Kudos.......

News of accomplishments and exhibits by SAQA-Michigan members. Kudos to:

Marilyn M. Prucka, of Monroe, for receiving second place for her art quilt "Mudflats Series: Low Waters" in Concordia University's Kreft Gallery show: "Mirror Images: Reflections on/of the Arts". Concordia University is located in Ann Arbor; the show runs through April 4. Click here for information.

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Angelica Roberts, of Mattawan, for exhibiting in and co-curating (with mixed media artist Gail Walters), Fiber Art and Mixed Media—Putting It Together, at the Carnegie Center for the Arts in Three Rivers. The show runs through April 14. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday 10-5, and Saturdays 10-2. Click here for more information.

[Corrections posted 04/02/12. Thanks, Angelica, for the use of this photo of your work.]

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Monica Johnstone, of Grand Rapids, for acceptance of her art quilt "Kiwi's Nocturne: Stargazing Through the Veil" into the juried exhibition Beneath the Southern Sky. This exhibit is currently being shown in Auckland, New Zealand, and will eventually be displayed in cities in three countries. Click here for more information and the online gallery.

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Ann Loveless, of Frankfort, for acceptance of her small work installation "Seasons" into SAQA's juried exhibition A Sense of Scale. This exhibit (curated by SAQA-MI co-rep Anne Hiemstra) will be shown during 2012 and 2013 at the International Quilt Festivals in Houston, Cincinnati, and Long Beach.

"Ragged Layers" Mixed Media Fiber Art Exhibit

SAQA-MI members Jackie Lams and Lynn Krawczyk will be exhibiting 27 new pieces of artwork at their show "Ragged Layers" at the Huron Valley Arts Council in Highland, Michigan.

The show features work that is created using a wide variety of surface design techniques and forms of stitching.

The exhibit runs from April 4 through April 30, with and opening reception on Friday, April 6, from 7pm -9 pm. For further information, click here.

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.

Bonnie Peterson: After the Glaciers Exhibit

Bonnie Peterson developed an early passion for the outdoors while skiing on Wisconsin's glacial moraines and sailing with her Dad on Lake Michigan. She lived near Chicago and the lake so close and vast, that she didn't give the other Great Lakes a thought beyond memorizing the acronym HOMES (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior) in grade school. She finally saw Lake Superior while kayaking to Raspberry Island in the Apostle Islands where she heard stories about her great-great-grand uncle Francis Jacker who was a Raspberry Island lighthouse keeper in the 1880's.

Bonnie's Exhibit will run from January 19,- March 11, 2011 Monday through Friday 8am - 5pm in the Besse Center Galleries. The gallery is located at the Bay de Noc Community College, 2001 North Lincoln Road in Escanaba, MI 49829

Jim Hay SAQA Japan Rep

Jim Hay, SAQA Japan representative, will be having an exhibit at the Dennos Art Museum in Traverse City. The exhibit opens January 16 and runs until March 27. This is the first time that the international award-winning "Five Natural Elements" series has ever been seen in one place. Jim plans to be at the museum around March 18-27 time frame. You can check with the museum for exact dates. There will also be an opening reception on January 15th. To see more of Jim's work go to his website here.

You can click on the picture to read more about this exhibit and see some of Jim's artwork.

1st Exhibit for 2011!

If you happen to live in the UP in Michigan or are having a winter ski vacation in that area, be sure to check out the exhibit, Venus Rising: A Celebration of Women in Art at the Spies Library Gallery in Menominee, Michigan. The exhibit is showing the work of the following artists:

Laurie Ceesay

Kathleen Eaton

Patricia Johnson

and Glenda Banta

The exhibit will run from January 4 thru January 31, 2011. A reception will be held on January 6th from 4 - 7 p.m. Don't miss this opportunity to view art work from these women. A great way to start out the New Year!

Book Signing

Judi Blaydon will be signing her newest book, 'Collage + Cloth = Quilt, Create Innovative Quilts' from Photo Inspirations, at the Arts & Green Holiday Market in White Lake this Saturday, November 20 from 1-3. For more information, please visit Arts & Green site here.

Also, check back as we'll be announcing the winners of our SAQA catalog give-away!

What to do...

So your weekend is over with but what about next weekend! What to do! Here's something to put on your calendar for November! The Aussome fiber group, which is made up of SAQA Michigan members, Mary Andrews, Lois Ann Fulton (from Italy), Karen Kiley Olson, Robbie Payne and Carol Tamasiunas, is having their exhibit, "Inspired by the Masters" on display at the Novi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Center starting November 5th thru November 28th.
This exhibit consists of 31 pieces of unique and colorful quilts that explores the ideas, color and methodology of several art Masters, such as Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Gustav Klimt, just to name a few. Here's a sneak peak at some of the art work on exhibit.

Lois Ann Fulton, Inspired by Katsushika Hokusai

Mary Andrews, Inspired by Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Karen Kiley Olson, Inspired by Gustav Klimt

Robbie Payne, Inspired by Helen Frankenthaler

Carol Tamasiunas, Inspired by Aubrey Beardsley

The opening reception for the Inspired by the Masters exhibit will be on November 5th from 6-8 p.m. Mark your calendars and make sure to get out to Novi to see this art exhibit. The Novi Cultural Center is located at 45175 West 10 Mile Road in Novi, Michigan. You can read more about this exhibit and other events on their website here.

