Publicity is Always Good

Is it good even when you don't know what to say? (I was hoping they'd cut that bit out!)

Castelvecchio on a sunny morning in Verona

Telepace has a program on Italian TV called La Voce delle Donne.

I took some pictures of the actual TV when
the interview aired.

I was interviewed during Verona Tessile in Castelvecchio where Canadians McCavour and Brelih had their work exhibited.

Talking about Ad Maiora Canada
while standing in front of Amanda McCavour's work
in the prestigious Sala Boggian at Castelvecchio.

Episode #29 aired in April.

Talking about Gordana Brelih's work behind me.

You can see the 20 minute program by clicking here.

Talking about Amanda McCavour's work behind me.

If you only want to see me (!) I am on from 4:00 onward.

Away

I thought about time after reading Judy Martin's blog.

When I am away...

I am in France

 away from responsibilities...

This has to be Paris

away from people who rely on me....

Spring in Paris

I feel that time stops.

To all my Toronto friends, "yes, this is a bee"
Don't despair. Spring will arrive in TO soon!

I am in Paris today.

I am staying at my daughter's apartment, walking distance to the Tour Eiffel 

Copper Symposium

The MINERALS works are exhibited all day today at the Copper Symposium hosted by KEGS, Canadian Exploration Geophysical Society.

works from left to right by:
Pat Caffrey, Gordana Brelih. Wilma Kenny, Helena Scheffer, Sandra Reford,
Clare Kirby, Catherine Timm, Kate Madeloso

The textile art works that are in the meeting area will be enjoyed by geophysicists from across North America and around the world.

It is KEGS 60th anniversary this year so I am sure their event will be well attended.

works from right to left made by:
Sofia Verna, Suzanne Neilson, Lorraine Roy, Susan Johnson,
Joan Freeman, Anna Hergert, Joan Hug-Valeriote

During the set up, one geophysicist (works in Saskatoon) took tons of pictures! He was impressed!!

My apologies to Alice Vander Vennen who was one of the invited artists for this exhibit. Her piece arrived while I was at my grandmother's funeral in Montreal and I was unable to pick it up in time for the 6:30 a.m. set up. It will join the works in other events within the PDAC throughout the week.

Here is a glimpse of her art work.

Hidden Narrative,
25cm x 80cm
by A. Vander Vennen

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.

Celebrating

Tradition in Transition is set up. It will have another showing, this time in Canada, before the 35 pieces go back to their makers.

The opening reception was on November 25th at the Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre. The show runs till January 6, 2013.

The main room at Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre during the opening.

I gave my last 'talk' about the exhibit at the opening.

I spoke for about 10 minutes at the opening about the exhibit
with some participating artists in attendance.

Left: Quilt Sampler by Riel Nason
Right: Judith Martin stands in front of her work, Energy Cloth

Some of the artists and I celebrated the evening beforehand- a dinner at my house.

Sitting in the kitchen having appetizers
before heading to the dining room for a sit-down dinner.

Shrimp Remoulade - I had to make the presentation artistic!

I can't believe what I worked on for one and a half years is Done.

Ron played during the reception.
A few years ago he and his classmates made a community quilt
which later went to Verona, Italy, to be exhibited
 in the public library there during Verona Tessile.
He really added to the afternoon

Over.

Visitors loved to see the Canadian skill and artistry.

Finito.

Judith Martin and I in front of her piece, Twenty-Four Hour Care

Well, onto the next project!

Discipline

Being an artist is like every other job. You have to go to your "office" every day and work.

Penny Berens stitches 5 hours a day.

Penny's work (detail) is always filled with hand and machine stitching

Judith Martin spends 5 hours stitching, 3 hours in studio designing and 2 hours researching. That's a 10 hour day.

Judy Martin presents her work " Heart to Heart"

Australian artist Dijanne Cevaal dedicates 50 hours per week to her art. That includes blogging, writing articles, teaching, designing, dying and making.

part of Dijanne Cevaal's Sentinelle Series

Before I became a mother and made that my career, I was a student at the National Ballet School and later a ballet dancer in a dance company in Vienna, Austria. I know about self discipline!

Now, I am a textile artist.

I sew every day, even on weekends. I spend on average about 4 hours in my studio creating and doing, depending on my family commitment.

Blogging, taking art classes, teaching, researching other textile artists, curating, writing my book...that is all extra! I fit that in when I can.

Confession: Sometimes I work on quilts unrelated to the quilt book I am writing or projects that have nothing to do with my teaching samples or my art work!! That is the equivalent of playing computer games when your boss isn't around!

wasting time??

I have decided to put aside every Wednesday for painting and preparing fabrics and papers for future works.

My dance training will come in handy.