The Making of The Hockey Boys - Colour with A U

Our final behind the scenes look at Western Canada member's Colour with a U submission is Valerie Wilson's The Hockey Boys. Colour with a U opens this Monday June 28th and runs until  October 2, 2021at the Museum of Industry in Stellarton, Nova Scotia.

Valerie Wilson - The Hockey Boys 65.5" W x 42" H

This piece was based on a vintage black and white photograph. I liked the three boys together and liked the differences in appearance and the subtle differences in their uniforms. The photo I used had had people standing in front of the boys so that shadows fell on the skates and hockey sticks of two of the boys. It required some research into the era and the equipment used at that time and some attempts at sketching the missing elements.



The Hockey Boys includes commercial and hand-dyed cotton, tulle, wool batting behind the figures and cotton batting overall.
Created with fused, raw edge appliqué, machine quilted (upper area on a long arm) and the rest on my HQ Sweet 16 (midarm).




Sampling of the quilting for the ice

The Hockey Boys artist statement: 

"Hockey is a national sport that is a symbol of Canada. It acts as a unifying force to connect communities and diverse groups of people. Anyone can play hockey and enjoy the game. Here are three boys who came together to join forces and play their favourite sport. I can imagine them out on an icy pond or in their local ice rink skating around."

More Exhibits -- This Month and Beyond

In early March I mentioned that a number of SAQA Western Canada members had been accepted into the Canadian Quilters' Association National Juried Show.

Those names have increased by one, as Margaret Inkster of B.C. e-mailed me to say she too was in the exhibit.  Congratulations to Margaret -- and to all whose work will be on display at Quilt Canada 2018 in Vancouver -- May 31 through June 2 at the Vancouver Convention Centre's West Building, 1055 Canada Place.

Next weekend, a very special one-day-only showing of SAQA WC's "Burgess Shale" exhibit will be held at the Banff Trail Community Centre.  I know I posted about this earlier -- but I decided to send a reminder out as it's up for only one day.  If you blink, you'll miss it!

Also next weekend, the City of Lacombe, Alberta is having its 19th Annual Encore! Art Sale and Celebration of Creative Expression -- in the centre of town at the Lacombe Memorial Centre.  

Yours truly has had the pleasure of being juried into this show for a booth consistently since 2011, so I hope you'll drop by to see my new work as well as that of featured artist, water colourist Sandra Bingeman, the Student Art Exhibit and Competition, and the delightful "Sip & Shop" from 6-8 p.m. Friday and 2-4 p.m. Saturday. 

LACOMBE MEMORIAL CENTRE

5214 50 AVENUE, LACOMBE

April 20 & 21, 2018

Friday, April 20

1 pm – 8:00 pm
General Admission $5
under 12 free

Saturday April 21
11 am - 5 pm
 Admission $5 
under 12 free

Here's a sneak peek at what you might see at my booth...based on a photo taken by a dear friend, and used with his permission:

After the Storm: Granada
8" x 10", mounted on
painted stretched canvas
12" x 12" finished

Finally, last weekend, I ventured to Red Deer for the 27th Annual Central Alberta Quilters' Guild Show.  This is one of Alberta's largest shows, and it is pulled off with aplomb every year.  There were two featured quilters -- Marie Barkley, a senior who creates traditional quilts exquisitely, with a particular eye for colour in her interpretations, and Jasmine Travers-Charbonneau, a 34-year-old who's been quilting for only five years; her style is Modern.  Her quilt, "Brassica" was selected for exhibit at QuiltCon 2018!

But aside from the Featured Quilters and the terrific vendors (Hamel's Fabrics, the Superior Thread reps, 

and a wide range of shops from around Alberta and Saskatchewan), I enjoyed most meeting up with SAQA colleagues -- and former ones, such as former Co-Rep for Alberta, Patti Morris.  She's still quilting, but too busy with family (aging parents, a new grand-baby) to keep her membership, but she sends along her best wishes to the Region and was thrilled to hear about the 2020 Conference in Toronto.

And I had a great chat with Alberta member Wendy Greber of Red Deer, who took a ribbon for this delightful piece:

Little Red Wagon
First Place, Challenge Quilts

In her statement about the work, Wendy wrote that she designed it in response to the Guild's Quilt Challenge to make a piece inspired by a song.  She chose a Country song entitled "Little Red Wagon" sung by Miranda Lambert.  She said it reminded her of the little red wagon she had as a child, and concluded, "...now this one has a new purpose in life".  😊

In addition, Wendy took a second ribbon -- for this fun piece featuring wonky trees!  She wrote that she designed it following a technique described by Australian quilt artist Jan Mullen, but using her own layout and lively colour selections.

Inferno Trees
First place, Small Quilts

Congratulations on your prize-winning work Wendy!

And in other news...B.C. member Susan Purney Mark, who in early May of last year was one of our terrific workshop leaders at our first Regional Retreat, is currently trundling on foot along the Camino de Santiago in Spain.  If you're curious about her journey, she is posting fairly regularly on Facebook.  Best wishes for a safe and memorable pilgrimage, Susan!

Remember, if you have exhibit information to share with your SAQA colleagues in Western Canada, across Canada and world-wide (yes, members in other Regions read this blog!), please e-mail blog editor Margaret Blank.