Calls For Entry & Regional Zoom Meet-up

Touch entry, Turbulent Indigo by Jennie Johnston

 

There are many wonderful things going on in our art quilt world despite the winter days and social distancing we are still enduring. Check out these details below for some interesting art calls and our next regional Zoom meet up.

Touch Call For Entry Reminder

Susan is accepting entries for the first SAQA Western Canada trunk show! Get your entries to her asap. 

TOUCH - What touches you? What do you touch? Touch can be physical, emotional or spiritual. Touch is part of our well-being, an elemental form of communication, and a lack of touch can affect our physical and emotional health. We say ‘Keep in touch’ to those we wish to have contact with, ‘I’m touched’ as an emotional response or ‘don’t touch’ to keep people away. 

Create an 8” x 10” piece (either orientation) in response to the theme of TOUCH; these will be assembled into a Trunk Show for Western Canadian members to share with groups in their area. The works will be mounted to an 8 ½” x 11” board but will NOT be covered in plastic when shown; the mounting will help protect the pieces from excessive handling and soiling but viewers will be able to see and visually touch the art without a screen of plastic film. 

A plastic envelope will be used to protect the art during shipping and storage. This should be kept in mind when designing and constructing your art quilt; everything must be securely attached and nothing should extend beyond the 8” x 10” measurement or protrude more than ¼” above the surface. Edges may be finished in any way, be uneven or remain unfinished. 

All information about the piece should be attached to the back of the board: title, artist info, artistic statement, materials and techniques.

Email your entry information and direct any questions to susanlselby@gmaildotcom 

City of Lacombe, Alberta Artist Call

The City of Lacombe is seeking four Art Quilters / Fabric Artists to work collaboratively on an art quilt for the Servus Credit Union Room located in the Lacombe Memorial Centre. The Art Quilt will be comprised of four - 3’6”w x 6’ h panels. For example, each panel could be the same image shown in different seasons, or the four panels create one larger scene.

Details for eligibility and how to apply can be found here.

SAQA Western Canada Regional Zoom

Check your email for the Zoom details for the call happening Monday March 8 at 12:00pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain and 10:00 am Pacific time.

SAQA Global Calls For Entry

Fur, Fangs, Feathers & Fins - Call for Entry

Call for Entry Deadline

 

May 31, 2021

Celebrate wild animals in their natural environments. From amphibians to apex predators, depict or represent wild birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles doing what comes naturally. Go WILD! 

Words Fail (SAQA Virtual Gallery) - Call for Entry

Call for Entry Deadline

 

July 31, 2021

We are visual communicators, and sometimes what we want to say cannot be said in words. Words may be insufficient to describe positive, satisfying, or deliriously happy emotions. Or words may fail us when we try to express strong emotions, retell the story of a moment in time, or describe events that leave us scared, concerned or angry. Our world is filled with an enormous variety of both amazingly beautiful occasions, as well as those that test us in more difficult ways. Symbols, color, composition, or other design elements may provide the narrative to communicate the depth of your story. When our words fail us, imagery can present what we are unable to articulate through words.

Artists are invited to create work that engages viewers in a dialogue based on imagery and composition, exploring the idea that in some cases words are not the most effective means of communication.

For More SAQA Calls for Entry visit this link.

Advance Notice!

As you're rushing to finish your SAQA Benefit Auction 2019 piece and get it in the mail so it will arrive at the curator on or before June 1...

Here's some News from Rep Jennie Johnston, in advance of her regular Newsletter. 

First, Jennie's creating a new feature for the Newsletter and asks...

Would you consider sharing a short statement about your art and inspirations and a few photos for the newsletter? If you would, please email me at the address below* and I will send you a short set of questions to answer.

This is another way we can get to know each other despite the distance between us. I plan to start this feature in the September Newsletter. We all want to know about you and what you make! So please consider sharing with us.

* info@jenniejohnston.com

Second, she asks that you...

