"All Things Must Pass"...

A reminder from Co-Rep Susan Selby:  Grand National 2019 is currently on exhibit in Portage la Prairie, MB.  The Exhibit closes August 10 so if you're in the area and want to see it, now's the time!

Still in Manitoba?  Articulation's current exhibit, Connected Heritage, including work from SAQA WC members Lesley Turner and Wendy Klotz, is on in Gimli through September 2.


But if you are in central Alberta, and want a road trip up to Camrose, you can visit a variety of locations there for their 2019 Art Walk.  SAQA WC members Mary Wilton and Margaret Blank have pieces in Section 1 of this two-part event -- currently showing at the Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre through August 11.  Section 2 of this event opens on August 15.

Carefully Curated Collections

In recent months, browsing around Facebook, I've come across memes that describe yarn and or fabric stashes as "carefully curated collections".  Given that they are bouquets of colour, texture and inspiration, I'm not the least surprised!  Doesn't a "c c c" sound so much more artistic than a stash?

That said, to truly put together a collection -- to convey a theme through gathering a selection of art work or by commissioning a group to create one -- isn't always as easy as all that.  It takes time, effort and thought -- not to mention, in the case of a themed commission, the challenge of creating it from the ground up!

Articulation Textile Group, including SAQA WC members Lesley Turner and Wendy Klotz,  recently mounted a new collection of work entitled Connected Heritage, at the New Iceland Heritage Museum in Gimli, MB.

This exhibit began when the group visited the area in 2016 for its annual study session...and the results are now ready for the public to enjoy and ponder through Labour Day, September 2.  Lesley describes her experience with this project on her blog -- with links to earlier posts about the study session -- and Articulation's own website has additional insights posted HERE.

Meanwhile, SAQA members can once again try their hand at creating their own Carefully Curated Collection -- using the artwork contributed to the SAQA Benefit Auction for 2019.  Anyone can challenge him/herself to assemble a Dream Collection -- what one might want to collect for one's home, office or studio, if money were no object.

Several members have done so already (including yours truly)...and at least four of the Dream Collections include work from SAQA WC members!

Look for these...

• "All Margarets" created by Margaret Phillips;
• "Trees" created by Sue Rasmussen;
• "Marvelously Minimal" created by Connie Griner; and
• "Nature" created by Rebecca Richard-Shupert.

See if you can find the work of your colleague(s) in each one -- and be inspired to create a Dream Collection of your own!

This year's Auction begins online on September 13 with the Diamond Day, and runs through October 6.  Whether or not you manage to snag your favourite piece for real, well...you can always create an entire collection of your dreams!  

What's On? What's Coming?

SAQA WC member Lesley Turner recently posted about her contributions to an exhibit now on at the Portals Gallery, located in the lobby of the Islands Saving Recreational Centre of the  Cowichan Arts Council in Duncan, B.C.

The Articulation Textile Group, of which she and SAQA WC member Wendy Klotz are a part, attended the Artists' Reception on April 13 for the Group's show, Forest and Sea and the Place Between, on NOW through April 19.

At left is a detail from one of Lesley's pieces in the show, entitled "Cedar Wind Drawing".

The Group's next planned exhibition -- Icelandic Culture in Gimli -- will take place July 1 through August 31 at the New Iceland Heritage Museum, Gimli, Manitoba.


Meanwhile in Calgary, Spectra Textile Arts Group is showing their work at the Fish Creek Public Library -- on NOW through April 29:

SAQA WC members in this group include Ilse Anysas-Salkauskas, Joyce Brown, Margaret Jessop, Marie McEachern, Beverly Patkau, Linda Van Gastel and Barbara J. West.

And in central Alberta, SAQA WC member Margaret Blank has been juried into the 20th Annual ENCORE! Lacombe Art Show & Sale, taking place at the Lacombe Memorial Centre, Lacombe, Alberta, on April 26 and 27.  This is Margaret's eighth year participating in this event, which includes work from a variety of art and fine craft artists.

Catching Up with Our Members

It's a busy time for members all over our Western Canada Region!

First, several of our contributions to the 2018 SAQA Benefit Auction have sold, including those from Terry Aske, Margaret Blank, Jaynie Himsl, Karen Johnson, Judy Leslie, Karlie Norris McChesney and Marie McEachern  Approximately 50% of the donated pieces have been sold to date, raising over $55,000 USD for SAQA, enabling the organization to continue to fund its exhibitions (at least 15 touring, excluding the Trunk Shows!), publications and ongoing education -- of artists (SAQA Seminar being a key component here) and the public re: art quilts.

In other news, B.C. member Karen Cummings, as mentioned in an earlier post, is currently exhibiting at the Okanagan Art Gallery in Osoyoos.  Recently, she was given larger wall space in which to show her work.  Way to go, Karen!

Do you have your SAQA Journal for Quarter 3 of 2018 yet?  If so, be sure to look for Katie Stein Sather's Mondrian Paddlers on page 23 -- part of the collection for the SAQA Member Gallery this issue.  Congratulations, Katie! 

And here's a shout out to Wendy Klotz of Calgary, and her colleagues with the group Articulation.  The group has a new exhibit opening later this month and running through November at the Sidney Museum, Sidney, B.C.  Quite a change of pace from their focus on landscapes, this exhibit's theme pays tribute to war -- in time for the marking of the Centenary of the Armistice that ended World War I:

Undoubtedly this will be a compelling and heart-felt exhibition, worth seeing if you are in the area.  Wendy writes about the piece she's created for this show on her blog HERE.

Meanwhile, in Manitoba, member Val Wilson will be teaching her 'Portrait Fibre Art' class -- a two-day affair -- October 20 and 21 -- at Keystone Quilts in Winnipeg.  If you've ever wanted to learn how to render portraits in fabric, now's your opportunity to learn from a master at the process!

For full details and registration, click HERE!




Happy Thanksgiving to all our Canadian readers.  I know yours truly is thankful for this SAQA Region and the organization as a whole, which has brought us so many friendships, and so many opportunities for ongoing education, exhibiting and artistic development.  Have a great weekend!