ETA (Editted to Add):

RE: The Edge of the Forest: B.C. SAQA/SDA member and one of the "Edge" artists, Judi MacLeod, tells me that this exhibit will also be showing in Victoria, B.C. - March 23 - April 16 at the Coast Collective Gallery, #103 - 318 Wale Road, Colwood, B.C.  This, according to the website, is a new address at the Holiday Inn Express Suites at Westridge Landing.  All who are in the area or travelling through it at that time -- enjoy!

'Edge of the Forest' Comes to Calgary

On January 11, the Fish Creek Library in Calgary opened the "Edge of the Forest" textile art exhibit.  I last posted about this exhibit just over a year ago when the team of Melanie Siegel, Sheila Thompson, and Rikki Blitt -- all Canadian members of the Surface Design Association (SDA) were preparing to exhibit it in Ontario and later, in Newfoundland.

This juried exhibit features work by 53 artists, in a variety of techniques incorporating textiles.  Several of the artists also belong to SAQA, including:

• Maggie Vanderweit, Fergus, Ontario;
• Lesley Turner, Victoria, B.C.;
• Jill Sullivan, Sechelt, B.C. (former B.C. Co-Rep for SAQA WC);
• Katie Stein Sather, Maple Ridge, B.C. (current B.C. Co-Rep for SAQA WC);
• Lorraine Ross, Calgary, AB;
• Terry Phillips, Quathiaski Cove, B.C.;
• Judi MacLeod, Victoria, B.C.;
• Wendy Klotz, Calgary, AB;
• Marcy Horswill, Cumberland, B.C.;
• Mita Giacomini, Dundas, Ontario;
• Diane Duncan, Calgary, AB;
• Gloria Daly, Duncan, B.C.;  and
• Leslie Barnes, Calgary, AB.

An article describing the exhibit was written by Leslie Barnes and published in the January/February 2016 issue of The Country Register (Alberta).  For artist biographies and to view images of their work, visit edgeoftheforest.ca.

The exhibit continues at the Fish Creek Library through January 30, with a "Meet the Artist" evening planned for Thursday, January 21, at 7 p.m.  If you are in the area, be sure to take in this very special show!

My Corner of the World - Celebrate Canada!

The names are out!  

Congratulations to all the Canadians who answered the Call for "My Corner of the World: Canada" and "My Corner of the World".  Juror Micaela Fitzsimmons had her work cut out for her -- selecting only 40 pieces for each exhibit, from over 100 entered in each competition.

Here are the SAQA members whose pieces will be in the MCOTW: Canada exhibit:

Western Canada:

Terry Aske - B.C., Margaret Blank - AB, Jaynie Himsl - SK, Paula Jolly - SK, Marie McEachern - AB, Mardell Rampton - B.C. and Janet Scruggs - AB.

Central Canada*:

Shirley Bailey. Sharon Collins, Albert Cote, Linda Coulter. Millie Cumming, Diane Eastham, Janet Elliott, Ann Fales, Mita Giacomini, Gunnel Hag, Philida Hargreaves, Robin Laws Field, Toni Major,
Judith Martin, Lynn McCulloch, Mary Pal, Joan Reive, Hilary Rice, Jocelyne Sobeski, Arja Speelman, Catherine Timm, Maggie Vanderweit, Joan Willison

*I was told by Rep Bethany Garner that there were no entries from Quebec; these artists are all from Ontario.

Atlantic Canada:

Holly McLean - N.B., Kate Madeloso - N.S., Penny Berens - N.S., Sandra Betts - N.B., Susan Lilley - N.S., Heather Loney - N.S., Susan Tilsley Manley - N.S.

And congratulations to these Canadians whose work was accepted into the All-SAQA "International" My Corner of the World exhibit:

Millie Cumming*, Fergus, ON; Bethany Garner, Kingston, ON, Mita Giacomini*, Dundas, ON, Kate Madeloso*, Wolfeville, N.S., Joan Reive*, Belleville, ON and Maggie Vanderweit*, Fergus, ON.

*These artists also have pieces accepted into the MCOTW: Canada exhibit.  The requirement was for different pieces to be submitted to each Call, so these artists are to be commended for their pluck and industrious creativity!