For a...

Western Canada Regional Meet-up Over Zoom

We are lucky to have access to technology that can let us meet each other despite the distance in our region. 

Save-The-Date 

for Sunday August 18, 2019 

1 p.m. in BC

2 p.m. in Alberta & Saskatchewan

 3 p.m. in Manitoba

 for

 our first regional zoom meet-up!

This is a meet and greet, where you can log in to Zoom, and chat with other Western Canada members. We will have a chance to introduce ourselves, share about our art quilt practice and chat in a relaxed atmosphere. Consider this meeting to be informal and you can drop in any time during the hour and a half.

Details of how to set up Zoom on your computer can be found here. You can also call in if you’d prefer not to use the computer. 

Jennie will send out a reminder closer to the date and please email her (see e-mail address above) if you need help with the technical details of how this works. 

Again, the link to "All About Zoom" is http://www.saqa.com/members.php?ID=3529.

It's on my calendar!  How about adding it to yours?  "See you" on line!  😊

New and Notable in November

Breaking news! 

B.C. member Terry Aske has two pieces in the Dusk to Dawn SAQA Global exhibit, now showing at the Houston Quilt Festival -- and word went out last evening that one of them -- "Aurora" -- has been sold to a collector!!  CONGRATULATIONS, TERRY!

Aurora - Terry Aske (C) 2018

Still with Terry, she currently has pieces in the International Artists' Day (IAD) Anonymous Festival, now showing at 100 Braid Street, Vancouver, B.C. -- and her piece, WOW Westminster with Dots, sold at the Opening Gala!  Bravo, Terry!  If you can't see the exhibit in person, she talks more about this piece in her blog post HERE.

Still in B.C....

While our SAQA WC Rep, Jennie Johnston, closed her solo show on October 26, she has exhibits elsewhere to tell us about!


First, Jennie contributed work to the UDHR Quilt project commemorating the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The exhibit has now debuted in Canberra, Australia; Jennie's contribution is in the "Blue Quilt", and you can read more about the entire project through the links on Jennie's blog post, or
by clicking HERE.

Jennie with her piece that's now part of the "Blue Quilt"
in the UDHR Quilt Project

In her sharing with me, Jennie provided these words from the Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House, Canberra, Australia:

"At a time when the patchwork of liberties is fraying, craftivism is a global movement that combines craft and activism into quietly powerful protest to call for social and political change. Craftivism allows people to actively engage in democracy, contribute to social change, and transform the world one stitch at a time.    

The UDHR Quilt Project features never before seen work from a global craftivism project. Stitching in local and global stories; see the intricate detail of these quilts that represent the world’s conscience.

Aided by the power of social media, Australian craftivist Tal Fitzpatrick and fellow USA based craftivist Stephanie Dunlap put the call out for collaborators. 131 craftivists from across the globe, united by their passion for quilting and human rights, came together to showcase the power of their voices through the work of their hands.

Through the creation of four quilts, each embroidered with the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the project draws attention to the way human rights are challenged around the world today. The messages sewn into the quilts inspire visitors think, engage and take action.

The #UDHRQuiltProject moves beyond a traditional museum experience by inviting visitors to get involved. Visitors can immerse themselves in craftivism by participating in a range of hands-on craft activities, workshops and community-based events. Textile artist, Tal Fitzpatrick, will be on hand for special events throughout the exhibition to facilitate workshops and discuss the everyday practice of democracy through craftivism."

Next, Jennie's work is also part of a project entitled  "Imago Mundi -- Great and North", which opened at the Venice Biennale just over a year ago, is now showing at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD U) Gallery, through December 16th.  Jennie has received a copy of the catalogue including her work and as she says, "It is always a pleasure to see your artwork take on its own life."

Jennie's work in the catalogue for
Imago Mundi -- Great and North

And the last show (for the moment!) in which Jennie's work is included is entitled Textile Narratives, and it's on NOW through November 17 at CityScape Community Art Space, 335 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver.

