Meeting Notes AND Please Welcome Our New SAQA CT Rep, Catherine Whall Smith!

A lot of information packed into one short meeting! But first…

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Please welcome Catherine (Cathy) Smith, our new SAQA CT Rep!

Cathy will take over as Co-Rep as Kate Themel steps down in April. 
Diane Wright will end her tenure as a SAQA Rep at the end of 2013, transitioning the role to Barbara Adams. But Diane and Kate won’t be far away – they’ll continue as Managing Curators for the “Local Color” exhibition through 2014.

Cathy is excited to take on this two year commitment and is eager to hear from the members regarding their goals for SAQA CT.

To learn more about Cathy Smith and her artwork, visit her website:
http://catherinewhallsmith.com/

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Now on to the 2/23/2013 MEETING NOTES:

February 23, 2013
Windsor Art Center (Windsor, CT)

Despite the threat of pending snow - 27 Members and 5 Guests attended our meeting at the Winsor Art Center. Marcia Hinckley, our host at the Windsor Art Center, spoke a little about the gallery’s current exhibition, “Ed Johnetta Miller: Fibers & Friends” (on display until March 3, 2013). 

As 2 of Ed Johnetta’s former students, SAQA-CT artists Carol Vinick and Diane Cadrain also have pieces in the Fibers & Friends show.

Cathy and Diane Wright presented Kate with a “going away – but not too far” gift.  A beautiful coffee table book, Georgia O'Keeffe and Her Houses and a card signed by CT members, fit nicely into a canvas tote.  The tote bag was printed with a lovely quote by Thoreau: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.”

Catherine Smith spoke about the Windham Textile & History Museum (WTHM)’s Now/Then Quilt show to take place in May 2014.
Twelve invited quilters (8 are CT SAQA members) will use their current techniques and materials to interpret one of the historical quilts in the museums collection. Many activities are being planned to enhance this 25th anniversary show, including a block challenge.

All SAQA Ct members have been invited to participate in the “Spool of Thread” Block Challenge. To participate, artists must create a 10 ½ inch block of their interpretation of a spool of thread. Twenty five blocks (signifying WTHM’s 25th anniversary) will be sewn into a quilt and machine quilted by Pat Ferguson.
The Anniversary quilt will remain in the permanent collection of the WTHM.  Extra blocks may be framed or otherwise finished and sold to benefit the museum.

The deadline for submitting a block is November 1st, 2013. Cathy will talk more about this challenge at future meetings.  Click here to review the “Spool of Thread Block Challenge” entry form, found on this blog (see tab above). 

Kate Themel shared her experience as a juror for the “Out of the Loop” show at the West Hartford Art League.

The show includes fiber works that advance traditional techniques through innovative artist interpretations. The group had many questions regarding how a juror picks pieces for a show. Kate explained her approach, and discussed some of the differences between a juror and a quilt judge.

Updates on the “Local Color” Show were presented by Managing Curators: Diane Wright and Kate Themel, and Exhibition Co-Chairs: Maryann Weinberg and Margaret Philips

• Jurors are reviewing all the entries now
• Email notification of accepted work will be sent March 10 – 15, 2013
• “Local Color” Opens at the Haas Library at Western CT University (WCSU) on May 4, 2013.
• Mayann is working on reserving space at WCSU for the next regional meeting. Tentative date is Saturday May 4, to coincide with the opening of Local Color.  More information will be provided as details are confirmed.
• There WILL be a catalog printed for the “Local Color” Show!

Show and Tell – many of the members actually brought pieces that they had entered into the CT “Local Color” show – lots of inspiration.

Lunch – there was a little confusion as to the member sign in sheet and the Lunch list – so we had plenty of food and were able to offer the lunch to any member that changed their mind once they saw the delicious sandwiches and wraps. (To eliminate any future confusion Catherine Smith has offered to purchase a Members Sign In Book for our next meeting.
The lunch list will be on a clip board clearly marked for that purpose.)
FYI - The German Chocolate Cake was from Motta’s bakery just outside Willimantic on Route 6 .

Since we were able to complete all of the members “Show and Tell” before Lunch members were able to get on the road following lunch and drive home in safety!!

Thank you, everyone who made trip.  If you couldn’t make it to Windsor this time, we hope to see you in Danbury in May!  Special thanks to Jan Doyle for providing these terrific photos of the meeting.

“The Artistry of CT Craft” Opens Friday, Brookfield Craft Center

The Brookfield Craft Center presents:

The Artistry of Connecticut Craft
March 1 – April 14, 2013

Opening reception: Friday, March 1, 2013 from 5 – 8 PM

SAQA-CT artist Kate Themel will have five pieces of fiber art in the multi media group show, including her fabric portrait “After the Wake” (image, lower left). 

