Goal Reached!!

Beginning this year of 2013, I set myself a goal to participate in 10 juried shows/exhibitions.  I was counting the show I was in for December 2012 just because that is when I really started to pursue this goal in earnest.

Well, yesterday I received a phone call that a gallery show wanted to accept a couple of my pieces.  THAT show brought the total count to TEN!!  I hadn't expected to reach this goal that soon but I am very excited that it has all worked out this way!  That doesn't mean that I won't be entering shows and exhibitions the rest of the year. But I do plan to cut back on such an aggressive plan of action. 

Blue Door Gallery in Yonkers, NY had a call for artists to enter their who entitled "Lost and Found in Yonkers". It is for artists working in Mixed Media, Assemblage and/or Collage, containing found materials.  Well...I obviously couldn't pass this one up!!  Below are the two pieces they accepted for their show.

"Rust and Found"

"It's About Time"

Now on to one of my other goals for my year of "Investment" in my art career.  I am working on three series to develop a body of work.  This is all with the goal in mind of having my first solo show in 2014.  Not having to concentrate so much on entering shows will free up time desperately needed to accomplish the next phase.

And again, I want to thank all of you who have been such a wonderful support and encouragement as I work toward my 2013 goals.  I appreciate all of you more than I can say. 

What a week!!

This has been a strange week really.  Very sick so that was the downside.  BUT, at the same time, I found out that I was accepted in 2 more exhibitions!!

So in addition to Art on Main (my first public art exhibition) in the previous post below, I will also have pieces in the Fiber Arts exhibition at the Poudre River Gallery in Ft. Collins, CO, April 4-27, 2013. They accepted my small 12" X 12" art quilt entitled "Snow Tree".

"Snow Tree"

Then shortly after that, I received word that my two pieces entered for the Celebrate African Grandmothers were accepted.  These two pieces were made especially for this exhibition that will tour Canada this spring. Both are Mixed Media Textile art on canvas. The tour and subsequent auction of the works will raise funds for Royal City Gogos. It is a very worthy cause that, being a grandmother myself, I am  privileged to support.  For more information on Royal City Gogos, click HERE.  "Wall of Courage" was inspired by one of their promotional pieces in which the African Grandmothers were described as a wall of protection for the generation of grandchildren orphaned by AIDS. I imprinted the wall AND the clothing of these women to signify their solidarity in standing as protectors and support for the grandchildren they have chosen to raise. The symbols on Wall of Courage signify bravery and valor. The fabrics for their clothing are from Africa, as is the bark cloth in the background.

"Wall of Courage"

The second piece for Celebrate African Grandmothers is entitled "Tears of Joy" inspired by another comment in their promotional video that says these grandmothers prefer to look with joy and hope toward the future of their grandchildren.  Again the fabrics are from Africa as is the bark cloth. The many tears surrounding the main teardrop of a grandmother holding her baby grandchild, are crystal beads. The symbols in this piece signify unity, safety and security, and learning from the past.

"Tears of Joy"

Have to say...all this good news helped me feel better! Now I'm physically on the mend although still without a voice. 

More News!!

Received an e-mail this morning that my piece, "The Sapling" was accepted for Art on Main in Zumbrota, MN!!  The original art work had to be 12" X 22". Then, when accepted, it will be photographed and blown up to 24" X 44" vertical for banners to be placed on the lamp posts on Main Street in Zumbrota, MN!!

This is my first acceptance for Public Art!!

This is a very special piece for me. It became a kind of test/inspirational piece for my upcoming series "Pecans" that I'm doing in honor of my dad...who LOVED pecans and had planted his own orchard.  When he passed away, his ashes were buried under a HUGE pecan tree in what used to be their front yard.  While there for his memorial service, I took (with permission of the new owner) several twigs from that HUGE pecan tree and had thermofax screens made from them. Those are the screens I used for printing the "branches" for The Sapling.  The "trunk" is made from bark cloth from Africa (Thanks, Wil!!), a place my parents still held dear in their hearts after living there for a while.

So, Dad, this one is for you.....

Here is the piece that will be on Main Street -

THE  SAPLING

All fabrics are my own hand-dyed and surfaced designed fabrics. (except for the painted silk in the ground. That was a gift from a friend Canada. Thanks, Maggie!) The dark brown strip through the ground is hand-dyed yarn from a company run by my neice, Faith, and her business partner, TactileDactyl Fiber Art. Be sure to check them out!! Their yarn is luscious! And yes...those are real pebbles.

Some Exciting News!

ACCEPTED!!