Editor's Note: I apologize for not mentioning "Textile Narratives" sooner, but in the interests of trying not to innundate readers with too many posts at one time, I tend to look at the dates of the exhibits and post based on the months in which they are showing.  Alas, with events that straddle more than one month, sometimes I find I've not posted their information quite soon enough!  My apologies to the artists in question.  If you have an event to share and want to be sure to highlight particular dates (such as the reception), please do so when you send me your notice for sharing on the blog.  Many thanks for your support!

Another B.C. Opening -- TODAY!

Sigh.

I can't believe it.

I ask and I ask and I ask and I ask...and what happens?

I continue to find out about solo shows and group shows and up-coming exhibits and current exhibits and juried show acceptances and...and...and...on social media!

Almost no one e-mails me directly; rather, y'all wait for me to stumble over you in my FB feed.  (NOTE: I'm not on Instagram or Twitter!)

So...despite her pleas for y'all to contact me about exhibits in which you're involved, the only way I found out that our Illustrious SAQA WC Rep, Jennie Johnston, had a solo show that opened today was for me to fall over her post on Facebook.

Sigh.

What's a blog Editor to do?!

On view at Janet Routledge's Community Office, 1833 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby BC.

Monday to Friday, please call for office hours: 604-775-0778

Just in case you're in the area, y'know...

and have a hankering to see some textile art...

Just sayin'!

😉

Congratulations, Jennie!

Are you a 'Craftivist'?

Quilters have long used their work as a way to express what they were seeing in the culture around them.  Sometimes this was simply 'daily life'...but often it was the course of social and political events. 

This is eloquently expressed by SAQA Artist Member Dr. Carolyn L. Mazloomi in the introduction to Part VII of the documentary series, Why Quilts Matter.

Dr. Mazloomi is the founder of the African-American Quilt Guild of Los Angeles and the Women of Color Quilter's Network, and an art quilter whose work is exhibited internationally.

While the above-mentioned episode begins with a very American focus, women from all countries with a needlework and/or quilting tradition have long used their art to send important messages about their culture, their political views, and the history going on around them.

Perhaps it is typical of the 21st century that a label has now been created for this form of expression, resistance, and empowerment through craft.

Betsy Greer, in "Craftivism" (Encyclopedia of Activism and Social Justice. 2007. SAGE Publications) defines the term 'craftivism' this way:

Craftivism is a way of looking at life where voicing opinions through creativity makes your voice stronger, your compassion deeper & your quest for justice more infinite.

Craftivism is the practice of engaged creativity, especially regarding political or social causes. By using their creative energy to help make the world a better place, craftivists help bring about positive change via personalized activism. Craftivism allows practitioners to customize their particular skills to address particular causes.

Starting in 2016, SAQA member, quilter and embroiderer Jeanne Hewell-Chambers of North Carolina has stirred individuals and groups internationally to make blocks for her 70273 Project which commemorates the murder of 70,273 physically and mentally disabled people by the Nazis, during the period from January 1940 through August, 1941.  (Yours truly wrote about her contribution to the project HERE.) 

Yours truly working on
an SJSA block

Also in 2016, a group of artists took what began as a summer program in California, to a workshop in Chicago, and east to Massachusetts and created the Social Justice Sewing Academy.  The staff and volunteers of the Academy work with youth through schools, workshops and community organizations to teach them how to express their thoughts and ideas about social issues, social justice and cultural changes -- using textiles as their medium.  Quilt blocks are being made that use largely free-form cutting and pasting -- and volunteers are recruited to embroider and embellish the blocks -- receiving a batch, doing the stitching, and returning the finished blocks by mail.

Logo - the Pussy Hat Project

And it comes as no surprise that especially in the past year, with the shifts and upheavals in the political climate and culture globally, quilters and needle-workers have picked up their needles and hooks, have taken to their sewing machines...and expressed themselves in their work.

