Kate Themel’s “Dandelion” featured as the Jaw Dropper in MQU Magazine!

CT artist Kate Themel’s fiber artwork Dandelion is featured on page 78 in this month’s issue of Machine Quilting Unlimited, in the section labeled “Jaw Dropper”!    

The current (Sept/Oct 2011) issue of MQU magazine is available in select stores now.  Look for the cover, showing a detail of Ann Horton’s quilt “Honoring Those Who Served”. 

Sneak peak of the contents and Editor’s note here: http://www.mqumag.com/media/uploads/2011/08/15/files/TOC_Sept_.pdf 

Check out the MQU website for information on how to order the current issue or subscribe: http://www.mqumag.com/home/

CT Fiber Arts Collective “Fiber Harvest” at the Noah Webster Library (W.Hartford, CT)

Noah Webster Library of West Hartford

Presents

“Fiber Harvest”

A collection of unique art quilts Created by the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective

September 1^st – October 15^th

(Image: “The Fruits of Our Labor” by Carol Eaton)
Please join the artists for a reception September 8^th from 6:30 – 8:30
Exhibiting Artists: Diane Cadrain, Carol Eaton, Mary Lachman, Karen Loprete, Carol Vinick, Diane Wright, Rosalind Spann and Jeanne Landry
Noah Webster Library | 20 South Main Street | West Hartford, CT 06107 | Ph: 860-561-6950
For directions and information please visit:  http://westhartfordlibrary.org/about/howtofindus

Catherine Smith’s Purple Series #1 #2 in Art New England – September/October 2011 issue

Congratulations to Connecticut artist Catherine Whall Smith!

The upcoming September/October 2011 issue of Art New England magazine will feature two of Smith’s recent Purple Line series in their “Artist Directory” .

(image: Purple Line Series - Gold Hay ©2011 CWSmith)

See more of Catherine Smith’s fiber art at http://catherinewhallsmith.com/

Art New England has been the premier contemporary arts publication for over a quarter century, engaging its readers with critical insight into the exhibitions, artists, trends, and controversies affecting the New England art scene today. Dedicated to providing coverage of regional artists working in both local and international settings, Art New England continues to enhance the ongoing discourse between those connected by their love of art and culture.  To learn more, visit Art New England’s website: http://artnewengland.com/

Non-Juried Exhibition: First Church of Christ, Congregational 16th Annual Quilt and Needle Arts Show (East Haddam, CT)

Attention Quilters and Fiber Artists of Connecticut:

You are invited to participate in the 16th Annual Quilt and Needle Arts Show, located in America's oldest Federal Meetinghouse, built in 1794 by architect Lavius Filmore. 

When decorated with vibrant quilts and needlework, the church is transformed into a spectacular showcase and an inspiration to those of us who appreciate fine handwork.  Please submit an exhibitor form to display your quilt, cross-stitch, needlepoint, hooked rugs, knitting or crochet work.

Exhibitor Forms are DUE SEPTEMBER 15th, 2011

Click here for a Copy of the exhibitor form 

If your submission is for sale, please indicate your asking price on the application form.  First Church reserves the right to collect a 20% commission for handling the sale.

Submissions are due at the church on Friday, October 7, between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and can be picked up immediately after the show (between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m.) on Sunday, October 9. 

Vendors will be selling quilt and needle arts related items.  The raffle quilt, “Sedona through the pines” will be on display and the winning ticket will be drawn on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.  Homemade soups, chili, desserts and refreshments will be available in the café.

Vendors and advertisers can find information and a form here

Please be assured that your submission will be cared for by members of First Church. (Volunteers will be sleeping in the church on Friday and Saturday nights just to keep an eye on everything!) 

Show hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday, October 8th and

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Sunday, October 9th 

Admission: $5.00 (Exhibitors are admitted free of charge)

The First Church of Christ Congregational is located at 499 Town St. (Route 151), East Haddam, CT.  

Click here to Visit the church website

For more information contact Holly Coleman at 860-873-8567 or email ehquiltshow@sc43.org

Catherine Smith’s Work Selected for The MAC Regional All Media Show (Mystic, CT)

Congratulations to CT Fiber Artist Catherine Whall Smith!

Smith’s Small Studies #3: BLACK, WHITE, RED ALL OVER has been selected to be shown at The MAC 55th Regional all media juried show.

