"My Corner of the World" - Open at the Stratford Perth Museum

For the past year and more I have been working with SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) to bring a spectacular exhibition of art quilts to the Stratford Perth Museum. 

It opened yesterday on a glorious spring day, with many exhibiting artists and visitors travelling from afar (Alberta, Nova Scotia,Virginia, Texas...)  for the launch. Check out this  media article for all the scoop!

It was super to have Lisa Ellis, President of the Board of SAQA with us and to speak during the opening remarks, as well as SAQA representatives from across Canada!

This beautiful piece, "A Fall day in Westport"by Joan Reive, is just one of the 81 pieces that are on exhibit at the museum until Labour day. It is so emblematic of the exhibition that with was

More pics to come soon. Stop in for an visit if you're in the area... or better yet, make the time for a road trip to Stratford - our corner of the world!

It's surprising...

... how time passes so quickly

... how long inspiration can take to arrive

... how suddenly a new idea can appear

Some recent snow dyeing and preparations for teaching a workshop 

on using scraps has finally provided some inspiration.

Responding to natural/spontaneous formations.

Responding to what is.

some treats

I've been busy beyond busy, so not much time for any posts, much less new work. So here are a few treats from recent shows I've had the pleasure to visit. Glorious work! All brilliant!

From "QUILTS OF ISRAEL" in Ailsa Craig, Ontario - magical!

Maya Chaimovich

Edna Gilad

Apologies - I did not get this artist's name

Zvia Klein

Linda Bar-On

Aliza Inbar

The Grand National Quilt Show at Homer Watson House , Kitchner, Ontario - Theme of "Local Colour" - breathtaking!

Nora Heurter, Waterloo, ON

Helene Blanchet, Calgary, ON

Detail

Detail

Anna Hergert, Moosejaw, SK

Millie Cumming, Fergus, ON

Nine-Patch on Jupiter

A lot can be accomplished in just one day when the planets align. Today is day 3 of a mini vacation at home and I am already somewhat restored. Day one was doing absolutely nothing - really nothing; day two - a trip to see this exhibit by Paul Stankard and Lorne Wagman at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound.

Inglis Falls was the icing on the cake - so to speak.

It gave me the energy to spend all of today (day 3) cutting and sewing - from fat quarters to strips to 9-patch squares all in a day. I do love working with a grid and nine-patch blocks - but I like to make the regularity of it disappear - to break the grid. 

It reminds me a bit of Jupiter and the spinning clouds of its atmosphere. Some experimenting still to go - the block are not sewn together yet. Maybe a few more of the muted blocks are needed - it may be to strong... and the photos are a bit too saturated. It's been a while since I've done this much work in a single day.

A New Season

Yesterday the geese were heading south, though they seemed a bit confused by the warm weather.

These images could make beautiful etchings or stitched pieces.

World of Threads 2012

This stunning exhibition - World of Threads - represents some of the most contemporary and experimental work in fibre art. Venues are across Oakville and Toronto during much of November. Do yourself a favour and see as much as you can! Be inspired.

From "Quiet Zone"

Black and White 1 - Dominique Arlot

Peeking Willows - Camilla Belleth

 Energy Cloth -  Judy Martin

From "Variegated Threads"

Three Ploughed Fields - Pat Louchs

 Heart to Heart - Judy Martin

 Excitement - Line Dufour

Giunta la Tomba, Giaches de Wert, 1581 - Jacqueline Treloar

From "Myth Making"

Sculpture - "Tree Spirit" - Faye Jacobs. Tapestries by Maximo Laura.

And from "Memento Mori"

 Egg - Rochelle Rubinstein

Sentinel - Wendy O'Brian 

(I apologize for the distortion the lighting caused on this one. It is a very touching piece.)

I was thrilled to have have 2 pieces included in this show. They appear in other blog posts..

sunlight on leaves

Inspiration in Montreal

Early Quebec textile - wool embroidery/crewel work.

 I had a wonderful visit to the Musee des Beaux-arts de Montreal and was able to take pictures in most of the galleries. Even the non-textiles - have quilt-like qualities.

Paul-Emile Bourduas - 1957. Rather quilt-like.

Jean-Paul Riopelle

I've misplace my notes on this one - but it's a printed textile - I'm guessing circa 1930.

Natalia Gontcharova - 1914Set design for Le Coq d'Or by Rimsky Korasakov

It's Magic!

I recently sent these off to Jude Hill's Magic Feather Project. It's a joy to be a small part of it.

Some days are full of inspiration!

Gallery Stratford currently has a breathtaking exhibit of drawings, papercuts and installation pieces by Ed Pien. It was lovely to spend time with an artist/friend who introduced me to Ed and some of his family. We talked about his work and I learned a bit about his drawing processes. Numerous  images from an extend period of time are pieced in a large grid, overdrawn, and connected together so fluidly that the individual drawings flow together in unified whole. They are beautifully executed.

The cut paper is luminescent and responds to light as you move around the piece.

We enjoyed a delicious sushi lunch afterwards, and later in the day I put a few last stitches in Arctic Sun. I think it's done.

In the evening I went to hear a wonderful talk on the outstanding Baha'i heroine Bahiyyih Khanum, the Greatest Holy Leaf, and was treated to this stunning view along the way.