Solo Exhibition by Ed Johnetta Miller at Windsor Art Center (Windsor, CT) Reception Jan. 19, 2013

January 19 – March 2, 2013
EdJohnetta Miller, Solo Fiber Exhibition “Fibers & Friends”
Opening reception January 19, 5-7 PM

A fiber artist, quilter, teacher, curator and lecturer, Ed Johnetta Fowler-Miller is acknowledged to be one of the most creative and colorful improvisational quilt makers in the U.S. Widely exhibited in the U.S. and internationally, her quilts can be found in many important museums, corporate and private collections including, The National Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; Nelson Mandela's National Museum in Cape town, South Africa; and the Wadsworth Athenaeum.

Windsor Art Center (The Freight House)
40 Mechanic Street
Windsor, CT 06095
(860) 688-2528
www.windsorartcenter.org

WAC Gallery Hours:
Thursday 6pm – 8pm
Saturday 10am – 4pm
Sunday 11am – 4pm

SAQA-CT, eQuilter and FedEx Team Up to Help Hurricane Victims

On October 29, 2012 the Northeast coast of the United States was hit with a devastating hurricane.  Many residents of Connecticut were forced to evacuate their homes, and returned to find severe wind and water damage.  New Jersey and New York suffered flooding, power outages and fires that wiped out whole neighborhoods.

Landing on the most densely populated area of the United States, Hurricane Sandy left thousands of people homeless.

Luana Rubin, owner of eQuilter.com, decided to help.  Securing warehouse space from Timeless Treasures, Luana put out a call to collect quilts and bedding for those in need.

And a group of artists in Connecticut answered the call.  The members of Sisters in Cloth organized a quilt drive they named "reCOVERy”. 

At our recent regional meeting, members of SAQA-CT donated quilts, bedding and money for the cause.  This week, Diane Wright sent a message to Luana Rubin at eQuilter (excerpt):

“We are shipping off tomorrow seven boxes of donated quilts and other bedding from members of SAQA/CT:  about 200 pounds of warmth.  They include 5 sets of flannel sheets, 10 crib/lap quilts, 16 twin quilts and 5 full/double quilts.  Then, FEDEX generously offered to ship our seven boxes for free!! 

We used our shipping funds to purchase more from Bed Bath and Beyond…and with free shipping, another twin and two doubles should be arriving soon.

Thank you for spearheading this.  It has helped us feel like we could help.”

 

THANK YOU, members of SAQA-CT, for your generosity!  And FedEx, for helping a worthy cause and getting these donations quickly to those who need it.  And of course, thanks to everyone at eQuilter and Timeless Treasures for providing a pathway to help people in need.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

SAQA-CT Regional Meeting in Guilford

Another great one!  Saturday’s regional meeting at the Guilford Free Library was one of our best yet.  Over 50 people - SAQA members and guests - made the trip to catch up with friends, meet new people, see the Sisters in Cloth exhibition and share their own fiber art as well.

We started out with a few announcements:

• First, a big Thank You to the members of Sisters in Cloth, for hosting this meeting and providing lunch. 
• For other members who belong to small art groups or guilds, please consider combining your next get together with a SAQA regional meeting.  You don’t even have to feed us! (but we never object to a free lunch).  What we really need is enough room and chairs for 30+ people.  Any ideas for meeting venues? Please contact Kate Themel or Diane Wright.
• SAQA-CT’s regional exhibition “Local Color” is now officially SAQA-approved and the prospectus can be found on SAQA’s website (as well as on this blog).  Members can log into saqa.com and see a preview of the on line entry form: http://saqacallforentries7.com/ 
• On line entries for “Local Color” will be open Jan 15 – Feb 15, 2013
• Please welcome your next CT Co-Reps, Catherine Whall Smith and Barbara C. Adams!  Kate Themel will be stepping down in April 2013 and Diane Wright will stay until the end of 2013.  In the meantime Kate and Diane will remain as mentors, gradually transitioning responsibilities to Cathy and Barb.
• Kate and Diane will remain as managing curators for “Local Color” until the exhibition closes.  Check the Local Color facebook page for updates: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Local-Color-Fiber-Art-in-Connecticut/210938965706155?ref=hl

Then onto the Gift Bag Giveaways!
As a way to thank the members of SAQA-CT for their enthusiasm, creativity and friendship, Kate gave away 2 tote bags filled with fiber-art-making goodies.  In random drawings, the bags were taken home by Dierdre Abbots and Timi Bronson. 
Bobbie Morehouse also donated a book on embroidery, won by Lina Lawall. 

Show and Tell was inspiring, enlightening and fun, as always.  You can see some of the artists and their work in the slideshow below.  For the uninitiated: our Show and Tell time is usually the high point of our meetings.  Everyone (including guests) are encouraged to bring something to share.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be a quilt.  We’re interested in ANY kind of fiber art. 

		Dec 8, 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

There were so many participants we had to break for lunch half way through.  And the variety of work!  We saw a bit of everything - beautiful traditional quilts, wall hangings, stitched paper, felted bags, embellished clothing, even photo-printed soda cans!

Lunch and Shopping
Members were treated to a delicious lunch as they socialized, enjoyed the artwork on display, and shopped for fabric and books.  Carol Eaton had a table full of her stunning hand-dyed fabrics for sale.  And Rita Hannifin brought books and catalogs from the SAQA store.

Thank you, Sisters in Cloth, for hosting this event.  The “Indigo” and “Postage Stamp” challenge quilts were inspiring!  And everyone I talked to loved the homemade soups, not to mention the stuffed breads and great desserts!

The Sisters also rallied our generous CT members for a good cause.  Quilts, blankets, sheets and over $250 was collected for the “reCOVERy” effort – to help victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Several CT members wanted to come but weren’t able to attend this time.  We hope to see you at the next one, tentatively planned for February 2013. Check this blog for details as they become available.

Thank you to everyone who came to Guilford this weekend, and for ALL the members of SAQA Connecticut who make this such a special group!