SAQA Auction begins September 12, 2011

The Studio Art Quilt Association's annual quilt auction will begin Sept 12, 2011 at 2:00pm Eastern Time.  This year there are 309 donors.  My quilt "Hazelnut Creme" is among them.  It's kind of exciting to have
a quilt in the auction this year.  I have wanted to offer one to the quilt auction for several years but never got around to it.  All the information about the auction as well as photos of all the quilts can be viewed now through the auction here

My quilt can be seen here.  It is listed on page 2A.  The bronze areas are used coffee bag embellished with gold brads and stitching.  The fabrics are all hand dyed and stamped and printed.  I hope goes to a good home.  I hope you will consider bidding on my work of any of the other beautiful quilts up for auction.

Nebraska Squared

The inaugural show of the Midwest Fiber Art Alliance has begun at the Jewish Community Center Gallery in Omaha, NE.  The exhibit will hang until August 4th.  I have three pieces in this, my first, show.  There are a total of nine artists exhibiting work in the show.  We hope to make this show an annual event in the Midwest.  

This year our theme is about Nebraska shown in a squared format.  1' x 1', 2' x 2' and 3' x 3'.  Each of the artist's works centers on this theme.

Foundling

Weeds?

Here It Comes

My work was done beginning with fabric that was "snow dyed".  Snow dyeing is a process where dye concentrates are added to cloth over 6" of snow.  The fabrics were treated with a mordant that allows the 

slow melting of the snow to form "crystal" patterns on the cloth.  After reviewing photographs in black and white of the resulting patterns, I use a technique from the children's game of finding cloud animals.  I visualize scenes and sketch them on the cloth with a sewing machine.  Pastels are used to enhance and shade the completed scene.  

This series was a real change from what I have done previously.  Surface design techinques are my first love and I rarely use commercial fabrics in my work.  I hope that the work is as well received by the viewers at the show as it was by the groups attending the artist's reception last weekend.  I know I had  so much fun explaining my work.  Perhaps some workshops will come out of the show.

Little Andy Goldsworthy Inspiration

Feather Your Nest

This little piece is an inspiration from looking at Google Images for Andy Goldsworthy's work for the Fast Friday Fabric Challenge for April.  I didn't realize how much of his work I had seen before and never knew that this was his work.  I really seem to be more focused on the Name of the artist now when I see work that inspires me.  6 hours of Art History in college never seemed as important as it does now.  Guess I wasn't in "the place" then, to appreciate art and how it can inspire your own work.  Thanks Mr. Goldsworthy.  

April Showers

April showers are bringing flowers….just in time to my yard.  The bleeding hearts which had started to bloom last week before the “spring snow” are toast but the rhododendrons has sprung forth in a beautiful display of hot pink.  The bleeding hearts may come back.  They multiply like weeds in the bed and I usually have to thin them out.  I vow that next fall I will plant the daffodils and tulips that I crave in spring and have never gotten to pop up.  

My FFFC groups latest challenge uses the art of Andy Goldsworthy.  I read the challenge and as has happened before, my brain took off in its own direction.  I made a piece with my “different background”  and undulating line.  Then I researched his work.  I am planning a new piece now.  Stay tuned for it.  But this is the piece I made originally.  I intend to post it and get critique.  

It's wool blend scraps with wool fibers and synthetics needle felted to the background.  Felt balls were hand stitched on to add yet another texture,  I love it when my brain designs a fully finished project and then I'm able to actually construct my vision.  Doesn't happen often but is such a joy when it does.

Members from our SAQA NE group came to see Grand Island last Friday to see the Gallery our show will be in next March and April, during the Crane Migration.  Our little community really brings in visitors for the galleries that are also here for the migration.  Cranes and crane art are very prevalent during the migration but our focus is on Nebraska shown in square formats.  A one foot, two foot and three foot square format. 

We also got to go to one of the local quilt shops, my favorite, Material Girl.  Deb’s shop did not disappoint.  Only one of the four had been here before and they loved it, of course...

An Artist's Gym

I have an idea....I get so many....It's implementing them that is difficult.  I want to start an Arist's Gym, a place to stretch your "creative" muscles.  I want to teach there as well as offer space to other artist's for creative studio space and teaching opportunities.  I have been doing research online and reading about studio coops.

The Artist's Gym in Brooklyn, NY is really my dream in reality.  But this is Nebraska, not NYC.  Don't get me wrong, we have many artist's here who need space for a studio and would like to teach.   I don't know if there are enough people who would pay their share of the rent on this type of space or enough people that could teach or would take classes to "cash flow" this idea.

I want a large studio area with classroom space and lockers for each artist's supplies.  I want classes happening and childrens sessions in summer and adult sessions in the winter.  I want all media types used and taught.  I would love a gallery area and a lounge and library area for research and inspiration.  I think I need an old building in downtown area near parking areas that I can afford.

I've been planning this idea in my head for 5 years.  It's not going away.  I want to work with adults and children teaching what I love as well as giving people a chance to really "play" and see where their own ideas and creativity can take them.  We don't get enough of this stretching in our schools and colleges today.  People work in straight lines and don't think in creative ways as much as we need today.  I want like minded people around me that make me stretch my creative mind too.

There...I've "put it out there."  Now what?

NE² Show

Sneak Peek

We have a show scheduled for July at the Jewish Community Center in Omaha.  OUR First show with the Nebraska Studio Art Quilt Associates group.  There are nine artists with three pieces each.  Each piece is based on the theme "Nebraska Squared" (Nebraska inspired pieces in a square format.   Size restrictions of 1 x 1, 2 x 2, and 3 x 3)  I missed the show and tell in November but saw the previews of some of the work last fall and know that this is an exciting show.

We have a member of our group that is a well known and respected artist.  She is "hand holding" the rest of us as we have never shown before.  I plan to watch her like a hawk and absorb all that I can.  We are readying our pieces for hanging now.   We will use aluminum slats in the sleeves to hang the show.  Our mentor assures us this is a great method.  Sturdy and light weight.

I am making the gallery cards.  I have approached a local gallery for our exhibit as well as the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney, NE to host us...we shall see.  The local gallery is in for next fall.  More info as it becomes available.

I have already learned a lot from this group of like minded ladies even if I must travel to Omaha to take part.  It's only 2 hours...if I drive fast!

think thursday

Thoughts become things!!!

Okay, this is easy isn't it.  If we think good things...good things will happen.  I suppose the converse is also true.  If we "think" good art or design, will the product be good?  I'm not sure but I hope this is true.

I have studied art history, design, textiles, color theory...all good things for an artist.  Now I must stop thinking about art and actually MAKE art.  We will see if it's good, later.

Fear of making bad art seems to get in the way of just making art.  I have stacks of almosts,   maybe if I..'s, 
and otherwise questionable pieces.  They scare the bejesus out of me.  Will it all be that bad???
When I get the right thing going will I know.  Most of the good pieces that I have made are gone...sold, given away or "waiting" to be seen by this show or that show.  I can't seem to get them all together in one
place to see what makes them mine.

A post on QuiltArt today from a "real" artist reminded us "wanna be's" to look deeper into what works and what doesn't and then do more of what works.  Seems simple; good advice often is.