The rush to make "pussy hats" last January for the Women's March on Washington, D.C. -- which became an international event -- seemed to kick this off -- and that alone has become a global project in and of itself! 

Then there's the Threads of Resistance project, founded by a group of SAQA artists who call themselves The Artist Circle Alliance.    Hundreds of quilters answered the Call for Entry into this exhibit -- and so all were considered so worthwhile that even though only about 25% of the submissions were selected for the Travelling Exhibit, all were categorized according to subject matter and are shown online HERE.



Which brings me to the most recent news I've received about 'Craftivism' -- practiced by SAQA Western Canada's Gloria Daly and B.C. Rep, Jennie Johnston.

Some months ago, SAQA put out a Call for Entry to a juried exhibit entitled "Loaded Conversations" -- about guns and gun violence.  Thirty-three artists have been selected for the touring exhibit, of whom one is from the UK, one from Switzerland, and one from Canada.  Gloria is that one...with her piece, Reclaim Reload Rejoice The Perfect Game 2 at low 8.  The exhibit will open at the  San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, California, in April 2018.

(Gloria, if you're reading this, I'd love you to email me a photo to share here.  Thanks!)

Eleanor Roosevelt with the Spanish version of
the UDHR
Photo courtesy Wikipedia

Meanwhile, Jennie answered a Call for Entry she found on Instagram -- to interpret a portion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was first created by the United Nations in 1948.  A year from now will mark the 70th anniversary of its enactment.

Like the "Threads of Resistance", the original call for thirty artists was overwhelmed by the submissions -- and their quality -- so now four quilts of thirty blocks will be made.


Jennie was one of the artists chosen to be interviewed by the publication Bust about the project -- and you can read the full article HERE.  

I managed to catch up with Jennie just long enough to get her to send me a photo of her piece...

In addition to the information she provided in the magazine interview, Jennie has documented her progress with this piece in a series of three blog posts, which you can read by clicking the links below:

• Tuesday, June 13, 2017;
• Monday, June 26, 2017; and
• Thursday, September 7, 2017.

I realize that not everyone is called to practice 'craftivism' on an ongoing basis.  I, for one, admit that for me, to do so would require I remain in a state of high anxiety much of the time!

That said, sometimes an issue (or two or three) speaks to the heart, mind and soul of an artist...and something must be said -- and done -- to bring it from the inside out into the world.  With all that's out there -- from horrific illness, to racial injustice, gender inequality, political instability, sexual harassment, terrorism and government corruption -- well, there's a great deal to choose from about which to make a statement, loudly...or more quietly...in fabric and stitch.

Congratulations to Gloria and Jennie on the recognition of their recent work in the realm of craftivism.

Will we see more from our members in 2018?

*********************

On a different note...in the midst of all the holiday preparations and celebrations at this time of year, thank you for your readership and your help in writing the posts for this Regional blog.  I can't share the news with your colleagues unless you share it with me! 

And now...I want to share with you best wishes for the holiday season and a healthy, happy, creative New Year!

-- Margaret Blank, Blog Editor

 

What Our Members are Up To...

While the Blog Editor's away, our SAQA WC members continue to 'play'...  😉

Play a key role in the textile/art quilt community, that is, bringing their work to the world both through SAQA exhibitions and on their own.  I'm just back from 17 days in Scotland...mainly off line -- and here are just a few bits of news that came to my attention once I reconnected!

Cottonwood Delta Blues
Jaynie Himsl, SK

Jaynie Himsl of Saskatchewan's piece, Cottonwood Delta Blues makes a 'splash' as SAQA's H20H! exhibit -- currently on show at the National Quit Museum in Paducah, Kentucky -- is highlighted in a video on The Quilt Show blog.

