Exhibit Opportunities - Not for Members Only!

Bonifas Fine Arts Center, Escanaba, Michigan

Bonnie Peterson, a SAQA member from Houghton MI, sent us information about Fabrications III, a juried show for Upper Peninsula fiber artists, to be held at the Bonifas Fine Arts Center in Escanaba. Here's the link (scroll down a little to find this particular exhibit). Exhibition dates are March 29 through April 26. 2012.

The entry deadline is 3 pm on February 28, 2012.

Bonnie is the juror for this exhibit and will also be presenting a workshop "Into the Mix: Machine Embroidery & Heat Transfer" on Friday, April13. Information is included on the pdf of the application form. Here's the link to Bonnie's website.

Although SAQA's Michigan region has only two members in the Upper Peninsula, many of our other members may know fiber artists living in the UP, so I encourage you to pass this information along to your friends and to other groups you belong to or know of.

Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center & Visual Arts Gallery, Daytona Beach, FL

Von Biggs, a SAQA member in Indiana and a friend from the Fabrications Retreat in Michigan, sent us a link to the website of Juanita Yaeger, a fiber artist and SAQA member in Florida who is coordinating four exhibits for the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center & Visual Arts Gallery in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Two of the exhibits are for traditional 2-D media - oils, acrylics, watercolor, etc. However, there is also one, Glued Down, for assemblage and collage; click here for information.

And one for art quilts: Stitched Through. Click here for information.

Good luck, everyone.

And be sure to send information on exhibits and competitions, both on entries and on your successes. The SAQA website has an excellent list of calls for entries - open shows as well as SAQA member shows - but often there are other competitions and exhibits that are not posted there. Let's keep each other informed.

Happy New Year - Happy New Prize

We're starting a new year but continuing an old tradition -- well, not that old: Mary Andrews and Robbie Payne started these give-away contests in 2010. Laurie and I intend to continue them in 2012, but with a twist.

First, here's the gift: the catalog of "Beyond Comfort", a SAQA exhibit from 2010.

This exhibit is best described in the words of the curator, Eileen Doughty: "SAQA encouraged its members to create radical art - art which departed from their own body of work. The theme called for fresh, adventurous work, work that may have been rejected from other exhibitions because it was so radical it could not have fit into a cohesive exhibition. In 'Beyond Comfort', radicalism provides its own cohesion."

The exhibit catalog contains 64 pages, softcover. A color photo of each artwork is accompanied by the artist's statement about the piece. The curator's statement by Eileen Doughty and the juror's statement by Marci Rae McDade are also included.

To add this catalog to your library, leave a comment (on this post only) and you will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of "Beyond Comfort".

BUT (here's the twist) not just any comment. Since it's a new year, tell us your new year's resolution relating to fiber art. You can keep it simple: "Work in a larger format"; "enter a SAQA exhibit"; "take a drawing class"; "master free-motion quilting"; or (my personal resolution) "finish something!"

You can enter more than once but be sure to leave your email address (in addition to your name) if you don't have a blog or website that provides your email. You have until Sunday, February 12, at midnight. The winner will be announced on February 14. This could be your Valentine's Day present to yourself.

Good luck!

By Way of Introduction....

The new year, for me, has always seemed to begin in September. I know I’m not alone in this feeling: the anticipation of new classes, new subjects, new projects; the hope that everything will go well – and maybe a bit better than last year; and of course always the anxiety that comes with trying something new.

My new activity this September is acting as SAQA co-rep for Michigan, along with Laurie Ceesay who introduced herself on this blog in August. Now it’s my turn to write and introduce myself, and believe me, there is plenty of anxiety associated with that new task!

My name is Anne Hiemstra, and I’m now a fiber artist living and working in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and (for several lovely months each year) in Fort Myers, Florida. I have lived in Michigan all my life and attended the University of Michigan. I practiced law, specializing in commercial real estate, until I retired in 2006.

So you may be wondering where in that background there was any training in the visual arts. Well, there wasn’t much. I was one of those kids who couldn’t draw a straight line (although I was very good in geometry), and I didn’t take any kind of art class beyond sixth grade. But I did love fabric and yarn and textures, so I sewed many of my own clothes in high school and college and also learned to knit and embroider.

I also have always loved quilts. When I was growing up,we used quilts made by my grandmother and aunts. I wanted to learn to quilt, but somehow got the idea that all piecing and quilting had to be done by hand, and I was convinced that I would never have the time and patience to learn all that stitching, much less make a whole quilt!

But in 2000 I took finally took the plunge and enrolled in a quilting course that included piecing, applique, English paper piecing, and quilting, all by hand. I was completely hooked – although it didn’t take me long to buy a sewing machine and learn to do the piecing and quilting by machine. Hand applique, however, remained one of my great loves.

