Congrats, Gera!

We'll be mailing out the SAQA catalog 'sightlines' this week!

Extension

No we aren't into showing how to do proper extensions but we are extending our Give Away this month.
Appears some folks have had problems leaving comments so now you have until Sunday, June 26th to post a comment to possibly win a copy of the SAQA catalog 'SIGHTLINES'!

Remember to leave your comment on the post here and not on this post!
Good luck!

Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational 2011

Jello Anyone?

by Laurie Ceesay

"Jello Anyone" is one of over 50 quilts that will be on display at the Michigan Quilt Artist Invitational, 'Art of the Kitchen' exhibit. The opening reception will be on September 9th from 6 - 9 p.m. Mark your calendars so you won't miss seeing some of these wonderful art quilts!

In case you can't make the opening, here is the schedule for the Art of the Kitchen exhibit and last year's South of the Border, which is still traveling.

Sept - Greater Flint Arts Council
Oct 15 - Nov 30 Ann Arbor Library
Dec - Southfield Library
2012 Schedule
Jan Ortonville Library
Feb-Mar White Lake Library
Apr-May Menominee Library
June - Marquette Library
July - Aug Les Cheneaux Historical Museum

South of the Border Exhibit Schedule remaining:
July-Aug Les Cheneaux Historical Museum
Oct - Marquette Library
Nov - Dec 1/2 exhibit to Menominee Library
Nov - 1/2 exhibit to Livonia Civic Center
2012
Jan - Flint Schools
Feb - Mar Oakland County Government Center
Apr - June U of M Hospital
July- Aug Charlevoix Library

Summer Give Away!

Well, it's almost summer and therefore we'll start off the season with giving away a copy of the SAQA 'sightlines' publication. The exhibit 'Sightlines' premiered in November 2010 and contained art work from 14 world renowned artists from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United states.

This catalog contains 64 pages, hardcover, with 6-page gatefold that opens in the center illustrating the entire exhibit.
Each artist has a four-page spread with an image of their installation, detail image, artist statement, and artist bio and also includes a curator's introduction from Virginia Spiegel.

Just leave a comment (on this post only!) and you'll be entered in the drawing to win a copy of 'sightlines'! You can enter more than once but make 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 Tuesday, June 21st@ midnight - start of summer! Winner will be announced on Thursday, June 23rd! Good luck!

SAQA Michigan May Profile

May SAQA Michigan Profile

Gwen Jones
Bridgman, Michigan

How long have you been sewing and when did you begin making art quilts? I have an MFA in painting, printmaking and drawing, but though I taught some in the art area, I kept getting hired in Libraries. While getting my MLS I worked for the ALA (American Library Assn.) and the AHA (American Hospital Assn.) and ended up working for 20 years as a Medical Librarian while continuing to do artwork. It helps in this respect that my husband had rented out a large loft space and ran a gallery and rented out work spaces to artists. But someone in the family needed to provide the medical insurance for our family of 4. I saw my first art quilts out East at an exhibition of Japanese Art Quilts seventeen years ago and it opened up a new media to me. I had a lot to learn before feeling confident and joined the Illinois Quilter Inc. and enjoyed the monthly speakers for years. We are both now retired.

Describe your art & its inspirations I want to move the viewers eye and am often interested in having an irregular edge to the pieces I make. "Arroyo" is one of these pieces (see picture below). It was made while in our Arizona home which has a lot of ravines throughout the town. At times my art piece is inspired by the fabrics, and I feel very strongly that it is important to keep your fabrics around where they can be seen and not carefully stacked away. The piece Jane's Garden at Twilight (picture on Gwen's web site) was inspired by some fabric designed by Jane Sasseman that was given to me. The twilight part came from living in Michigan where we often walk down to Lake Michigan's shoreline to see the sun set over the Lake. I received a "special award" with $100. at the Senior Network Art Exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center's Renaissance Center in September and I received a second prize on this same piece at the Member's juried show at the Sedona Art Center in Sedona, AZ this March.

Where do you do most of your artwork? I work in my studio space, which in Arizona is in our guest bedroom. In Chicago, it has been in a large attic with a very high ceiling. Now I am moving to a 19' x 19' studio in Bridgman, MI, which is finally, nearly finished, with the exception of the ceiling lights and moving everything over from Chicago. It is a terrific space with nice window lights and I will not have to take the stairs to the attic. When I travel to Arizona, I take along fabrics and threads, but I have another machine, and cutting board there.

What are your goals? I want to exhibit more. This is a hard economy for art and there are a lot of "artists". I have studied the color, design of art and worked at the craft of fabric artwork for years now and finally I am seeing more fabric art accepted in fine art shows. I plan to keep exhibiting.

Do you teach, lecture, or have a business of your artwork? No

Where can your artwork be seen? I have work in Gallery 225 in Gilbert, AZ. I will have 3 pieces in the MAAC juried show coming up at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph, Michigan which opens on June 10th. I was also part of "Art Attack" showing with 10 artists at the Burnison Gallery in Lakeside, MI.

You can see more of Gwen's work on her website: www.GwenJonesArt.com

Arroyo

33" x 51"

Earth Journey with Chinese Turquoise

Newest SAQA Michigan member

Burning Bush

Fabric Collage by Gwen Jones

30" x 42"

Gwen Jones is a SAQA PAM member who is in the process of moving her studio from Chicago to Bridgman, Michigan. Her "guest house" is currently being renovated to be her new studio. To see more of Gwen's work go to her web site here.

Welcome to Michigan, Gwen! Spring is coming!

Most of you are familiar with Ami Simms and her AAQI project. For those who are not, and for those who are!, check out the current YouTube to see the panels From Heartbreak to Hope premiered at the Hands Across the Valley Quilt Show in Amherst, MA last month. And while you're at it, check out some of the donation quilts that you could bid on each month or purchase and own one right now!