Spotlight Auction Starts April 15th!

The SAQA Spotlight Auction is held during the SAQA Conference every year! The proceeds from this auction support SAQA exhibitions and programming. 

Anyone can bid, whether you are attending the conference or not. 

Details about how to bid can be found here.

Here are some of the pieces in the auction made by Western Canada Members. Support their work and add to your art collection.

Christine Johannink - From Scraps Comes Art

Janet Scruggs - Dendritic Dots

Jaynie Himsl - Floating

Margaret Blank - Spring Run-Off

Marie McEachern - G "Rounded"

Susan Selby - Garden Chives

Michelle Craigen - Purple Iris

Colour with a U Artist Feature: Janet Scruggs

Colour with a U is still touring Canada and will be on display at The Muse, Lake of the Woods Museum in Ontario from April 6 to May 22, 2021.

Below Janet Scruggs shares the inspiration behind her Portraits, Women I Would Like to Have Met piece.

Janet Scruggs - Portraits, Women I Would Like to Have Met

When thinking about what makes Canada Canada, I thought about our history and

the contribution women have made. There have been so many that I decided to narrow my focus to the Arts. Still a vast array of women who have contributed to our culture. I decided to look at those who were “first” in particular categories of the Arts. This took significant research to narrow down each one of those categories to one woman I felt represented a significant contribution and a first in some way. In

researching each of these women, I felt they embodied characteristics I admired. 

They each battled norms in society and often persevered through personal tragedies or difficulties to achieve their goals. Once I made the choice of whom to include, the task then became finding usable photos of each one. As I worked on each step in the process of creating the photos on cheesecloth and stitching, I felt myself becoming not only an admirer of these women, but a kinship and pride in their efforts and their courage.

Once I had picked the women, it was time to find a usable photograph. There are several sites that have public domain photos and scouring these took many days! Trying to track down and locate relatives to obtain permission of photos on other sites seemed too daunting a task with the time I had available. Sometimes there was only one photo available to use so I had to ensure that it was in the public domain, even if the photographer’s name was known. The next step was to convert these old photos to black and white (instead of browns) and bump the contrast as much as possible. 

Next I used paper lamination to get the photos onto cheesecloth. As the title of the exhibition is Colour with a U, I decided to choose a vibrant colour of hand dyed cheesecloth for each of the women. Luckily I have an overflowing basket of hand dyed cheesecloth pieces to choose from! It saved a lot of time. I also needed to coordinate a fabric for the cheesecloth photo as well, but I have a lot of that also, so it wasn’t too big of a challenge. (I am determined to use only what I possess, so buying new fabric was out of the question.)

Those decisions made, it was time to work through getting the photos onto the cheesecloth. I used the same screen to apply the gel medium as I did want some consistency in the look of the photos, even though one is never too sure what the result will be. This meant doing some of them more than once - after all you do want the face to be there! I no sooner finished this part of the process and hung them upon my design wall when I realized that one photo was wrong - she was much to small within the photo compared to the others. So, back to editing and redoing that one. 

With photos complete, hand stitching followed. Many evenings filled with embroidering the backgrounds and choosing part of their clothing and how to embroider it. I wanted some variety in the stitching so each one is unique. Finally with each one stitched, I sewed the individual portraits to a felt background by hand. Finished…… well almost. 

I realized that if this became part of a travelling exhibit, the cheesecloth (not attached) would be scrunched and mushed up (technical language). So, I added small bits of Misty Fuse around each portrait to ensure that the cheesecloth stayed relatively in place. FINISHED! And, so thrilled when I found out it was accepted as part of the exhibit! While I cannot here provide each life story of these wonderful women, I would encourage you to read about them. 

Briefly, they are:

Esther Hill - First female registered architect & award winning weaver.

Portia White - First internationally acclaimed Black Canadian concert singer. 

A person of national historic significance.

Lucy Maud Montgomery - Author of Anne of Green Gables, one of the best selling books worldwide.  A person of national historic significance.

Mary Augusta Hiester Reid - First Canadian woman to have a solo art exhibit and first woman to have her work in the National Gallery of Canada.

Mary Pickford - 1st Canadian woman to win an Oscar. Co-founder of United Artists Studio.  A star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.

E. Pauline Johnson (Tekahionwake) - Mohawk/English author, poet and performer. First Canadian woman, Author and Aboriginal Canadian to be commemorated on a stamp. A person of national historic significance.