B.C. members, Lesley Turner and Sarah McLaren, held a short but successful exhibit, Colour: A Personal Response, at ARTSea Gallery in Sidney, B.C. (You can read more about this on Lesley's blog, HERE.)

And SAQA WC Co-Rep for B.C., Jennie Johnston, has secured a spot as in Artist in Residence at the Forest Grove Elementary School -- where her sons are students -- via an Artist in the Classroom grant from ArtStarts in Schools.  You can read more about that adventure on her blog, HERE.


In the 2017 SAQA Benefit Auction, which continues through October 8, B.C. member Terry Aske was thrilled to have her piece, Heron Reflected 2, sold on the opening day!  Karen Johnston's piece, 4-Patch and Beyond, was also sold during Section 1, while pieces by Margaret Blank and Susan Selby are now available for purchase in the SAQA Store.


Still available in Section 2 are pieces by Pippa Moore and Karlie McChesney, while coming up in Section 3, opening Monday, October 2, at 2 p.m. ET, are pieces by SAQA WC members Ellen Bourassa, Jaynie Himsl and Susan Purney Mark. 


Of course, there are also dozens of pieces by our SAQA colleagues from all around the globe, some of whom have become very well known, and others who may be entering the exhibiting world for the first time with their auction pieces.  Selling a piece is a real boost to all artists, but selling that very first piece...well...that's something particularly special! 

Best wishes for success for all who participated in this year's fund-raiser and wide-open exhibit opportunity!

Remember, if you have an item of note -- a technique, process, artistic experience or exhibit to share with your SAQA colleagues; an article published; a prize won; a book to recommend; a new member (even if it's yourself!) to introduce from your part of our wide Region...please contact Margaret, your long-suffering Blog Editor!  😉  She'll be happy to report it, and will give you any guidance you need in preparing the information needed for the blog post.

Thank you for your support!

And Now He-e-e-ere's...Jennie!

In my last post I briefly introduced you to our new SAQA Co-Rep for B.C., Jennie Johnston.

Jennie at LaConner, 2016
with her piece, Beryl

This past week Jennie sent me some information about herself and a few photos of her work.  When she wrote, she'd just returned from a holiday to visit family in Quebec.  Although we hail from different parts of that Province, I felt an immediate connection, and am delighted to report that at last here she is -- Jennie, in her own words:

Hello, everyone.  Margaret kindly asked me to prepare a small introduction about myself for the blog.

Currently I live in Burnaby, British Columbia, a suburb of Vancouver.  I have lived here for the last 16 years and have fully converted to the west coast life style.  I live with my husband and two sons, ages 9 and 6. I was at home with my boys full time until I started working part time this spring at a House Museum called Mackin House in Coquitlam BC.

I grew up in rural Quebec, in a small English language pocket called the Eastern Townships. My family has a dairy and maple syrup farm. Growing up there was idyllic and I am very drawn to nature and have a strong current of ancestral lines running through my work.

My grandmother is a quilter and both my mother and aunt are avid crafters/makers. Growing up around creativity was imperative to my development as an artist.  Along with the wanderlust that continues to compel me travel, I attended university in New Brunswick at Mount Allison University where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. In my last year of school, I finally realized that I wanted to sew more than paint and that greatly influenced the arc of my work. 

I was a member of the Vancouver Quilt Guild for several years but found getting to meetings very hard once my first son was born.  It was through the transformation of motherhood that I began developing my quilt work and found the layering of techniques that I use today including photo transfer, painting, embroidery and quilting.  Most of my work is done by hand because I prefer the level of intimacy that hand stitch offers.  Finding SAQA was a great boost to my sense of community.  I think the struggle between the art/craft dichotomy is important to break down in the art community.  I see that happening slowly and SAQA is working to make quilts receive their due as objects capable of bridging art and craft perfectly.