For those who entered but were not selected, please remember that a juror’s decision is just one person’s opinion on one day and is based on her interpretation of the call for entry, the pool of entries and how important she felt it was to create a cohesive show. In addition, the competition for both of the MCOTW Calls was keen: 116 pieces were submitted to the "Canadian" Call and 189 to the "International" Call -- and only 40 pieces could be selected for each competition!

In our humanity, it's tough not to be disappointed if our work isn't accepted for a particular competition...but in the end each of us is the true judge of the pieces we create.  Was the making a pleasure?  Was it a source of inspiration?  Of learning?  Will it be the start of a series, exploring a particular idea in greater depth?  

Yours truly is thrilled to have had a piece accepted into the all-Canadian exhibit (my first ever acceptance into a juried SAQA show); I submitted three.  This means that I too got a 'letter of non-acceptance' for the other two pieces.  It's likely that they were viewed as not as 'strong' compared to the one that was accepted.  One of them was quite abstract, and might not have fit the juror's interpretation of the Call for Entry.  Does this mean I was foolish to enter more than one piece?  Of course not!  :-)  I thought all three stood a good chance of acceptance...and chose to risk submitting them all to get the most value out of the entry fee!

None of the pieces I submitted were made specifically for this Call.  Rather, the Call suited my 'voice' -- which focuses on landscapes -- and I'd made the pieces as assignments for an online class I was taking all through 2015.

At the outset of the Calls for MCOTW, I heard some grousing about the entry fee, especially considering it was to be paid in USD, and our CAD has been dropping in value.  Please don't think your entry fee was 'wasted' if your piece was not accepted.  As Chris Nielsen, Rep for Atlantic Canada, expressed to her members:

"It might be helpful to consider your entry fee the cost of the learning and growth you will experience in preparing art work for a specific show.  Entry fees are also an investment which ensures that high quality shows can continue to exist and travel."

Indeed, these exhibits will be travelling across Canada, East to West, in the next year or two, and it is expected that venues in the U.S. and overseas will be procured as well. 

It is my fond hope that I can travel to Stratford for the opening of these exhibits at the Stratford Perth Museum on May 21.  They will be on show there through August 14, 2016, and then will begin their Canadian tour.  I look forward to seeing them "up close and personal" -- and I'll be sure to identify for all and sundry, the work of our Western Canada artists! 

Please avail yourself of the "Exhibitions" information on the SAQA website (under the "Artwork" tab) so that you can take in the MCOTW exhibits when they come to a venue near you!

 

CRAFTED -- in Winnipeg!

In late October, I posted a note about a then-up-coming event in Winnipeg -- the CRAFTED Show and Sale.  Cathie Ugrin, a SAQA member from "The Peg", participated in this weekend-long event; here is her report.  :-)

In celebration of Craft Year 2015, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Manitoba Craft Council and Nunavut Arts and Crafts Association came together to create CRAFTED Show + Sale (November 6 & 7).  The combined vision was to create a fabulous sale that would honour the professionalism, skill, knowledge, time and creative integrity of the participants.

I am a Winnipeg based fabric artist and was honoured to be among the 50 selected artisans to take part in this unique and exciting event!

The atmosphere was electric!  As soon as we walked through the doors the night before to set-up, everyone knew this was going to be THE inaugural craft/art event of the season and we just couldn’t wait to get started.  What made it so special?  All the participants were juried in so the ‘cream of the crop’ were showing what fine craft is really all about.  The diversity of the art displayed on all four floors of the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG) was amazing, and it was great to meet the artists from Nunavut.  Some of the incredible mediums used by the vendors that were a part of CRAFTED include jewellery...

The work of Daria Tittenberger, Winnipeg

Customers admiring the work of Sonja Rosenberg, Winnipeg

Pieces created by Jerry Ell, Iqaluit

Necklaces created by CJ Tennant, Winnipeg

Ceramics...including these artists:

Artist: Crystal Nykoluk of Winnipeg

Kevin Conlin - Winnipeg

as well as glass, wood, book-binding, paper...

