebrate the Community Threads exhibition and The 125^th Anniversary of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Mark Twain House & Museum presents The Ebony Hillbillies in concert, one of the last all-black string bands performing the sounds of bluegrass, jazz, blues and Americana out of the Southern tradition that Twain loved best.

The concert begins at 7:30 PM at the Mark Twain Museum Center.  Interspersed throughout the program are selections from the controversial novel that chronicles a boy overcoming his racist upbringing to help his friend Jim escape from slavery. 

The Mark Twain House & Museum will extend their Member price to friends of the Community Threads quilting project. If you call to order tickets, please reference the Community Threads discount to receive $5 off the ticket price.

The Mark Twain House & Museum is located at 351 Farmington Ave, Hartford CT

Free Hartford Community Day, Saturday, February 20^th: Residents of the City of Hartford will be able to tour the historic house and museum center at no charge.  Aside from being able to see the Gee’s Bend/CHS Community Threads quilts in the museum center, you will also be able to see historic quilts from the The Mark Twain Museum center’s collection on display in the house itself.  Proof of residency will be required that day.

Call for Entries: Collective Thread, University of Central Missouri Gallery (Warrensburg, MO)

 

COLLECTIVE THREAD: International Juried Textile and Fibers Exhibition

Exhibition Dates: May 15 - June 25, 2010

Deadline for Entry: March 1, 2010

The University of Central Missouri Gallery of Art & Design is pleased to announce an international juried textile exhibition  exploring the interconnected relationships between artist process, medium, and life. Collective Thread - a juried fiber & textile exhibition, will showcase contemporary quilters, textile artists, and fiber artists; representing how, through a common or “collective” medium, a diverse and exploratory range of art can be produced.

Juror for Collective Thread is acclaimed artist and University of Central Missouri faculty member, Annie Helmericks-Louder.

Recently included in the Studio Art Quilt Associates international traveling exhibition: A Sense of Direction: Sitelines; Helmericks-Louder works as a painter and textile artist and is represented by the Strecker-Nelson Gallery in Manhattan, Kansas, and the Leopold Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri.

Eligibility: Collective Thread is a juried show of contemporary textiles, open to national and international artists. Open to all professional, contemporary, traditional, and transitional professional artists 18 years and over.

All works must be based in a fiber medium.  Other techniques and mediums may be incorporated. Works must be ready to hang and/or exhibit. Works must be original and completed within the past two years. Maximum size is 72” high and 108” wide. There is no minimum size.

Awards: $500 best in show, plus a solo exhibition in 2011.

Entry Fee: $25 for up to three (3) entries.  For submission guidelines and entry form go to: www.ucmo.edu/gallery or email: gallery@ucmo.edu 

UCM Gallery of Art & Design
217 Clark Street
AC 215
Warrensburg, MO  64093
660.543.4498
www.ucmo.edu/gallery