I wish to thank Margaret very much for taking on the editing of our SAQA Western Canada blog. And I will be sending out the newsletter each month. You can make sure that you are opted in to receive those emails through your SAQA membership account. To find out more about me, my work, and connect on social media please visit my website www.jenniejohnston.com and I look forward to hearing from each of you about how we can make our region more enriching for everyone. 

Jennie in the Yellow Dining Room
at the home of Claude Monet, Giverny, France, 2016

Jennie and company at the Round House
Community Centre, featuring her installation,
Lifelines, in the Window Gallery - 2013

As  you know, it seems that most Reps/Co-Reps have a vision to accomplish something during their tenure.  For Patti Morris (Alberta) and Jill Sullivan (B.C.), it was collaborating to create exhibits of members' work that toured the Region, ending with the Burgess Shale Project that now lives at the Burgess Shale Interpretive Centre in B.C.  For Katie Stein Sather in B.C., it was bringing a 25th Anniversary Trunk Show tour to the Region.  For yours truly in Alberta, it was helping tour that Trunk, educating traditional quilters about art quilts at Quilt Canada in Lethbridge (2015) and expanding communication through the blog and regular newsletters.  For Val Wilson (MB/SK) and Coleen Adderley (B.C.) it was bringing us our first Regional Retreat.

Jennie has already embraced the idea of having another Trunk Tour -- as part of a Canada-wide initiative that will be starting Down East and heading West.  In addition, the West Coast Regions of the U.S. want to include Western Canada in a multi-Regional Exhibit.  Be sure to read Jennie's future newsletters all the way to the bottom 😉 to be sure you don't miss out on any details of these projects, and whatever else she has up her sleeve.

Desi Vaughn,
SAQA Reps Co-ordinator 

Valerie Wilson,
SAQA Co-Rep, MB/SK

And please -- if you live in Alberta or Manitoba/Saskatchewan -- those parts of the Regions need closer representation with SAQA -- and Jennie will soon need help!

If you are interested in taking on a two-year term as a Co-Rep for SAQA based in Alberta or MB/SK, please contact Valerie Wilson (outgoing, MB/SK) or Jennie (B.C.) -- or the main SAQA Reps Co-ordinator, Desi Vaughn -- sooner rather than later!

And thank you for your support!

Back -- with Exhibit News!

Hello again, SAQA Western Canada members and WC blog readers far and near!  I am delighted to be back editting the SAQA WC blog -- though not in my former capacity as Alberta Co-Rep.  No; that position remains up for grabs -- and Val Wilson will be finishing her tenure in MB/SK very soon so...(hint, hint, hint...)

Jennie working in her studio

First, WELCOME aboard to the new SAQA Co-Rep for B.C., Jennie Johnston of Burnaby.  Watch this space for a bit of a profile on Jennie in the near future.

And now...news of a new exhibit!





archiTEXTURE: Hard Edges in a Soft Medium opens August 7, 2017 in the Community Art Space on the 3rd Floor of the Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia Street, New Westminster, B.C., and runs through October 2, 2017.  Regular gallery hours are Monday - Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Thursday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.

The Opening Reception is Friday, August 11 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., in conjunction with the New West Cultural Crawl that runs over that weekend.

Featured Artists: 

• Janet Archibald;
• Terry Aske;
• Mardell Rampton; and
• Judy Villett

Terry, Mardell and Judy are all SAQA members -- those at the first WC Regional Retreat in May will remember Judy's in-depth, informative and fun seminar on colour.  Among other accomplishments, Terry and Mardell both have pieces currently touring with My Corner of the World: Canada.

The title is intriguing...the artists are talented...if you live in or will be visiting the area in August or September, be sure to take in "archiTEXTURE"!

***   ***   ***

A closing note:  if you have news -- your work, an upcoming exhibit, an award for work or and entry accepted into a show, for example --  to share with your colleagues in the Region, across Canada and around the world, please contact your co-rep or contact me directly, and I'll be happy to post it here! -- Margaret Blank, Mirror, AB - Editor, SAQA WC Blog.