Sense of Touch

I went to the Ontario Craft's new location on Queen Street West, Toronto.

My Light Green Heart, Judy Martin
2017
22.5"w x 29"h  /57cm x 74cm
To see the entire work click here.
(artist's post from February 17)
I apologize for these pictures. I took them with my cell phone and the colour isn't quite right!

I went to see Judy Martin's work that was exhibited in their gallery.

I entered the gallery and walked right by the work. I guess I was expecting My Light Green Heart to be much larger.

The warn linen looked so soft. You really did want to touch it and feel its softness and the folds and the texture of the layered hand-stitched circles.

Quoted from the gallery label:

Judy's work is grounded in the phenomenological idea that sense of touch is the most effective way to make an emotional connection with others and her surfaces are covered with hand stitching.

She used vintage Damask linen which she dyed.

I just received some antique italian linen which I printed on. The design of the weave shows through the printing and gives a lovely texture.

Annual Quilt Celebration

The Canadian Quilters Association is hosting their annual quilt show from June 11- 14. This year they have chosen Brock University in St Catharines, Ontario, as their Canadian location.

It is a time to bring quilters together and showcase Canadian talent.

There are several exhibits at the event including an Invitational Exhibit that I was honoured to be included in. (Unfortunately, I could not find any information about this exhibit and its participants on their web site. Disappointing and in my opinion, unprofessional. They have promised to add something after the event is over so it will at least be documented.)

At the time of the invitation, I was working on some pieces for the Radiation exhibit in Geneva. I decided to submit to the CQA a piece from that series entitled Collision with Melancholia that was inspired by the film Melancholia (Lars von Trier, 2011). It is made of hand-dyed fabric, distressed paper and is machine and hand stitched.

I hope it is appreciated. I understand at this event viewers tend to enjoy the more traditional quilts and compositions.

(all photos are details of Collision with Melancholia)

Preparation

Sunday in Verona means church,

Floor at San Giorgio church in Verona

Detail of the floor in San Giorgio 

a big family lunch and free time to prepare for the upcoming Verona Tessile exhibits.

We cut threads for hanging Amanda McCavour's work. 

We prepared threads for hanging 50 circles.

Only several hundred to go!

Late Night and Early Morning

Five textile art pieces inspired by minerals were exhibited last night at the 40th anniversary party of PGW, consulting geophysicists.

Two works in the Alberta Room at the Royal York Hotel
 Fundy Flame Agate by Kate Madeloso from Nova Scotia (left)
"We dig. We cut. We polish. We colour our world!"
by Suzanne Neilson from Ontario (right)

I was setting up all 16 pieces of the MINERALS exhibit for the KEGS breakfast (Canadian Exploration Geophysics Society) at the Royal York Hotel this morning at 6:15 a.m.

I have never seen the Royal York main lobby empty.
Notice the time on the central clock.

Again so many compliments and many earth scientists came to speak to me as I was packing up the works three hours later.

The Imperial Room at the Royal York Hotel
For artists' names please view past posts.

I think these works would look stunning in an office! Click here for prices of the works.

More Mineral Pieces in the Imperial Room at the Royal York Hotel.
For artists' names please view past posts.

I am back home. Later I am packing up the works to send them to Verona for Verona Tessile.

Right now, I am going back to bed!

Magazine Coverage

I just received a copy of Burda Patchwork in the mail.

winter 2012, issue No. 36

Astrid Franchet wrote a wonderful article about Tradition in Transition as part of her coverage of the 18th Carrefour Européen du Patchwork. She sent me the french version but said they also printed a german one. So if you get this issue in your country, go out and buy it!

works seen from top to bottom
1st row:Valerie Collins, Quilter's Courtyard, detail
 Meredith Annett, And So It Goes
2nd row: Gordana Brelih, Strong and Beautiful, full and detail
Chung-Im Kim, Dawn
3rd row: Judith Martin, Twenty Four Hour Care
(this work was also printed on a banner hung outside our exhibition space)

Laurentian Hills, 20 person collective: R. Crown, J. Popiel, B. Garner, 

 C. Breedyk-Law, M. Pal,  L. Morin, C. Moore, D. Bates, 

M. Zohar, S. Garner, R. Field, M.Dunsmore, M. Morris, M. Cope,
 M. Filshie, J. Gerster,  C. McNair, E. Quehl, S. White, M. Hannigan

,

I am so glad the exhibit, Tradition in Transition, got so much attention. It was good for the artists and also for me both as curator and participating artist.

A Cold WIndy Day

This is Lake Ontario on a cold windy afternoon.

This is textile artist, Penny Berens', body of water.... looks way warmer!

"Meeting Place", approx. 13" x 30"

detail, "Meeting Place"

Penny now lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, and her work is influenced by the natural environment she sees every day.

She posts nice pictures of Nova Scotia on her blog.

When she lived in Toronto her work was influenced by symbols.

She has always done lots of hand stitching in her work.

detail, Rockbound, 33" x13"

detail, Rockbound, 33" x 13"

She is one of the artists that has agreed to exhibit a work in the show I am curating for France, 2012.

She spoke at the York Heritage Quilter's Guild last night and I went to see her.