Woodwork by Carson Hill, Winnipeg

and fibre, including wearable art by Faith Kreelak

and home decor created by...our own Cathie Ugrin:

Cathie's display at CRAFTED

Cathie working at her booth

Cathie adds:

CRAFTED was also partnered with ‘Chase the Chill in Winnipeg’ to “yarn storm” or “graffiti-knit” the main floor and front foyer.  The rainbow of scarves trimming the ceiling and dripping with warmth and colour was a dynamic art installation in and of itself and gave a sense of joy and fun to the surroundings.  After the event, the 350+ scarves were distributed to shelters throughout Winnipeg. 

Speaking from the perspective of one of the vendors, the word to describe it all is exciting with a capitol E! CRAFTED was the inaugural event of its kind - I’d even say [an] experiment - and it was a huge success.  The positive response from the attendees was incredible.  The timing couldn’t have been better.  The surroundings were majestic and wonderfully uncluttered.  Overall, the artists had great exposure and sales over $100,000.  Although there were other fibre-related vendors strewn throughout the gallery,  I was the only ‘quilter’/ fabric artist and my location in the Atrium was ideal! The show was well organized and virtually stress-free thanks to the fabulous coordination of both the WAG and Manitoba Craft Council (MCC). 

Saturday morning shoppers at CRAFTED

Over 3500 people attended the two-day event held throughout all four floors of the gallery -- admiring, purchasing, chatting with the artisans, attending workshops and even sipping wine in the beautiful and grand space of the Winnipeg Art Gallery. The Gallery Store was open and offering a 10% discount to all visitors of CRAFTED to complete the experience.

View of the Atrium at the WAG,
including a colourful 'yarn storm' of scarves

Looking ahead to next year, due to its overwhelming success, CRAFTED will be back! The ideas are already flowing as I look forward to creating new work for next year’s event – stay tuned!

Thanks for sharing this event with us, Cathie!  Best wishes for success with next year's CRAFTED!

Meanwhile...Are you working on an exciting project?  Have you participated in an art event and/or have you been recognized for your work?  Sharing with SAQA WC readers inspires and encourages all of us!  Contact Margaret (Co-Rep, Alberta) by e-mail with your story!

Showcasing Talented Quilt Artists - Genre Neutral!

Maybe some of you are like my cyber-friend, SAQA member Susan Lenz.  Maybe you've never even heard of The Quilt Show (hosted by Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson).  Maybe you've never even heard of by-subscription programs you can watch on your computer.

Or maybe you're like me and struck gold when you found these sorts of programs a few years ago.

May I recommend a couple to you:

First, yes, The Quilt Show (or TQS)...on which several SAQA members have appeared over the years -- and some more than once!  Susan happens to be on the latest program, and for a limited time non-subscribers can watch her in the episode HERE.

Recently, Lyric Kinard made an appearance -- her second, I believe.  Other SAQA members who've been guests on TQS include Sue Bleiweiss, Katie Pasquini Masopust, Jamie Fingal, Jane Dunnewold, Jean Wells Keenan (twice), Leslie Tucker Jenison, Leni Levinson Wiener, Wendy Butler Berns, Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry, Joe Cunningham, Hollis Chatelain...to name just a few.

Annually, TQS honours a Quilting Legend (or Legends)...including our own Yvonne Porcella in 2010...

In addition to the shows, TQS has built a quilting community through the use of their forum, their blog, and their social media presence.  There's lots to see and do and learn for quilt artists of every shape, size and taste!

Another show by subscription is Design Matters TV (DMTV), produced by the mother-daughter team from the UK, Linda and Laura Kemshall.  This is a more expensive subscription -- in part due to the exchange rate! -- and the shows are shorter in duration (20 to 30 minutes versus the almost-an-hour-long Quilt Show), but there are new episodes more often than with TQS.  There are no featured guests (to date, anyway).  However, it is a close-up look at the work that Linda and Laura do, and usually features a tutorial on a technique for sketchbook (to be taken then to fabric) or directly on fabric.  Art quilting is their specialty, and they share their talents, experience and knowledge with generosity and humour.

When it's time to settle in to a snowy afternoon at the sewing machine or a wintry evening's hand-stitching, I suggest you tune in, turn on, and enjoy!  :-)


............REMINDER!  REMINDER! REMINDER!............

The DEADLINE for entering My Corner of the World and My Corner of the World: Canada is 11:59 P.M. EASTERN STANDARD TIME TONIGHT!

