CT Fiber Arts Collective Presents "Spring Thaw" (Bloomfield, CT)

The Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective (CFAC)'s current exhibition is titled, “Spring Thaw” and is being hosted by the Duncaster Retirement Center at 40 Loeffler Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002.

The show opened on March 2nd, and included an artist talk by members of CFAC.

image: Roses and Old Lace by M.Lachman

Mary Lachman and Toni Torres were among several CFAC artists who attended the Opening Reception on March 2nd

image: Vintage Garden by K.Loprete

image: Fishing Season by R.Spann

 
Rosalind Spann and Carol Vinick talk about the artwork during the Opening

In addition to wall art providing a much needed splash of spring the collective revealed their “Grey Matter” challenge pieces. Each member received a small packet of grey fabrics and was asked to use at least 2 of the fabrics in a small open-themed art quilt. Please stop by through the month of March to view the exhibition.

To learn more about Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective, visit their blog: http://ctfac.blogspot.com/

Important Announcement for LOCAL COLOR Artists

Dear Local Color participants,

It's hard to believe our first Regional Exhibition is coming to a close!

Your artwork will be available for you to pick up at the SAQA-CT regional meeting on Saturday, March 22 from 10am - 2pm at the Guilford Art Center.

Guilford Art Center
411 Church Street
Guilford, CT 06437
(203) 453-5947
http://guilfordartcenter.org/

IF you are unable to attend the meeting to retrieve your work, you must alert Diane Wright and make alternate arrangements.

Your work may be shipped to you if you have provided a sturdy container for mailing. To have your artwork shipped, please send Diane a prepaid shipping label.

If someone else will pick up your artwork on the 22nd, let Diane Wright or Kate Themel know who will sign for it (BEFORE March 21). Artwork will NOT be released without the artist's express permission.

Our traveling exhibit has been a huge success thanks to the beautiful artwork and to the many volunteer hours from jurors, captains, PR contacts, hanging crews…oh, the list goes on and on.

Thank you ALL!!

Quilt by Christina Blais at NY Transit Museum (New York City, NY)

SAQA-CT artist Christina Blais' award-winning quilt is now on display at the New York Transit Museum in NYC. 

Blais earned an Honorable Mention for her challenge quilt Meet Me at the Clock (image, below).  Congratulations, Christina!

Read more about the exhibition on MTA's website:
http://new.mta.info/news-grand-central-terminal-metro-north-new-york-transit-museum/2014/02/24/new-quilt-show-celebrates

This exhibition is free and will be open to the public March 15 to July 6 at the New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store at Grand Central Terminal.

On Thursday, April 3 and Wednesday, April 16 at 12:30pm, representatives from The City Quilter will lead casual, free lunch-time tours of the exhibition in Grand Central. No registration necessary.

See all the finalists' quilts here:
http://cdn.allpeoplequilt.com/magazines-more/american-patchwork-quilting/grand-central-winners?page=7%2C0 

You're Invited to the SAQA PA Regional Symposium (Wayne, PA)

Want to chase away the winter doldrums and rev up your creative juices? Come to The PA SAQA Regional Symposium, “Would You Like to Know More?” on Saturday March 22, 2014.

Held in conjunction with Art Quilt Elements 2014 at the Wayne Art Center and open to all fiber art enthusiasts. Enjoy an infusion of fiber art and garner lots of information to move you forward on your creative path.

There is more than one way to be a fiber artist. Come and hear the inside story of how three successful fiber artists have blazed their own trails. Get the scoop from Dianne Koppish Hricko, Cathy Stechschulte and Betty Busby. Each has come to the world of fiber from a different background and each has carved out her own unique niche. Hearing these three approaches to a life in fiber is sure to get you thinking.

Stuck on a piece, don’t know which way to go? Amy Orr and Cindy Friedman will share how to add critiquing to your toolbox. They will explain what a good critique really is and how you can go about it using it to move your work forward.