I enjoyed making traditional quilts but I never felt that I was making my own quilt, even when I devised my own patterns. “Quilting Arts” magazine introduced me to art quilting, and two workshops with Pamela Allen at Fabrications (2006 and 2007) convinced me that this was what I wanted to do. Since then I’ve attended workshops with Laura Cater-Woods, Fran Skiles, Cherilyn Martin and Els Van Baarle, and Laura Wasilewski. I’ve exhibited at a number of shows across the country, and even tried my hand at teaching a few times. I’m a member of Running With Scissors here in Michigan and of Art Quilters Unlimited in Florida.

I make art quilts because I love working with fabric and thread. I love texture and color and learning about design and composition. I love free motion work but also hand stitching. I don’t have any good explanation of my work - artist statements are always agony – so I’ll just show you two of my favorite pieces (both made, coincidentally for the Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational) and let them speak for themselves.

I look forward to serving as a representative for SAQA. Let me or Laurie know if we can answer any questions about the association.

The Art of The Kitchen: Michigan Quilt Artsits Invitational

I am sharing information about an art quilt exhibit which begins in Flint MI and then travels throughout Michigan into 2012. The group is Michigan Quilt Artists Invitational and was created by Mary Andrews and Marty Calhoun. Each year there is a theme and this years theme is "Art in The Kitchen." I have been part of this group for two years so I am familiar with the rules. The quilts need to be sized to 20 x 24 either horizontal or vertical, any color or style, any embellishments need to be containdr because of travel and the pieces are available for sale. There will be an opening reception on Friday, September 9, 2011 at the exhibit location Greater Flint Arts Council Gallery in Flint MI from 6-9 EST. If you live near Flint or are in the area check it out because the exhibit is amazing. It's fun to see how aproximately 60 fiber artists interpret the theme of the invitational. Contact Mary Andrews for the complete traveling schedule.

Perhaps there is some crossover between the SAQA MI members and the MQAI members. If you are one of these artists and are willing to share your piece on this blog please e-mail me at ceesaylaurie@yahoo.com and I will post it. Don't be shy and share for the people who may not attend the exhibit.  Thank you!

Have a creative and abundant day, Laurie

SAQA Michigan Profile of the Month: Lauren Strach

The SAQA MI Member Profile of the Month is Lauren Strach. Please take the time to view Lauren's work, her perspective on her art and it's processes and her goals for the future.

Lauren in front of "First Snow" 2011. 60 x 55.

How long have you been sewing and when did you begin making art quilts?
I started taking traditional quilting classes about 13 years ago when my late husband became terminally ill. I was home with him, and two small daughters, and quilting became my release. After he passed away, and I went back to my career as a college professor of marketing, I didn't have time to quilt, but continued to buy patterns, books and fabric, and I would plan the quilts I would make when I had the time. That is all still in a corner of my studio, untouched, but at the time, it was an important artistic outlet!
As my girls got older, my interests in the type of quilts I was drawn to started to change. Then I picked up "Thread Magic" by Ellen Anne Eddy, and my creative world changed. I discovered that Ellen lived only an hour away from where I lived, and that she did private tutoring in her studio. I called her, signed up, and never looked back.

MAAC Solo Gallery Show

Describe your art and its inspiration.

My inspiration, like so many other quilters, comes from nature. I am a Master Gardener, and am lucky enough to have an extensive garden, with two water ponds, and many perennial beds. I live on a ravine, with a creek at the bottom, so I am daily surrounded by inspiration. Nature has always been an important part of who I am and it is an important part of the creative lens that I view my world through. So, it is only natural that that the vocabulary of my work comes from this inspiration.



Where do you do most of your artwork?

I am lucky enough to have a third floor studio space, with large dormer windows, overlooking my garden. I can look up and see the sun and the clouds and all the drama of the sky, I can look out into the branches of the trees and watch the squirrels and the birds, and I can look down, and see the tiny koi swimming in the water.


What are your goals?
My goals are to continue pursuing this artistic journey as fully as possible. I continue taking classes, learning new textile techniques. I am also expanding and developing my skills in other areas of art, such as pastels, drawing, photography (which I use to constantly document the changing garden landscape), and watercolor painting. I believe that if I continue to work hard, show up, and be dedicated, that there is a reason I have been given this passion.　

Do you teach, lecture, curate or have a business of your artwork?
Not at this point. I took an early retirement from my teaching position, so I have already had the experience of teaching professionally. I am still focused on learning and developing as much as I can.