My latest piece, "Spring Forward", has been accepted at the 17th Annual Primavera Springtime Celebration of the Arts in Plymouth, MN.  I hope any of you in the Twin Cities area will stop by and check it out!  The exhibition is April 12 - 15, 2013 at the Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 - 34th Avenue in Plymouth MN.  Click HERE for info and a map.  (And yes...those are real watch mainsprings and bits and gears)

Spring Forward

Next bit of news....I just received my advance copy of the book "Art Quilt Portfolio: People and Portraits".  My piece, "Sky Gazer" is in the PLAY Gallery on page 187!!  

CANCELLED - Still suffering from this danged flu. The Celebrate Show Giveaway will have to wait until next week I'm afraid.  BUT...I'll make TWO sets of snow dyed fabrics so be sure to comment to win when it is posted.

ACCEPTED!!

Just last night I received word that my piece "It Was A Dark and Stormy Night" was accepted for the PAGE TURNER exhibition at the Some Things Looming Gallery in Reading, PA!

"The digital era is altering how we read books so we wanted a challenge that alters the way we perceive books. Whether it be an altered book or incorporates pages of a book, we challenge you to create the ultimate...Page Turner.  Our major requirements for this challenge are that you incorporate fiber techniques and any parts or pages of a book."

As an avid mystery reader, I chose as my inspiration the iconic beginning line of a mystery novel - "It was a dark and stormy night...."  An angry gray sky, the storm crashing outside.  But a true fan of the page turner is cuddled up under her quilt. The light from the bedside lamp shining on the pages.  It is the dark and stormy night of her mystery novel that captures her attention.

I hand-dyed the background fabric so I could have the white spot for the big flash of lightening.  The house is made out of pages from ruined paperback books by 3 of my favorite mystery writers.  (The books had a run in with blue jello.....don't ask....)   I used gel medium to adhere them all together, cut out the house shape, painted it and added detail with stitching.  

I’m so excited!  Here is the piece:

It Was A Dark and Stormy Night

ACCEPTED!

Just yesterday I found out that my artwork "When Life Hands You Lemons" was accepted by the Linus Gallery for their Fork and Knife exhibition. YEAH!! You can see this piece and read about its inspiration and process at this link to a previous blog post -- When Life Hands You Lemons

For this exhibition, they were looking for art that evokes the many emotions and experiences related to or that are sparked by food.  Textures, colors, shapes, and even scents can be represented in artwork and can create an intriguing palette. If you would like to see the slideshow of all the accepted artists for this exhibition, you can click here.

Accepted!!

Yesterday’s mail brought the  news that my piece “In Honor” was accepted for the “PaperWork In, On, and Of Paper VI” exhibition at The Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles, MO.  The exhibition opens on February 8, 2013 and continues through March 22, 2013.

“In Honor” was inspired by the entertainment page from the New York Herald Tribune, July 26, 1943. The insert is the actual newspaper. One of the actors in “This Is The Army” was Ronald Reagan. The strips of textile include military prints and hand-dyed fabrics. Included are purple to signify the Purple Heart and a red to signify the life blood that has been shed. The stitching is all names of some who served from WWII through the current time.

In Honor

Just like the name of this piece…I am honored to have this one chosen for the exhibition as it honors those who have served.

(This piece can be seen in the Other Textile Art Gallery on my website)

Post Reception Calm

Well, the Artists' Reception at the gallery is over but the exhibit goes on....until the end of December.

OK....I get to really enjoy this one because it is my very first GALLERY exhibit!  And with other media of art...not just art quilts!

Drove down yesterday afternoon.  I was a bit nervous...I think just because I've never done anything like this and had NO idea what to expect. The big snow wasn't due until evening so we had a great trip down to Zumbrota (about 2 hours from our home).

Have to say...it was really fun to see my work hanging and with all the other artists displays.

Rust and Found

 Fig Branch

Golden Figs

The owner and staff of Crossings Gallery were wonderful to work with and it was a very fun and comfortable afternoon.  Some snacks and some very talented people!  It was fun to meet other artists who work in other medias...AND some art quilters as well.

There are two other pieces at the show but they will be displayed when wall space becomes available.

Thanks to all of you who sent good wishes!! Your support means the world to me!

My First Gallery Exhibit!!

I'm so excited! My first Gallery Exhibit!  Five of my pieces from this year are included in the show. (click here - http://www.crossingsatcarnegie.com/page0002.html - to read more about it under the heading Fabrications Nine). Some of you might recognize another name listed in the promotional piece.

While I know most of you won't be able to attend the exhibit, I just wanted to share this with you. But if you COULD attend...do let me know how you like it!!