Participating artists include Robert Dancik (jewelry), Andy Pyle and Leslie French (glass), Ann Mallory (ceramics), Missy Stevens (fiber art), Patty Storms (drawing), William Trowbridge (forged iron), Brian Walters (sculpture) and Joy Wulke (sculpture).

Visit the Craft Center’s gift shop and gallery to see the variety of beautiful handcrafted pottery, glasswork, jewelry and more.

Gallery/Gift Shop Hours:
Monday – Saturday 11am – 5pm
Sunday 12pm – 4pm
and by appointment

Brookfield Craft Center
285 Whisconier Rd
Brookfield, CT 06804
www.brookfieldcraft.org

For more information call (203) 775-4526 or email info@brookfieldcraft.org.

Local Color: The Entries are In

Thank you, SAQA-CT artists!  You really came through for “Local Color”.

46 artists submitted 99 pieces of beautiful fiber art to be considered for the exhibition.

The next step is in the hands of our jurors, Michele Palmer and Fran Phillips, to choose the final collection.

Notifications will be sent via email on or before March 15th.  Good luck, everyone! 

New Venue for “Local Color”– Slater Memorial Museum (Norwich, CT)

We are proud to announce another venue for SAQA-CT’s traveling exhibition “Local Color”. The Slater Memorial Museum will host the show in September 2013.

The Slater Memorial Museum is part of the Norwich Free Academy, located at 108 Crescent Street in Norwich, CT.

Don’t wait – get your entries in today!  Registration closes on February 15, 2013. To enter, sign on to saqa.com and go to: http://saqacallforentries7.com/

Local Color Venues:
Haas Library at Western CT State U in Danbury, CT from May 4 – June 14, 2013
Legislative Office Building in Hartford, CT from July 1 –31, 2013
Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, CT from September 1- 30, 2013
and finally Guilford Art Center in Guilford, CT in January, 2014

SAQA Members: If you have any questions or hesitation about entering your work, or if you would like to participate by volunteering to help during the exhibition, please contact Managing Curators Kate Themel or Diane Wright.

69th Annual CT Artists Exhibition at Slater Museum Opens Feb 10

Congratulations to SAQA-CT artists Barb McKie and Catherine Whall Smith! They will exhibit their fiber artwork in The 69th Annual Connecticut Artists Exhibition at The Slater Memorial Museum, opening this Sunday.

This all-media art show includes paintings, drawings, mixed media, sculpture, photography and fiber art.  Visit the Slater Museum’s website for directions and gallery hours: http://www.slatermuseum.org/page.cfm?p=360

 
(Image: Detail, from the Views- Country & City Series by C.W.Smith)

SHOW DATES - February 10 through March 22, 2013
OPENING RECEPTION - Sunday February 10, 2013 from 1 –3 PM
Awards ceremony at 2 PM

The Slater Memorial Museum Norwich Free Academy
108 Crescent Street
Norwich, CT 06360
(860) 887-2506

Opening Feb 7, 2013 - Two Exhibitions at W.Hartford Art League

Artwork by SAQA-CT members Diane Cadrain, Sandra Fromson, Mickey Lawler, Phyllis Small, Cathy Whall Smith, and Carol Vinick are among the variety of work featured in a multi-media exhibition “Out of the Loop”, opening February 7th at the West Hartford Art League.

For a complete list of accepted work, visit WHAL’s website:
http://westhartfordart.org/upcoming-exhibitions/

In the Clubhouse Gallery:

Out of the Loop features fiber art created with a broad variety of materials and techniques.  Crochet, weaving, felted garments, dolls and art quilts co-exist in this beautiful and colorful show.

(image: “Gold Hay #1, 2,3” Triptych by C.Smith)

“I was impressed by the imagination and variety of artwork submitted for Out of the Loop.  Some of the pieces really surprised me with their approach to materials and broadened my own view of fiber art.  It has been inspiring for me, as an artist.  I hope visitors enjoy the show.” – Kate Themel, juror

Down the hill at the Saltbox Gallery:

Juror Kate Themel will exhibit 18 pieces of her own fiber art, created from 2008 to 2013, including a few on display for the first time.

(image: Detail, “Under Stress” by K.Themel)

Both exhibitions will run from February 7 – March 3, 2013.

Opening Reception: Thursday, February 7, 2013 from 6 – 8 PM

West Hartford Art League
37 Buena Vista Road
West Hartford, CT
(860) 231-8019