Where can your work be seen?
I have had pieces accepted at the International Quilt Show in Houston for the past three years, and have two new pieces that I just mailed off for the 2011 show. I have also had quilts accepted into the AQS show in Paducah, the Minnesota Quilters Show, and various Mancuso shows. My quilt, "Saguaro Familia" won a third place ribbon at the Pacific International Show, and "Abundance: Pumpkins and Vines" was a finalist in the $100,000 Quilt Challenge.
I have also entered quilts each year in the local Michiana art competition at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph, Michigan. I have won "Best In Show" twice, which has been a great honor.

What are your interests outside of art?.
My other main interests are gardening and photography and garden photography! All of which feed directly into my art quilts! And, I love to travel, and taking quilting classes around the U.S. has given me the opportunity to spend time in many beautiful and interesting parts of the country. And, of course, my family is a blessing as they support my continued devotion to my art!
The SAQA MI member profiled this month is Lauren Strach. Please take the time to view Lauren's beautiful and colorful work and learn about her, the art processes she uses and how she is inspired.

"Flora in Wonderland" 2011. 55 x 69

"Flora in Wonderland" Detail

New Work "Spring Botanica" 2011. 18 x 42

New Co-reps for Michigan

My name is Laurie Ceesay and I along with Anne Hiemstra are the new SAQA Michigan Reps.

Robbie Payne and Mary Andrews have finished their "tour of duty" and fulfilled their time as the Michigan Co-Reps for SAQA. We will be posting on the MI blog and managing what needs to be done for the MI area of SAQA. Anne and I will take monthly turns with postings-I have August  and Anne has September. I see there are 60ish members and only about a 1/4-1/3 of the members follow this blog. Are some members not signing up and pop in now and then? If you know members that are not followers could you recommend this blog to them? I am a bit competitive since I noticed the WI/IL blog has lots of followers-we can do better than them!!!

I have lived in  Michigan 4+ yrs. after living in Appleton, Wi forever. I live in Menominee, in the UP, and am not real familiar with the state and I have never been to Lower MI so learning all the cities the members live in will be a learning experience. I joined SAQA two yrs. ago and chose to take on this position to get more involved in this group which is so informative and has awesome opportunities. Are there any other members from the UP?

A few of my goals is to post upcoming call to entries, acknowledge members and their accomplishments, possibliy have a MI art quilt challenge and/or a mini seminar. Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated!!

I have included a photo of myself so you know who I am.

Thank you, Laurie Ceesay, MI Co-Rep
www.laurieceesay.com
www.artsychickquilts.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/artsychickquilts

Jim Hay Workshops

By Jim Hay

The Dennos Museum Center is presenting two workshops with artist Jim Hay this September.
For The Love of Cloth Quilters Workshop

Dates: Saturday, September 24, 2011, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

and Sunday, September 25, 2011, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Cost: $75 for Museum members, $90 for non-members
To Register: Call Diana Bolander at (231) 995-1029, payment due upon registration. This workshop is open to beginners, intermediate and advanced artists.
Forget patterns, forget rules. Get your creative juices flowing.
"Give me your tired...yearning to breathe free" Statue of Liberty
This workshop will open doors to YOUR personal creativity. Each person's artwork will be an individual expression; your artistic vision, your interpretation of a subject, your use of materials. Making art is a path to awareness, a finding out who we are as individuals connected to all.

The Luck of the Sew Quilters Workshop

Dates: Monday, September 26, 2011, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm and Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 1:00 – 5:00 pm
Cost: $75 for Museum members, $90 for non-members
To Register: Call Diana Bolander at (231) 995-1029, payment due upon registration
Open to intermediate and advanced artists – it is recommended that you take the For the Love of the Cloth workshop with Jim Hay before this fun and challenging workshop, but not required.
A Game of Chance – Expect the Unexpected – Numbers being Actions
The Luck of the Sew is a play on words from “the luck of the draw” referring to card games.” Numbers beings actions refers” to 1234567, people, monkeys, dogs, etc. and actions are walking, running, driving, etc.

A little about Jim Hay...

"I am an artist first, a maker of quilts second. Cloth can be folded, stored and shipped. This is an advantage over other sculptural materials as well as large stretched canvas paintings. I taught myself how to use a sewing machine and have never attended a quilt class or workshop. The first time I went to a quilt festival was to accept a prize and I have been going to accept prizes ever since. These are not "Your Grandma's Quilts"; no maps, no patterns, no sketches. They are journeys of improvisation, full of energy, surprise and personal discovery. The sewing machine foot pedal is my gas pedal as I race around."

Diana Bolander
Curator of Education and Interpretation
Dennos Museum Center
Northwestern Michigan College
dbolander@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1029
www.dennosmuseum.org