The Making of Plastic Chowder

A Guest Post by Western Canada member Janet Scruggs

To learn more about Janet visit her website

                                                                                  

When I first heard about the Shifting Tides exhibit being comprised of artists from the western areas of the US and Canada, it piqued my interest. We share a lot of the same concerns on the western coast of North America. So this exhibit was an opportunity to speak about issues that might not enter the thoughts of those in other parts of the country.

Translating a concern or an issue into cloth can be challenging. How could I represent the tiny microplastics that have increased so much they are encircling everything and becoming food to organisms?

Plastic Chowder - Janet Scruggs

I decided a collage would be my best method of doing this. I was able to obtain permission to use text from a couple of news articles. These, and the photos were printed directly onto various fabrics. One of my favourites is the result of printing on a thrift store find - a cotton fabric that is like a corduroy but not fuzzy.  I really felt that a raw edge look to the collage would be representative of the look of the ocean and would reflect my current approach to art quilts. Next I created the thread lace to represent the encircling plastic that is spreading. I stitched this initially with two colours of thread and when completed, I found that it did not have enough depth, so I attacked it with markers randomly. My final endeavour was to add several clear beads in strings to represent the tiny micro-plastic bits which are broken down from the plastic.

Plastic Chowder detail - Janet Scruggs 

Shifting Tides in the Press

Shifting Tides: Convergence in Cloth was viewed by Oregon journalist David Bates before 

Newberg's Chehalem Cultural Center closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He wrote a wonderful article including a thoughtful interpretation of Western Canada member Clare Attwell's piece Surging Tides of Consequence.

Article link

All three Western Canada members with work in Shifting Tides have agreed to share some behind the scenes details of their pieces here on the blog. Watch for future posts regarding the status of Shifting Tides in our region. At this time we are not sure if the exhibit will in fact be shown at CityScape Community Art Space from May 15 to June 13. We will do our best to inform you all at this time of uncertainty. 

Regardless of the arrival of the physical exhibit in our region we will share as much with you virtually as we can.

Installation of the Shifting Tides in San Jose, California April 2019.

New Online Workshop -- from Janet Scruggs!

B.C. SAQA member Janet Scruggs wants to share her new online workshop with you!  She writes:

Have you ever wanted to create your own designs?

Does it seem daunting, maybe even impossible - you have no idea where to start?

Introduction to Design workshop will teach you several methods for creating designs. Methods which can be used over and over again to create original designs from any source of inspiration. You will find that not only is it easy, but it’s fun!

The workshop is comprised of 6 modules. These include warm up exercises and design exercises to lead you in creating a minimum of 14 of your own original designs.

It also covers the elements of art, design principles, interpreting your designs in textiles and stitch, material considerations, theme and technique based designs. The workshop uses both video and print materials.

You will learn how to use many types of inspiration with different techniques to produce original designs. 

For example, how did I go from the inspiration on the piece of linen (left) to the bird design (right)? It may seem impossible, but one of the methods we use in this class will show you how!

Inspiration: Block-printed linen
"L'Orage" (The Storm) designed by
Eric Bagge (1929) and
manufactured by Lucien Bouix

Design: Reverse applique and stitched bird on microfibre
cleaning cloth, using dyed, inked and foiled Lutradur (R),
shisha mirror and commercial trim.

$75 CDN includes unlimited access for 6 months. In our classroom, you can upload photos, chat and email privately or with the group. All notes are printable.

 Next online start date is June 21, 2019.

Sign up for Introduction to Design by emailing me at: janetgailscruggs@gmail.com

Is It Spring Yet?

There's lots going on with our members this month and next -- so let's leap into Spring (even if there's still several feet of snow on the ground and you've just come out the other side of an Extreme Cold Warning!) with these wonderful shows:

Shifting Tides: Convergence in Cloth -- the multi-Regional SAQA exhibit -- opens in San Jose, CA at the "Works" on April 19, and a tour thereof will be part of the itinerary at the SAQA Conference this year.  This piece was one of 3 accepted from SAQA WC members...Congratulations to Janet Scruggs!  

Plastic Chowder - Janet Scruggs, B.C.

Also opening in April is this exhibit from the Vancouver Island branch of the Surface Design Association (SDA):

Several SAQA WC members are participating in this exhibit, including Judi MacLeod, Lesley Turner, Lesley Comassar, Donna-Fay Digance, Karen Selk and Barbara McCaffrey.

And then there's this ON NOW!

