My SDA workshop- Mix It Up- Media Mix Collage- in Process...

Starting out...

Using every surface...

 Getting into It...

Liz

 Decisions made, plan of action....

Sara

a rare meditative moment...

Leila and Cassie

 facing the blank sheet...

Holly and Linda

 adding color, mediums and more...

Karen

successful outcomes bring satisfactions...

Jane

 and lots of lush collage materials...

 the madness begins...

 colors abound!

look at all we've done!

Visual Thoughts: The Art Quilts of Fiber Revolution

Fiber Revolution invites you to a fiber exhibit in NJ at Morris Museum.
Visual Thoughts: The Art Quilts of Fiber Revolution
June 23 - October 16, 2011

at Morris Museum

Normandy Heights Rd

Morristown, NJ 07960

www.MorrisMuseum.org

the opening reception will be on

Wednesday June 29 th from 6:30 to 9 PM.

members $7, non members $10

Pre-registration is required, Please call, the box office- at 973-971-3706

Visual Thoughts presents 19 works by 19 artists, curated by Kevan Lunney.

Virginia Abrams

Natalya Aikens

Deborah Bein

Benedicte Caneill

Lisa Chipitine

Melissa Craven Fowler

Cindy Friedman

Martha Hall

Gloria Hansen

Eileen Lauterborn

Kevan Lunney

Barbara McKie

Judith Plotner

Wen Redmond

Carol Schepps

Deborah Schwartzman

Kate Themel

Melitta Vanderbrooke

Carolyn Vehslage

SDA Member Show- Merge and Flow

 Merge and Flow . 

Exhibition Dates June 9–30, 2011 

Opening .reception: .June 9, 5–7 pm 

The nearly 4,000 SDA members worldwide were invited to submit  a work measuring .12” .x .28” .in either vertical or horizontal orientation . 

Katherine E. Nash Gallery, .Regis .Center .for .Art, .University .of .Minnesota . . 

405–21st .Ave . .So ., .Minneapolis, .MN .55455 .• .612 .624 .6518 

Tiny Video of Regina's piece with twinkling lights.

SDA Confluence Exhibit- Ann Hall Richards

Repetition Meditation Revelation

This exhibition sent the viewer into the realm of desire satisfied, taken up and beyond measure.

Rapunzal, a self portrait (includes her hair)

detail of above work

Repetitive of design leads one into a meditative state. Standing mesmerized, when I thought I couldn't take in another exhibit! I was caught in a web of design, an environment. 

Leaves are captured and sewn, or encased in organza. 

Multiple silk pods, stretched on forms, cascading in a fiber waterfall. Very kinetic. 

A flock of black birds perched, created with fiber forms. 

This dizzying array of forms and sculpture unified in materials, texture, creative imagination and the ability to delight. 
more here

U Tube of India's Dyeing Workshop in Belgium

Uploaded by wietekeopmeer on May 2, 2009

A two day natural dyeing workshop in Belgium by India Flint, April 2009

 Action, like scenes from an old movie. Beauty in the making. Beauty in the viewing.

SDA Confluence Exhibit Highlights- India Flint

India Flints' the windfallmaps
Do you remember what it was like to play in the woods when you were a child and everything was possible? The air surrounded us like a protective blanket, the trees could comfort us and there were fairies everywhere.

Nature is still a source of inspiration and meditation for me. Walking into the gallery of India's work evoked that wonder of childhood. 

detail of pocket on upper right of dress above       

That sacred space of now. 

This really hit me on a soul level.

 The nature printed dresses hanging from branches were ready for the waking fairies to jump into. Their many levels of draping organic cloth of every texture bespoke of non-traditional intensive sewing methods. 


Like a dress made slowly for another, for a special occasion. To be kept forever, but allowing it space to breathe. To change. 
As we do our children.

 On all sides of the spacious room, hung patched and hand sewn fabrics of such tactile lushness that I wanted to take one down and feel it's soft energy wrapped about me. 

Titles like map of longing, every time we say good-by and dawn in the forest of dreams continue the illusion of time change.

This work is more than it seems on their exquisite surfaces, coming from a respect for the plants, an honoring of the slow, and an awareness of the preciousness of our mother, earth. 

India's working techniques support her presence with this protective philosophy and yet come from extensive education and exploration of material. 

This exhibit can change awareness for those who understand. 

For those who do,  

It is a shrine.

www.indiaflint.com 

the WindFallMaps . 

Exhibition .dates: .June 9–30, 2011 

info here

Surface Design Association's Confluence Conference Highlights

Jason Pollen, the SDA guru and inspirational leader for so many years, stepped down from his leadership role this past year. His exhibit at the Confluence conference was another play on combining diverse materials with textiles.

This year, due to health issues, he had time to ponder a nearby fence. He thought his usual mantra- "What IF- I used wood with my textiles"? So he did! The result was the exhibit, Sentinels, opening this past weekend.

A row of wooden and textile objects line up, side by side, on one side of the wall. To stand guard?

 I got the feeling they were watchers. Looking at us while we gazed first at the cleverness, unity of color and design and the absolute creativity of Jason. Watching as we looked closer and closer to see how the designs were executed. The innovative use of materials. Even discussion on what they were actually made of.

Jason was on hand to describe his inspirations and materials.
The well deserved responses of 'ohh' and 'ahh' were heard among the explanations and musings of the
watched.

more info here

What do I want out of a workshop?