Upcoming Exhibits

The exhibit Rare Threads, Eclectic Meanderings will run from October 3 - November 12 at the Jordan River Arts Council in East Jordan, Michigan.

'The Three Furies' by Shannon Maisel will be on exibit at ART PRIZE, Water's Building (161 Ottawa Ave. NW, Suite 112, Grand Rapids, Michigan). This exhibit runs September 22 - October 10, 2010

Shannon also has work at GVSU, Allendale in the Womens Center at the Kirkhof Building. You can see more of Shannon's work on her web site: http://www.shannonmaisel.com/ and get the inside scoop of Shannon's studio work by checking out her blog here.

Upcoming Fiber Events

PRELUDE TO JAVA

by Mary Andrews

The MQAI South of the Border Opening Reception is on Friday, September 10, 2010 6:00 - 9:00pm at the Greater Flint Arts Council Gallery, 816 S. Saginaw St., Flint • Admission: Free

Art Lunch - Wednesday, September 15th 11:45am
Featuring PCAC’s September exhibiting artist Marilyn Prucka’s presentation “Not Afraid to Dye” about fiber art, creativity and process.
Tickets are $15 at the Plymouth Community Art Council, 774 N. Sheldon Road, Plymouth, MI 48170 734-416-4278.

Also, Marilyn will also be having an Artist Reception on Friday, September 24th 6-8 pm with refreshments (no charge). Marilyn Prucka’s quilts are abstract impressions of the landscape around her riverside studio in Monroe. She sees her fiber work as graphic, painterly and sculptural and, at the same time, a source of comfort.

Upcoming Exhibit & Reception

Looking for something to do this weekend? How about starting it out by attending the opening reception for one of our SAQA members and your Co-Rep for the Michigan region! Mary Andrews is having a show at Gallery 194 in Lapeer. The show runs through September 4th with an opening reception on Friday evening, August 6th from 6 to 8 PM.

The exhibit, "Glass and Fibre", will also feature hand blown glass by David Hilte along with the art quilts by Mary, which were inspired by Chihuly glass from the Botanical Gardens in Arizona. This is a great way to start your weekend out or just add to your 'places to go' sometime in the month of August! The gallery is located next to the Pix Theater at 194 W. Nepessing, Lapeer. For more information, check out the Gallery 194 web site: http://www.gallery194.com/.

“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.

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.

Call For Artists

Great Lakes "Small Works" 2D - 3D Juried Exhibition
September 2-25, 2010

The Riverside Arts Center, 76 N Huron St, Ypsilanti, MI 48197 is presenting the 2D / 3D "Small Works" Juried Competition for artists of the Great Lakes states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania Wisconsin). 2D work not to exceed 12 x 12" including the frame. If framed, 3D work not to exceed 12 x 12 x 12" and weigh no more than 40 lbs.
Deadline: July 3, 2010 Exhibit: Sept 2 - 25, 2010
For more information on guidelines and entry form, go to the Riverside Arts Center web site here.

Quilt Show Entries & other items!

Make sure you let us know of any upcoming quilt shows or exhibits where your art work will be shown. This is a good way of letting folks know where they might see your work in person or giving folks an opportunity to plan to attend some events in or out of our state!

Also, don't forget we'll be announcing the winner of our SAQA catalog on Friday. If you are the 'Mary' or 'Barbara' who posted a comment, please post a new comment with your last name. We have more than one 'Mary' and 'Barbara' in our membership.

Laurie Ceesay has two quilts in the following shows. Also, Laurie will be our Artist Profile in July!
"The Blue Wig" (32" x 25") is at the Minnesota Quilt show in St. Cloud MN June 17-19, 2010 in the pictorial wall quilt category




"1974:Good Hair" (40.5" x 33") will be shown at the AQS Knoxville TN Quilt show July 14-17, 2010 in the pictorial wall quilt category.

Art Quilt Exhibit - Menominee, Michigan

Laurie Ceesay will being having an 'Art Quilt Exhibit' at the Spies Public Library , March 1 thru March 31st. The library is located on 940 First Street in Menominee, Michigan. An Artist’s Reception will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2010 from 4-6 p.m.

If you can't attend the show during March, you can see more of Laurie's work on her web site here.

"Winds of Change" Exhibit

"Winds of Change" an exhibit by the Fiber Artists Coalition, a group of SAQA professional members, has opened at Gallery 50 in Traverse City, Michigan. It's a wonderful exhibit in an old state hospital that has been and continues to be renovated for retail, office and residential spaces. The setting is pleasing as with the brick walls as the background for the art quilts. The exhibit is representative of the work of a diverse yet professional group of quilt artists with each artist submitting up to three works. Michigan members with artworks in this show include Kathie Briggs, Joan Potter-Thomas, and Desiree Vaughn.If you are in the Traverse City area this September and October, stop in to Gallery 50 (www.galleryfifty.com) and enjoy the exhibit. Here are just a peak at 3 of the pieces in the exhibit.

'Autumn Visitor' by Kathie Briggs

'Blue Moon Rising' by Desiree Vaughn

'Arctic Storm' by Desiree Vaughn