Pieces by SAQA WC member from B.C.,
Karlie Norrish McChesney

If you're anywhere near any of these exhibits, DO be sure to take the time to enjoy the work.  Congratulations to all of our members participating!

P.S. Remember about a month ago I mentioned the deadline for the Spotlight Auction this year?  And asked if anyone else had made a contribution?

Well...she didn't tell me directly, but I follow her blog, so...I was able to see the delightful piece submitted by B.C. member Terry Aske:

Black Lines + Bright Colors (sic)
(c) Terry Aske, 2019

Inspired by the artist Mondrian, I'm thinkin' it's sure to bring a pretty penny at the auction, and to make one particular collector very happy every time s/he sees it!

Another opportunity to have your art seen -- without the jury process or a fee to enter! -- is SAQA's Annual Benefit Auction.  The Early Bird deadline has now passed (March 1) but never fear -- you have till June 1 to have your contribution received by the Auction curator.

For us Canucks, that means -- get it in the mail by May 8 (or so) to avoid delays at the border! That's just over two (2!) months away...so...get on it!  😉

Please accept my apologies if you've got a piece in one of these shows and I've missed your name and/or photo of your piece.  I am not on ALL social media -- just Facebook and my e-mail.  If you think I'm going to see something on Instagram or Twitter...sorry.  Please get in touch to share with your colleagues across Western Canada, TROC (The Rest Of Canada) and the world.  Yes, we have readers from the other SAQA Regions.  So please let me know...and thank you for your support!

Exhibition News!

On NOW in Kamloops!  

B.C. member Janet Scruggs has shared this information...as she has pieces in this exhibition.  Please note the special evening hours on March 15, and the fact that the pieces are available for purchase!

The Return of the Burgess Shale Exhibit

Hectori Trilobite 
Jaynie Himsl

In 2013, then SAQA Co-Rep for Alberta, Patti Morris, curated an exhibit of the critters (fossils) of the Burgess Shale, inspired and assisted by member Deborah Bray.  Member Barbara J. West was then President of the Alberta Society of Artists, and was instrumental in arranging for this exhibit to tour schools and libraries throughout Alberta as part of the TREX (TRavelling EXhibit) program.

Dinomischus
Judith Panson

On that tour, it was seen by a fellow who was connected to the Burgess Shale Interpretive Centre.  After some discussions and deliberations, at the end of its TREX tour, the Burgess Shale Exhibit was delivered to the Interpretive Centre in Field, B.C., with a view to having a permanent home there.

Sadly, this has not happened.  It is reported that the Federal government, the Alberta Government and the Parks Department were unable to agree on how to manage this exhibit, and so Deb Bray has brought it back to Alberta, in the hopes of finding an alternative permanent place for it.

The good news is that there's to be an introductory exhibit!

Deborah Bray and Patti Morris have teamed up with the Bow River Quilters for a one day only return exhibit of this very special project.  If you have never seen it in its entirety, and are in the area, do make your way to the Banff Trail Community Centre in Calgary for a unique, colourful and family-friendly exhibit -- the fossils of the Burgess Shale, interpreted in fabric, fibre and floss.  Enjoy!

It is hoped that this reprise exhibit will stir interest and help find a permanent home for these special pieces.

The artists involved are especially invited to attend this one-day-only exhibit.  Some of them are no longer SAQA members...and may not follow this blog.  If you know them...please pass the word along!  

In addition to organizers Deborah Bray and Patti Morris, the artists who brought these creatures to life include:

From Alberta:

• Bush Eastep;
• Barbara West;
• Diane Duncan;
• Hanne Seidel;
• Ilse Anysas-Salkauskas;
• Wendy Klotz;
• Leslie Barnes;
• Margaret Blank;
• Linda Mackay;
• Susanne Loutas;
• Christine Wiggett.

From British Columbia:

• Terry Aske;
• Katie Stein Sather;
• Jennifer Cooper;
• Catherine Nicholls;
• Mardell Rampton;
• Lesley Mayfield;
• Coreen Zerr.

From Manitoba/Saskatchewan:

• Jaynie Himsl;
• Judith Panson;
• Rena Holma;
• Susan Wittrup.

And...Linda Sharp, no longer a member, whom I cannot place -- with apologies!

I regret, as one of the artists involved, that I am unable to attend because...I will be busy with my booth at the Annual Lacombe Art Show and Sale, Lacombe Memorial Centre, April 20 and 21...So I send my best wishes to all involved for a successful return to the Burgess Shale.