Coming Soon to North Vancouver...

SAQA member Catherine Nicholls (B.C.) and her colleague, Elizabeth Harris, are hosting an Open House at Catherine's studio in North Vancouver.  If you are in the neighbourhood, you might drop in, enjoy the artwork, and maybe even pick up a gift or two in advance of the holidays...

Something New This Way Comes

In Edmonton...opening soon at the Art Gallery of Alberta ..."Charrette Roulette: FABRIC".  a format to collaboratively workshop solutions, generated by a group of creatives: artists, architects, designers".

The "Charrette Roulette" program has been running since last May (2015).  The AGA describes it as "

The "FABRIC" portion of this program, running November 21, 2015 through April 10, 2016 will bring the reality of a textile workshop right into the Art Gallery.  The artists collaborating on this program are Yvonne Mullock and Teng Teng Chong.


There is a variety of events surrounding this ongoing exhibit.

• Saturday, November 21, 2015 - noon - a textile printing workshop - exploring cyanotype printing with fabric while learning more about the whole exhibit from the artists.  
• Cost: $15.00
• Register HERE.
• Do It Yourself - Collectivity and Collaboration in Edmonton: 
• Runs November 26, 2015 through March 5, 2016;
• A "survey" of local artists that highlights the artists' responses to the challenges of working collaboratively in various collectives in Edmonton over the past several years.
• Location: the AGA at the University of Alberta Museums Galleries in Enterprise Square, downtown Edmonton.

Live in Edmonton?  Travelling there this winter?  You might want to check this out!

(Thanks to the Focus on Fibre Art Association for putting me on to this unique series of arts events.)

Art Quilts for Sale!

Those of you entering the juried shows, "My Corner of the World" and/or "My Corner of the World: Canada", will have noticed that to participate you have to offer your piece(s) for sale.  If this is a new experience for you, please have a look at the resources on the SAQA website and elsewhere...as outlined wonderfully in THIS BLOG POST by SAQA Atlantic Canada's blogger, Susan Lilley.

I am indebted to Susan because I've been under the weather with a cold for the last week and haven't had enough brain cells operating to think to post about this myself!  :-)

And What of Photography?

Earlier this week I had a query from a Calgary-area member about photographing her quilts for entry.  I am blessed with a daughter whose photography skills have lead to her being published in books and calendars, and to having her work for sale independently and in shop(s) in Edmonton...so I left my photos up to her!

If you aren't so lucky...check out the article on photographing your quilts HERE on the SAQA website (in Member Resources).  In addition, in the Member Mentorship Webinar recordings for 2010 you will find a recording by professional photographer, Gregory Case, which should be helpful.  (Those of you who are long-time subscribers to The Quilt Show will likely recognize Mr. Case's name; he's appeared several times on that show over the years, discussing tips and techniques for photographing your work.)

And...don't forget your colleagues!  Several of them have successfully entered juried shows and/or had their own solo exhibits...so don't be afraid to check with those you know who've got experience in this area.

Best wishes for success to all who enter!

"Canadiana" Exhibit Back in Canada

Having toured in New Zealand earlier this year, the Fibre Art Network exhibit, "Canadiana", curated by SAQA member Pippa Moore of B.C., returned to Canada and opened at the Langley Centennial Museum, Langley, B.C., in August.  It runs there through November 8, so if you're in the area in the next week, be sure to catch this beautiful show!

Participating artists who are SAQA members, in addition to Pippa, include Diane Duncan (Alberta), Terry Aske (B.C.), Jaynie Himsl (SK), Judi MacLeod (B.C.), Joyce Brown (AB), Marcy Horswill (B.C.), Judith Panson (MB), Karen Johnson (B.C.), Terry Phillips (B.C.), Helene Blanchet (Atlantic Canada, formerly in AB), Jenny Perry (B.C.), Diane Firth (AB), and Katie Stein Sather (B.C.).

Coming Up in Winnipeg!

Shared by Val Wilson, Co-Rep (MB/SK)...via Facebook...

This event runs at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7.   Included in this show and sale is the work of fifty artists, including SAQA Western Canada member Cathie Ugrin of Winnipeg.

For details about the event, admission information and workshops on offer, click HERE.

What a great time to be visiting Winnipeg!