SAQA Michigan July Give Away!

It's SAQA Michigan give away this week! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post (only) and you’re automatically entered to win the publication, SAQA: Creative Force/2007.

If you are NOT a blogger, select 'anonymous' as your profile in the comments section and then make sure to leave your full name or email in the comments section. Remember we have many members with the same first name so we need to know who you are to contact you. As an added bonus, we're giving away TWO publications so your chances of winning have just increased!

“Creative Force 07/A Sense of Place” is a double catalog which has two front covers, one for each exhibit. Printed in gorgeous color, “Creative Force ’07” includes 50 large works by 35 artists, juried by Rebecca A. Stevens, curator at the Textiles Museum in Washington, DC, while “A Sense of Place” is an invitational exhibit curated by SAQA board member Peg Keeney of small works created in series by 16 artists which explore various landscapes. The catalog includes introductory essays by juror Rebecca A. Stevens, curators Kim Ritter and Peg Keeney, and the president and vice president of Janome America.

This give away will remain open until midnight on Friday, July 30th. The winner will be announced on Monday, August 2nd. Thank you so much for participating! The WINNER will be selected using random.org and yes, you can comment more than once!

“One of a Kind” Fiber Exhibit

Blackbird on November Winds

By Kathie Briggs

The “One of a Kind” Fiber Exhibit curated by featured artist Kathie Briggs will be at the Charlevoix Circle of Arts on July 16th. Artists include Pamela Allen, Mary Andrews, Jill Ault, Kerry Bowes, Barbara Bushey Kathy Campau, Laura Cater-Woods, Rosemary Claus-Gray, Sheri Cooper, Lenore Crawford, Carolyn King, Virginia Spiegel, Patricia Turner, Desiree Vaughn and Gera Witte.

The Fiber Artist Coalition (FAC) traveling quilt exhibit, which was inspired by the Wallace Stevens poem "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird", will also be on display at the gallery. The FAC is a group of SAQA PAM artists in the Great Lakes area. Members of FAC are: Frieda Anderson, Astrid Bennett, Kathie Briggs, Shelley Brucar, Cheryl Dineen Ferrin, Clairan Ferrono, Peg Keeney, Pat Kroth, Casey Puetz, Joan Potter Thomas, Laura Wasilowski, and Trish Williams.

As an added bonus, you'll also be able to see the SAQA 20th Anniversary Trunk show on exhibit. As part of the celebration of SAQA's 20th anniversary year, SAQA created and organized the SAQA Trunk Show. SAQA members responded to a call for small works which would represent their artistic voices. Each 8"-square art quilt was matted with archival mat board. This is a great opportunity to view these pieces of art up close!

Opening Reception for the 'One of a Kind' Fiber exhibit is Friday July 16th from 5 – 7 p.m. The exhibit will run July 16, 2010 through September 18, 2010

Charlevoix Circle of Arts

109 Clinton Street

Charlevoix MI 49720

The gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m.

And while you are visiting Charlevoix, drop by the Charlevoix Library to see the final showing of the Michigan Quilt Artist Invitation “Ciao Italy” exhibit. July 1 through August 31, 2010

Hour and directions to the Charlevoix Libary can be found on their website here.

Modern Quilting lecture at the Northville Art House - You're Invited!

The Green Quilt by Rosie Hutchinson

Have you ever heard of the phrase "modern quilting"? What's it all about? What makes this classification different from other forms of quilting? Come and find out! Rossie Hutchinson will be giving a lecture on this topic at the Northville Art House. Rossie will give a one hour lecture about modern quilting as well as displaying her beautiful quilts. It's sure to be an exciting lecture so please join us!

Lecture: Modern Quilting by Rossie Hutchinson

Where: Northville Art House

When: Sunday August 15, 2010 beginning at 2pm

Cost: $15 per person (advance payment required)

RSVP: please reserve your spot because space is limited! RSVP to Lynn at FibraArtysta@earthlink.net

**Note: Your space is not reserved until the lecture fee has been paid. Fees are non-refundable but can be transferred to a friend.

Deadline Fast Approaching!

This is just a reminder that there is still time to submit for the 2010 Blurred Boundaries exhibit but the deadline is fast approaching. Blurred Boundaries is a mixed media exhibit that will hang during the week of the Fabrications Retreat in Kalamazoo, MI from August 30-September 3, 2010. The Fabrications Retreat is a phenomenal retreat featuring an outstanding lineup of instructors. You can view all the details for the retreat here.

This year's exhibit seeks artwork that focuses on surface design techniques. The juror for the 2010 exhibit is Jeanne Williamson. You can view her work on her website. Blurred Boundaries also offers sales opportunities as well as cash prizes for three artworks chosen by Jeanne.

July SAQA Michigan Profile

July SAQA Michigan Profile is:

Laurie Ceesay
Menominee, Michigan








How long have you been sewing and when did you begin to make art quilts?
I have been sewing since middle school when I made clothes for myself. I went to the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the mid ’70’s and took a Fiber Arts class. It was there I made my first quilt top. I dabbled through the ‘80’s and joined the local quilt guild in the early ‘90’s and never stopped! I made my first art quilt in 2003 after taking a year off from traditional quilting-I was bored with BOM, log cabins, Ohio stars, and Thimbleberries.
Describe your art and its inspiration.
I love to draw the human figure. I am a hairdresser and love hairstyles especially anything from the ‘60’s or ‘70’s. A friend recommended finding a niche so I combined my figure drawing and quilting. I tend to do a lot of portraits because I love to create the facial features and hairstyles the best. I find inspiration in hairstyle books where I work. I am also inspired by regional and national quilt challenges.

Where do you do most of your artwork?
I have a studio in my home in which I work. It is not as big as I prefer so I end up “expanding” into other areas of my house.

What are your goals? I have a goal of winning a ribbon in a national juried show. My art work has been juried into several shows but haven’t won a ribbon yet. I also have a goal of teaching for quilt guilds and quilt shows. I have had a continuous goal of spreading the news that art quilts are worthy at an art gallery or museum and not a blanket for the bed. Also to expand my creativity to the next level and continue to grow as an artist

Do you teach, lecture, curate or have a business of your artwork? I do teach and lecture.

Where can your work be seen?
I have some of my work at The Old Church Gallery in Cedar River Mi. and I will be in two exhibits back to back at The Bonifas Art Center in Escanaba Mi this summer. I'm participating in the Michigan Art Quilt Invitational exhibit which begins in Flint MI this September. I also have my work in various local exhibits in Menominee Mi where I live.

What are your interests outside of art?
I love to garden in the summer and make garden art. I love old wooden chairs which I paint in funky colors and stencil designs on them. I collect rusty garden, hardware and farm items for my garden. Walking for exercise and bike rides, when the weather permits are high on my list of other interests. I also have three cats that are my sewing buddies!!

To see more of Laurie's work visit her web site:
http://www.laurieceesay.com/

Tina Turner

8 1/2" x 11"

This piece appeared in Quilting Arts Magazine

April/May2009 Issue

The Blue Wig

35" x 25"