Mystic Arts Center

9 Water Street

Mystic CT

August 5th – September 24th

Opening Reception, Thursday, August 11th 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Image: Catherine Smith’s Small Studies #3 - BLACK, WHITE, RED ALL OVER (26H X 26W inches)

Fiber Art Events in Lowell This Month (Lowell, MA)

Quoted from “Fabric, Life, Art” blog by Linda Branch Dunn

http://lindabranchdunn.blogspot.com/2011/08/quilts-and-art-in-lowell-this-month.html

At the Brush Gallery: Art Quilts: The Sea, a juried  exhibit of work from Canadian and US artists. The show runs from August 11 - September 10, 2011, with a reception on Saturday, August 13, 3 - 5 pm.

At the Whistler House Museum, the juried exhibit Art Quilts 2011. The exhibit runs from August 10 through September 3, with special events including afternoon tea and sweets August 12, gallery night August 11, and a reception Saturday August 12.

Bulbs by Pamela Allen

For more traditional quilting, plus a raft of vendors and events, visit the Lowell Quilt Festival,tat the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. I especially recommend the lecture by Beatriz Grayson, a wonderful quilt artist.
At the National Quilt Museum, Maine's Quilt Heritage, an exhibit of quilts dating back to 1804.

At the American Textile Museum, two exhibits. Grace and Glamour: 1930 Fashion features the limpid, sensuous style and the modernism of that decade.

Marking Time: Voyage to Vietnam records how soldiers used marks, including graffiti and stitch, to mark their time on a US transport ship.

At 122 Western Avenue, in Western Avenue Studios, the Loading Dock Gallery is open Wednesday-Sunday, 11-4:30. Explore work by several artists from Western Avenue Studios, as well as the textile art show, Moment of Pure Seeing.

Trio:  Tranquillo, Grazioso, Quieto by Linda Dunn

2011 SAQA Benefit Auction Begins September 12th

Start Date: September 12, 2011 / 2PM Eastern, 11AM Pacific

Place: www.saqa.com

What: Reverse auction of 300 glorious small works of art created and donated by SAQA’s members to raise money to support SAQA’s exhibition, education and outreach programs

Auction will be run in 3 groups:

Group 1 starts Sept. 12

Group 2 starts Sept. 19

Group 3 starts Sept. 26

Great art at a great price!  Add to your collection – bid on a beautiful work of art as a gift for yourself or for someone you love.

Preview Auction works at www.saqa.com

Artist Karen Maru Interviewed for “World of Threads Festival”

Connecticut fiber artist Karen Maru is featured on www.worldofthreadsfestival.com this week.

Karen Maru is a fascinating person as well as a busy artist and teacher.  This extensive interview reveals some of Maru’s artistic background, inspiration and influences on her past and current work and vision for the future. 

Most of the article is in Karen Maru’s own words, accompanied by amazing color images.  The photos of her work tell a story of travel and adventure, as well as a deep connection to Cambodian culture through textiles.  

Image, left: “Aspara 6” by Karen Maru, made from textiles she collected during her travels and cloth that she created herself

Maru describes the Cambodian influence in her work (excerpt):

“Cambodia is my muse. I grew up in South East Asia and first saw the temples of Angkor Wat in 1957. As a child, lost civilizations, utopian Shangri Las and jungle shrouded mysteries were quite appealing. As an artist I am interested in cultural studies, Orientalism (and Occidentalism), international gender politics and global hegemonies. I have found that constraining these inquiries to just me and Cambodia gives my work a focus and depth I like. Always returning to Cambodia brings me to a jumping off place to explore new layers of meanings and connections that are personal and universal.”

Read the entire interview here: http://worldofthreadsfestival.com/artist_interviews/027_karen_maru_11.html

Interviews published by Gareth Bate & Dawne Rudman

Opening Reception at The Loading Dock Gallery this Friday Aug. 5 (Lowell, MA)

Lowell was once the place for manufacturing textiles, but now it is a destination for textile art.  Venues range from the American Textile History Museum to the New England Quilt Museum. 

This summer, the list includes Moments of Pure Seeing, a mixed media textile art exhibit of work by artists Linda Branch Dunn and Sonja Lee‐Austin at the Loading Dock Gallery opening July 29. 

Dunn and Lee‐Austin have been creating textile art in Lowell for many years.  Lee‐Austin opened Friends Fabric Art with her mother, Ann Lee, in downtown Lowell in June 2002.  Dunn was among the first artists to join Lowell’s Western Avenue Studios when it opened in 2005.  Both artists continue to create their art in Lowell at their studios at Western Avenue Studios.

Moments of Pure Seeing
July 29 – August 28 2011
Reception for the Artists:  August 5th 2011, 6–9 PM

The Loading Dock Gallery at Western Avenue Studios
122 Western Avenue
Lowell, MA 01851