Hanging With My Quilt Show Friends

Yesterday I was invited to talk about the exhibit of the NJ/NY SAQA group "By Contrast." It was part of the Genesee Valley Quilt Fest, and I felt at home with friends I've known for years, as well as some in the recent times. This SAQA show will travel for two more venues. Then my work (seen behind me) is home.
 

Apparent Contradictions

 

It was opening night for the SAQA NJ/NY exhibition 'Apparent Contradictions' and the crowd was thick. And the panel discussion went well, some great questions, and always a good vibe from the Rochester Contemporary Art Center staff, they put on a remarkable event. So, go see this show -- till September 20.

Disarrangement

 

Here's the full version of 'Disarrangement' that will be part of the SAQA NJ/NY exhibition at Rochester Contemporary that opens this Saturday. Close inspection (for those who know I love to hide squares,) will reveal a few squares that are let-in to the overall large print. Something that intrigues me to no end.
 

Apparent Contradictions

Rochester Contemporary Art Center hosts a SAQA NJ/NY exhibition that opens this Saturday evening. There is a panel discussion starting at 7 where I've been asked to participate. What pearls of wisdom I can muster after a full day of "Music on the Porch Day 2025" will be the spectacle to hear. Join us! 
 

Speakers Speakers

The crowd at the SAQA convention in St. Petersburg, Florida, paid close attention to speakers, taking in vast quantities of information. The after-lecture discussion was almost as heated as the weather outside (88!) but no fear, we were cool inside. And the promise of a pool (outdoors!) waits.

Shirts are Packed

This back of quilt was at the Iowa Quilt Museum. A good fill-in for my packing an unpacking here in Florida. I'm at the SAQA conference getting ready to meet load of friends and have some good solid diversion and quilty topics with meat on them bones. 
 

Tapa Cloth

Made of beaten bark, Tapa cloth can be very large in size. These fragments are part of the Textile Collection at Cornell University where the SAQA NY/NJ group had a tour with associate director Katherine  Blumenkamp. It was a mind blowing tour, fabulous ideas and discussions. 
 

Textile Lovers in a Textile Collection

SAQA NY/NJ descended on the Cornell Fashion + Textile Collection today for the most wonderful tour from exhibit to collection to classroom with Catherine Kueffer Blumenkamp, Associate Director. Oh, the riches! It was a morning excursion our SAQA reps put together after the Friday exhibit opening. Wow, what a tour!
 

Tell Me All About It

Margaret made a wild themed piece in class, a different take on what we started. We all loved the zaniness of it, and encouraged her to keep going. The three day retreat for the SAQA group in Georgia and North Carolina finished with a flurry of finishing. Thanks to all!
 

Setting the Table

As a demonstration of how orphan blocks set on different backgrounds, and the interactions between the shapes, I used a yard of colored fabric. The SAQA group liked it, and I might just use this idea. Consensus is a good thing.
 

Good to Have You Home

Gone for about three years, this is finally home. Traveling through SAQA's exhibition services this little piece saw three continents and about a dozen venues. Looks just fine, can't see any wear. Plus it's just nice to have it returned. Thanks, SAQA.
 

Traveling to Indiana

SAQA Indiana and I had a lovely time today by zoom (what else) while the snow swirled. Fine with me. We packed in a lecture, a break-out small group time, some business news, and saw current art projects. Best way to travel, and best people to meet on the way. Thank you, SAQA Indiana.
 

Kinda Blue on View

Someone asked if they could use this work as part of a graphic banner (Thanks, Vivian!) and so I was revisiting this piece I did in 2018. It is predominantly blue and white, with loads of surface design techniques. I thought you'd enjoy. I'm missing teaching this class.

Better Part of the Day

The most productive part of the day was working on my lecture for the SAQA Toronto conference next month. My talk will most likely be given just this once, but I want to sound like a seasoned sage. That means over-learning the points.

Make Time

This 12" square has been waiting for me to finish it. And with just a few days to spare. I'm ready to send to the SAQA auction before June 1. The auction is online, supports the organization's mission. And there are many, many nice works beside this. Check out Studio Art Quilt Associates here: https://www.saqa.com/auction-quilts.php

SAQA Sympatico

It's not often that I get to preach to the crowd, but I did here in Eugene, Oregon where I gave a talk for the SAQA regional conference. There we gathered and we spent a day deep in thought (and lots of fun) on being an artist that confronts and conquers a challenge. What a group!

Square Love

Studio Art Quilts Associates asks for a donation for their annual fundraising. This is my 12 x 12 piece, without a title for now. I'll mail it out, happily, on Monday. Bidding starts September 14 on the SAQA site.

With Me Till the End

Karol and Kathy finish the last assignment for the two day Florida workshop, where we designed, discussed, and discovered more than a dozen ways to start abstract works. Great group to work with.

SAQA Admits Me to Dusk/Dawn

Nightscape in the City was selected for SAQA's Dusk to Dawn exhibit set for this November in Houston. Maybe this will be my prompt to go see it, I never have. It's label will say:

Drone’s eye sees a flattened street, buildings full of life, and a night sky. Night after night, scene repeats.

Stop For Art

Nova Scotia Artist Regina Marzlin had work in Antigonish where I stopped to take in her "Crown, Branches, Root." The SAQA family is world-wide, but the community behaves like you lived around the corner. Fun to see this exhibit of hers.