What touches me about teaching is
The power slowly stirring the spirits of the
Participants.
The class unites for a brief day or more, sharing
Space
Sharing inspiration,
Sharing food, candy, lunch.
A little at a time, I hear their story.
How they perceive, what they 'do',
If they've written, if they are unsure
In their artists shoes.
Soul stories. Smiles.
Their stories move me. Make me cry, cheer,
Laugh and even sing.
I have been a part of them now and they
A part of each other.
What do I want out of a workshop?
To leave changed.
I have!

Adding Images of your own work to your new work

I've been away at the wonderful SDA conference. I'm teaching Mix It Up- Mixed Media Collage. We're using all sorts of fiber and paper. On my supply list, I suggested bringing print-outs of one's work. These could be images of your whole piece, detail shots or even pix of painted fabric. 
It's a great way to add personal touches to collage. And a terrific way to use the design element of repetition. 
You can also scan parts of your work, change the scale and create print-outs in different colors or even black and white. 
Cool tool!

Journal Pages, Thinking in Ovals #10

 Time always goes by

up and down

happy or not

it wings forward

taking us along

Namaste

Journal Pages, Thinking in Ovals #9

 waiting and wondering

sky and clouds part

for brief veiws

time going short

you appear

Namaste

Fiber Revolution's NEW Exhibit! Morristown Museum, NJ

This will be the my first exhibit with Fiber Revolution. I am proud to be included. My work Flown will be shown for the second time. It was exhibited in Feb, at my solo show, Dancing with the Light in Portsmouth, NH. More information HERE.

Statement

Dig-it-al!!  Digital Fiber Constructions

       I enjoy photography and the creative processes now afforded by contemporary 

Digital technology. My fascination with photography is finding expression by printing  

 manipulated original photographs directly onto various 

substrates, and specially treated natural fibers. Images are printed with an Epson 

printer to create unique photographic stitched textural constructions. I call this 

work, Digital Fiber. 

My new work continues the creative process in Photoshop by changing 

the actual image, layering and digitally fusing with photographs of my painted 

cloth. When I finish composing an image. I decide on presentation, 

such as a whole cloth photo-art quilt, or divided into multiple images as for my latest 

work or collaged into mixed media art. 

I print the completed photos onto heavy canvas. I either size the work in 

Photoshop and print or I print cutting the resulting photo into sections. These 

are mounted onto heavy stabilizer, felt, or interfacing. Stitched or quilted, leaving the 

edges remain unbound. I seal the edges with gel medium to secure the loose 

threads and finish with a touch of accent paint on the edges. I finish the top with a 

protective UV medium. 

Only after all of this is dried, do I assemble the work using a simple bookbinding method, 

using artist dyed pearl cotton or wax linen threads. 

Beautiful Thoughts

"A friend is one whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart; chaff and grain alike, knowing that the gentlest of hands will keep what is worth keeping, and with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away."~ Arab Proverb

Fabulous Fiber at York Art Association in Maine

This Friday I had the honor of judging a fiber art show in York, ME at the lovely York Art Association Gallery. One of the things that struck me about this exhibit was it's versatility in form and content. You have to go to the exhibit, open until June 26th, to see what I mean!

Warning: This Exhibit is Not What You Might Expect!

Fabulous Fiber is the 2^nd annual fiber arts show hosted by York Art Association. This juried show was open to members, and non-members alike. Submissions need to have been completed in the last three years, and fall under the categories of: quilts, rug hooking, weaving, wearable art, fabric painting and soft sculpture. 

The show will be judged by nationally recognized fiber artist Wen Redmond. Redmond is a mixed media fiber artist, and longtime member of League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, as well as Studio Art Quilt Associates, and Surface Design Association. Redmond will present a gallery talk at York Art Association on Thursday, June 23rd at 6:30 p.m. entitled: “Fiber Art ---Breaking the Barriers of Traditional Quilt Making and Entering the Realm of Art.”  

As part of the Fabulous Fiber show, members of the Seacoast Association of Fiber Artists will be exhibiting a Slice Quilt. SAFA consists of ten fiber artists from Maine and New Hampshire. Last year SAFA divided into two groups, and each group completed a Slice Quilt. Members of each group were given a section of a seascape photograph and asked to duplicate the image in fiber. The artists were also told to keep the horizon line consistent. 

Fantasic Fab Painting Fabric Fun

I'm having no time for any lull after attending the QN opening. I'm packing for my Media Mix! Mixed Media Collage Class! I leave for the SDA conference on the 8th.

Dance detail
AND just a reminder- I will be teaching locally, in MA,in August 26-28, at Pro Chem. Fantasic Fab Painting Fabric Fun!

http://www.prochemicalanddye.com/home.php?cat=293

This class teaches the basic's and use of a variety of paints and techniques. It should be a relaxing and yet strangely invigorating workshop.

Workshop: Using a wide variety of tools and tricks, you’ll have lots of fun as you explore the exciting prospect of painting on fabric. Learn lots of techniques to create completely incredible fabric! Each day will focus on surface design techniques, building your fabric with each consecutive skill. The emphasis will be on encouraging creative responses to instruction, cheering serendipity and happy accidents.
“ I do not want exactness in my painted cloth but spontaneous colors- mix and allow development! To be open for the unexpected-changeable like the clouds.”

Notes detail
Something for everyone!