“Textile Extensions: Quilts in a New Context” - Carole Harris

'The Sun's Gon' Shine In My Backdoor Someday'

'The Sun's Gon' Shine In My Backdoor Someday' is just one of 15 of Carole's work that will be in the exhibition “Textile Extensions: Quilts in a New Context” which opens at the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum Oct. 2. Carole is a well-known Michigan interior designer/fiber artist and a member of SAQA Michigan.

A reception to meet the artist will be held at the Museum Saturday, Oct. 3 from 2 to 4 p.m. Carole Harris and her husband Bill will attend. Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP by calling 989-964-7082.

Carole's rhythmically constructed, non-traditional tapestries are composed of hundreds of richly colored fabrics which are cut, overlaid, appliquéd, pieced and quilted. A professional interior designer and fiber artist, she creates one-of-a-kind, improvisational works that provide warmth and texture to enhance commercial and residential interiors.

“This exhibition presents for the first time a large body of my work representing a period of almost 20 years, a retrospective of sorts. The exhibition will allow both me and the public to view changes and similarities in my work over a long period. One will see how I hold the tradition while expanding the process through the use of texture and by extending the form beyond the rectangle,” said Harris in a recent interview about her show.

Harris’ work has been exhibited nationally in museums and galleries over the last 30 years.
“Carole’s quilts are not ordinary or traditional. They are comparable to a good jazz composition, improvisational and unpredicted,” said Marilyn Wheaton, Museum Director. Harris will talk about her work, the art of design and quilting, at the Museum on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 4:00 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public.

The exhibition runs through January 28, 2009. For more information, call (989) 964-7125 or visit the Museum’s website at http://www.svsu.edu/mfsm/home.html.

Here is a peak at some more of Carole's work

'Rhythm-a-ning'

'Big City Blues'


'Down the Block & Across the Street'

Exhibition of work by Laurie Ceesay

SAQA member Laurie Ceesay from Menomiee, Michigan is displaying some of her work at the following venues.

Purple Rain by Laurie Ceesay

Purple Rain was on display at the World Quilt Show-New England, Manchester NH, Aug. 13-16, 2009 in the Innovative Wall Quilt category.

BIBA 1 by Laurie Ceesay

BIBA 1 will be hung at the Wisconsin Quilt Expo, Madison WI. Sept. 10-12, 2009, in the Pictorial Quilt category.

The Blue Wig by Laurie Ceesay

Laurie's The Blue Wig will be on display at the Michigan Quilt Network's exhibit "Show Your Colors" in ' Lansing MI, Sept. 10-13, 2009. This display is part of the "show your colors" challenge.

Around Michigan

Thanks to SAQA member Anne Hiemstra for providing these exhibit and show entries around town!

The following exhibits are currently at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, 1516 S. Cranbrook, Birmingham, MI: July 24 – August 21, 2009:

“Let the Silence Have Its Say”: A Graffiti Exhibit

and

The Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild: This beadwork exhibit has some magnificent neck pieces, handbags and sculptural art

Calls for entries:

17th Annual Juried Art Show and Sale, First Presbyterian Church, Northville, MI. Show dates: October 2-9, 2009. Entry deadline: September 17, 2009. Contact: 248-349-0911 There doesn’t seem to be an online version of this information.

“Liggett Celebrates Michigan Artists”, University Liggett School, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI. Show dates: November 6-7, 2009. Entry deadline: September 17, 2009.

Handmade in Michigan, Online Artisan Market. This seems to be a very new venture, based in Ferndale. No indication yet of what their marketing strategy is, but it’s a good looking site and an idea with a lot of potential.

Bead Bonanza, Bead Show & Sale sponsored by Great Lakes Beadworkers Guild, Sunday, October 11, 2009, Southfield Municipal Complex, Southfield, MI.

Mary Andrews Exhibit

'Sunflower' by Mary Andrews, Grand Blanc, Michigan

Mary Andrews will be having a show at the University of Michigan Hospital Gifts of Art program in Ann Arbor. Mary's quilts will be in the Main Corridor West from August 24 thru October 12, 2009.

One of the first and most comprehensive arts-in-health care programs nationwide, Gifts of Art brings the world of art & music to the University of Michigan Health System. During times of stress and illness, the arts have the power to nurture and engage. The Gifts of Art programs utilize the arts to assist and enhance the healing process, reduce stress, support human dignity and renew the spirit.

This is a wonderful place for Michigan SAQA members to show their work. There are 7 galleries throughout the hospital and thousands of people pass through the hospital during the time your work is on exhibit. The University Gifts of Art program are very fiber friendly and welcome exhibits, such as the Michigan Quilt Artists Invitational, every year as well a few fiber artists. They usually have a call for entries in the spring every year. For further information about Mary's exhibit and future programs or exhibit opportunities, check out their web site at http://www.med.umich.edu/goa/

Peg Keeney's 'Together We Can'

Peg Keeney's 'Together We Can', which was part of the Obama Quilters exhibit in MD earlier this year, as been invited to be included in Dr. Carolyn Mazloomie's new Celebrate Obama book and traveling exhibition. The exhibition will travel to Japan, South Africa and across America.

SAQA Musings Exhibit - Grand Rapids, Michigan

"Dress Up" by Gera Witte, Grand Rapids, Michigan

The SAQA Musings Exhibit has been on display since June 19 at the Gerald R. Ford Musesum in Grand Rapids. The exhibit includes 29 quilts from across the United States and runs thru August 31, 2009. The selected artists for Musings are:

B.J. Adams
Mary Andrews
Polly Bech
Shelley Brucar
Benedicte Caneill
Cheryl Costley
Marcia DeCamp
Mary Diamond
Clairan Ferrono
Ann Harwell
Peg Keeney
Eileen Lauterborn
Denise Linet
Ann Loveless
Dottie Moore
Susan Sanborn North
Frauke Palmer
Pat Pauly
Marti Plager
Judith Plotner
Christine Predd
Casey Puetz
Tracy McCabe Stewart
Gwyned Trefethen
Gera Witte

So if you are looking for an art quilt exhibit to visit this summer in Michigan, look no further then the Musings Exhibit at the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum. Along with the quilt exhibit you can also see Caroline Kennedy's doll collection. These dolls were given to Caroline from visitors to the White House from all over the world. The Museum is also full of treasures from the White House and items given to the Ford family.

The Museum is located at 303 Pearl Street in downtown Grand Rapids and is open every day 9 to 5. For directions and more information on the museum you can visit their web site here.

To have a sneak peak at the exhibit, click on the video below!

WELCOME!

The SAQA Michigan newsletter will be taking a sabbatical! In its place, we'd like to welcome you to the SAQA Michigan blog!

The best way to provide members immediate access to information about exhibit opportunities, announcements of upcoming events and other endeavors is by the creation of our own blog. With this venue we will be able to maintain links to SAQA members living and working in Michigan. In addition, our members can view SAQA news, member's accomplishments, and be kept informed of venues and exhibits where you can see SAQA artists' work in person.

This is your regional blog and will only be as good as the information you provided to us. So keep us informed of any news, events, corrections, etc. by emailing Robbie Payne at SAQAMI@aol.com. This is a free service to all members in our region, so take advantage of this technology tool for promoting our art.

We hope you enjoy your visit and come back often!