Finally, we will hear from jurors Susie Brandt and Gerhardt Knodel, two of the jurors for AQE after which we will join them and AQE 2014 artists in a Wayne Art Center Walk and Talk tour of the show.

Come and get energized, connect with other fiber folks, catch up with old acquaintances and make new. Maybe make a date to go out for a bite to eat after the tour to compare notes, or perhaps form a critique group! How great would that be?

All in all, it will be a great day to stretch your horizons. You’ll have so many new ideas the rest of the winter will fly by!

The Symposium is being held in conjunction with the opening weekend of the ART QUILT ELEMENTS show at the Wayne Art Center, located in suburban Philadelphia at 413 Maplewood Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087.

For more information and registration form, visit:
http://www.saqa.com/members.php?cat=40

Fiber Art Exhibit and Workshop at City Lights Gallery (Bridgeport, CT)

Upcoming exhibit "COMMON THREADS" opening on February 20 at City Lights located at 37 Market Court, Bridgeport, CT 06604 will include quilts from Gees Bend quilters Mary Lee Bedford and Loretta Pettway Bennett.

Loretta will present a quilting workshop on Saturday Feb. 22, 2014 from 11-4 with a one hour lunch break. The fee is $100 per student at City Lights Gallery space.

View the process of quilt making while surrounded by original quilts and art in the exhibit "COMMON THREADS".

To register and submit your payment call: (203)334-7748 . Participants are asked to bring their sewing machines and materials.

City Lights Gallery Hours: W-F 11:30a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat 12-4, Thursdays open 'til 7p.m.  

For more info: www.citylightsgallery.org (203) 334-7748

Fiber Art Earns Honorable Mention at CT Artists Exhibition

Congratulations to SAQA-CT artist Kate Themel, whose fabric portrait "Leaving a Mark" earned an Honorable Mention award at the Slater Museum's 70th Annual CT Artists Exhibition!

Awards were presented on Sunday, Feb 9, 2014 in the Converse Gallery. The winning pieces were selected from a variety of media.

1st Place: "Egyptian Water Vase" (segmented wood) by Clement Watson
2nd Place: "The Good Life" (acrylic painting) by Del-Bourree Bach
3rd Place: "First Snow" (solar plate etching) by Carol Dunn
Honorable Mention: "Leaving a Mark" (fiber/textile) by Kate Themel
Honorable Mention: "Pit Fired Urn" (ceramics) by Michele Sinkez

And the Prize for Excellence in Fine Craft went to John M. Gilchrist for his metal sculpture "Fox", made from stainless steel forks and spoons.

The CT Artists Exhibition runs until March 21, 2014.

SAQA-CT Members Juried into 70th Annual CT Artists Exhibition, Slater Museum (Norwich, CT) Opens Feb 9

Congratulations to SAQA CT artists Barbara C. Adams, Debbie Bento, Barbara McKie, Bobbi Morehouse, Judy Ross, Catherine Whall Smith, Kate Themel and Betty Warner whose fiber artwork was juried into the Slater Museum's annual CT Artists Exhibition.  The show will run from Feb 9 – March 21, 2014

(Image: Detail of Tying Up the Hay #1 by C.Smith)

The Opening Reception will be this Sunday, Feb 9 from 1pm - 3pm in the Converse Art Gallery at the Slater Memorial Museum.  Awards will be presented at 2pm.

Now in its 70th year, the Annual CT Artists Juried Exhibition features paintings, drawings, mixed media, sculpture, graphics and photography by resident artists of Connecticut. The opening is free and open to artists, friends and the public - all are welcome.

This year's juror is Erin Monroe, Assistant Curator of American Paintings and Sculpture at the Wadsworth Athenaeum Museum of Art.

Slater Memorial Museum
108 Crescent Street
Norwich, CT 06360
(860) 425-5563
http://www.slatermuseum.org