Exhibits -- Recent and Ongoing

A week ago I stumbled over an exhibit that was opening in La Conner, Wa.  The stumble was made on Facebook, with photos from B.C. member, Katie Stein Sather.  I got a bit more info from her -- but not the dates of the show.

Sigh.

I thought I had some time to group her part in the exhibit with other posts from other members about their work -- because, frankly, I don't like to innundate members with several posts in a clump.  I'd rather showcase two or three events in a single post.

This time it backfired on me.  Today -- and Fridays seem to be my best days to post at the moment -- I went to the link Katie sent me for the venue, only to find out that the venue was the Pacific Northwest Quilt and Fiber Arts Museum and the event was the International Quilt and Fiber Arts Festival 2019 -- which ran from October 10 through October 14.

And Katie -- per her post -- had five pieces of work in that show!  Well done, Katie!

For those of you not on Facebook or Instagram, here are the photos she shared on FB, over which I stumbled.  They reflect her love of nature, and her passion for wielding a paddle in a canoe.  Enjoy!

Meanwhile, MB/SK member Cathie Ugrin and her collaborator, photographer Dmitry Kirshner weren't cowed by the blizzard that blew through Winnipeg recently.  Undaunted, they moved their Opening Reception from October 11 to the 16th -- and the show goes on!

• Where?  cre8ery Gallery, 125 Adelaide Street, Winnipeg, MB;
• When? On through October 30.  Gallery hours: Tues. - Fri., noon to 6 p.m. and Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m.
• What? "Viewpoints: A Unique Photofabric Journey" that encompasses contemplation, creative voice, seasons, collaboration, texture and movement.

Here are a couple of examples -- photos shared by Cathie on her Facebook page:

For more information about Cathie and Dmitry and their work, check the gallery's website HERE.

And now a word from your Editor:

 I've been a member of the Blogger weblog "community" since 2003 because, well...I like to write, and to tell about the processes involved in my artwork, as well as to express ideas and thoughts on a variety of topics.  Currently, in addition to my personal blog, I maintain a blog for my parish church and I contribute every other week to posts on the blog owned by the shop where I work part-time.  I also have two Facebook pages (one personal, one business), and manage two others (parish church and local community).

I've been the collator and/or Editor of this blog for about six years now (with time off briefly while Val Wilson took it on.  Thanks Val!) Most of the "news" I glean by accident -- usually via Facebook through pages of friends and colleagues and/or the SAQA Members Only page.  I also follow a few SAQA WC members who post regularly to their own blogs, so pick up news from reading their posts.  Other news is sent to me directly by the Regional Rep(s) -- and very occasionally I will get a direct request to make a post on behalf of someone leading a workshop, for example.  Sometimes, as you read above, I collect the news but...there's a short time-line by the time it finds me (or I find it!) and while it's still worth sharing, it also may be just a touch out of date. 

I try to post every week or two, as long as I can find something interesting going on to share with readers who might not be on Facebook or Instagram, or who might be in another Region (yes; we have readers in other parts of Canada, as well as in the U.S. and Europe/Middle East).  And every few months (or as needed) I update the information in the left side-bar re: SAQA events, our reps' contact info, and our membership list -- with links to their websites or blogs if available.

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but blogs tell the story behind the pictures -- and that's why I've enjoyed blogging so much for so long.

That said, sometimes...well...it's time for a fresh face, a fresh voice on the page.  So...if someone out there is a story teller, if someone feels called to share SAQA WC news with his/her colleagues, and/or if someone hankers to suss out this news on a variety of social media and present it here for those who prefer this space to others...Please let me (Margaret) -- or Jennie Johnston (Co-Rep, B.C.) or Susan Selby (Co-Rep, MB/SK) know.  I'm thinking January 1, 2020 -- ending this decade with a face to the future -- would be a good time to pass the torch.  And thanks for your support! 

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!

Missing Quilts!!!

In a recent post, we shared that Katie Stein Sather and Karen Johnson of B.C. were mounting a new exhibit in Vancouver this month.

The show was hung a week ago in the Unitarian Church, 949 - W. 49th Avenue, Vancouver.

When Katie and Karen arrived for their Opening Reception yesterday...to their horror, several pieces had gone missing!!!  Katie has posted these photos on Facebook, and thankfully the post has been shared by several hundred viewers.  For those of you not on FB, please keep your eyes open for these beautiful -- stolen -- pieces of artwork in the Vancouver area in particular:

(L) Two Paddles - Katie Stein Sather
(R) - work by Karen Johnson (title not provided)

Alberta Poplars - Karen Johnson

(L) (Title not provided) - Karen Johnson;
Centre - C'est l'aviron qui nous mene - Katie Stein Sather;
(R) - Three Paddles - Katie Stein Sather

Manitoba Poplars - Karen Johnson

(L) Mud Bay - Karen Johnson;
(R) - Alouette Stump - Katie Stein Sather

Katie has reported that the pieces were all still in place on Tuesday, but appear to have gone missing sometime Wednesday or Thursday.   There were pieces hung in the Sanctuary which were untouched; the missing pieces were taken from the exhibit in the Parish Hall, which is across the atrium from the Sanctuary.  If anyone has any information, please contact Hunter, the church's office administrator.

Contact information:

Tel.: 604.261.7204, Ext. 224 - Congregational Administrator

E-mail: info@vancouverunitarians.ca

Ongoing and Upcoming in October

First...this weekend at the Quilt and Fiber Arts Festival in La Conner, Washington, viewers will see this piece by member Cathie Ugrin:

Sea at Storm  - Detail at right

Congratulations, Cathie!  

Next, opening shortly in Vancouver, B.C. - this exhibit by members Katie Stein Sather and Karen Johnson:

On her blog, Katie describes her work for this exhibit -- an expression of her spiritual journey.  Best wishes to Katie and Karen for a successful show!


Meanwhile, in Alberta, member Margaret Blank has been preparing for the debut of her installation:

Margaret has written a book about this three-part work, describing the journey she and her family took with her late husband, living with "T1D", and the inspiration to create these pieces after his death.  The book is available online in both e-book and trade paper format at Blurb.com.  All proceeds from the sale of the book will be divided equally between JDRF Canada and the Canadian Diabetes Association.  

"Mark on the Body: Making My Mark", the second part of this installation, is ongoing and participatory.  Margaret invites interested stitchers to contact her for a kit to create a small stitched quilt "sandwich" that will hang as part of a mobile or series of mobiles as the installation goes forward.  To date, over two dozen have been completed; Margaret's goal is at least 100.