Art Work Back

I received my art work that was touring for the past 2 years.

My art work photographed from the catalogue.
Waves

"Radiation emits from objects at many different scales, from stars to atoms. This piece reflects my interpretation of emitted radiation waves interacting with other matter, including human bodies." (taken from the catalogue)

It is always nice to get things back.

 Waves, detail

The curator and her team packed up the work nicely. I usually roll my work. I was once told to avoid tubes for shipping because they often roll off trucks and belts. So I now use a long triangular box.

Waves, detail

Oddly enough from Germany it was going to cost a fortune to send to Italy! So she put the triangle box into a square box and it cost much less.

Waves, detail

Inside, there were a few treats! One of which was a catalogue of the exhibit and all the places it went (except for the last place as the opportunity came after the catalogue was printed.)

catalogue cover for the Radiation exhibit

I liked many of the other works. I liked reading what the artists said about their work and its inspiration related to radiation. All works are 60cm x 120 cm, measurements set by the curator.

Without natural filters life on earth would be impossible.

Merce Gonzalez Desedamas, Spain
Life Filters

When charged particles such as a proton pass through a cloud chamber they leave behind a trail of ions as they strike molecules of air along their path. Mist droplets form around these ions creating a cloud track.

Tonya Littman, USA
Particle Trails

Magnetic resonance images.

Rita Berghuis-Ensing, Netherlands
Diagnose Braintumor 1

A chemical reaction transforms 95% of a firefly's energy into light and only 5% is set free as warmth. Up to now no form of man-made light has met this level of efficiency.

Barbara Lange, Germany
Monochrom 8- Fireflies

There was a CD of the show works. There were a few printed note cards, postcard size, and a thank you note from the curator.

Since it is in Italy, I am going to submit it for the Ad Maiora member exhibit which is happening in November, even though most of the other works will be traditional quilts.

The Radiation Exhibit Continues

This post is about a show that happened in Lennep, Germany a few weeks ago.

The Radiation exhibit, or "Strahlung" exhibit, was divided between two museums because of its size. It was a cooperation between the Tuchmuseum (textile museum) and the Deutsche Röntgen Museum across the street. Doctor Wilhelm Röntgen invented the x-ray so it was fitting the exhibit went there.

View of one room in the textile museum. My piece is on the right.

Mine was at the textile museum and I heard the interest and attendance was high which made the museum very happy! To see some of the history of this exhibit click here and here and here.

View inside the textile museum in Lennep. 

This exhibit is going to be shown once more in June in Celle, Germany, at a patchwork day and then my piece will be mailed back after 2 years of touring.

Making Changes

I recognized a friend at the St Lawrence Market that I hadn’t seen in over 30 years ! She and I went to high school together in Montreal. She has recently moved to Toronto.

I exhibit my work in Europe.

We met for coffee later in the week and had a long chat about everything! It was wonderful!!

I prepare teaching samples for my
quilt classes.

She asked about what I was doing and I gave her my blog and my website address.

I organize trips to Verona, Italy, with a textile theme.

But later that week I wondered what she would see on those sites.

I work on art journals.

The website has not been updated for years! No new photographs. No new text. No additions to my CV. Yet I have done a lot!

I recently organized a trip to Umbria for August 2016...
and by organize I mean preparing an itinerary,
interviewing the right people to give workshops and lectures,
finding the best places to eat,
booking an amazing villa,
discovering places to visit...
a big job!

The blog is fine if you follow me regularly. You know what projects I am working on and you know what I have done.

I exhibit my work in Toronto.
This piece was part of the exhibit
The Gathering last summer
@ Gallery 814.

But for a person who is just visiting for the first time I need to have a better description of what I am and what I do and what I have done!

I teach in the art department at different high schools.

My website and my blog need a make-over! 

I take some art classes and always keep learning.

That is what I will be working on in the next months.

I curate textile exhibits

Quilting in Rossano, Calabria, Italy

I had a lovely few days in Rossano, Calabria, together with friends at the end of July.

The town of Rossano tucked into the mountain and was built
hidden from the sea as protection from invasions of the Saracens.

The Ionian Sea is just over this mountain.

The main reason to get together was patchwork but we did way more than sew!

Chatting with the priest at his Abbey in the mountains
where the main activities were held.

There was a quilt exhibit- La Più Bella (The Most Beautiful) showing works from the south of Italy and the north, traditional and contemporary.

Location of the exhibit in the historical centre of Rossano.

A priest came to talk to us about what "The Most Beautiful" means. Very philosophical.

Exhibit Hall
Two visitors admire my work! I went over to talk to them. He is an art student.
His mother does patchwork.

More traditional works were on one side of the room.

We had a morning of exchanges. People taught for half an hour. They taught things they wanted to share.

Bread making.

Expert applique-er  and author, Maria Rosaria Nola,
 uses "Manitoba" flour to make her bread!

Sewing "Gems".

This will be my next "portable" hand project. It is a step-up from hexagons.
 I think it could be fun working out the secondary designs made by the fabrics
when the six 'petals' are sewn together.

Knitting tricks and much more.

We ate well (as always).

We toured a few places like the liquorice factory, Amarelli, run by the original family line, 11th generation!! Founded in 1731....

liquorice roots

... the beach on the Ionian Sea,

....the historical town,

... and when we got back to the province of Basilicata we heard the news of their devastating floods.

Rossano suffered heavy rains that
caused mud slides.
Pictured above is the beach front
and the newer part of the city.
(These two photographs were sent to me
by some friends.
Not sure who to credit)

Calabria Invitation

My work, Collision with Melancholia (radiation series), was invited to be exhibited in the show La Pui Bella in Rossano, Calabria, Italy, in July.

My piece (right) at the Art Gallery UniCredit
during Verona Tessile

I plan to be there for part of the run. I have been to several shows there over the years. It was a great pleasure teaching at their week-long quilt retreats in the past.

Great fun! Such good food and so well organized! The hospitality is unbeatable!

Fabulous technique!
The author had all her samples in large cellophane envelopes
so we could pick them up and turn them around to examine.

Maria Rosaria Nola, master quilter from Calabria, organizes the event along with her quilt collegues. She has written her first book.

Maria Rosaria Nola (right) was promoting her book
at Verona Tessile. The piece
on the front cover was awarded
1st prize traditional
 at the Verona Tessile
International Juried Show in 2011

It is on appliqué and is very well written.

She explains so many different techniques and because the photos are so well done one can even understand the steps without knowing how to read italian.

Congratulations Maria Rosaria!

Galleria 814

If you are in Toronto between the 3rd and 16th of June, 2015, take a drive over to Galleria 814 (809 St. Clair Avenue West, east of Oakwood).

Last Tree Standing
2014
Click here to learn about this piece.

The Hillcrest Village Fibreworks Show is on and I have two small pieces in it.

Farida's Garden
2009
Click here to learn about this piece and the Afghanistan projects

I chose those two works because they both combine fabric, sewing and Afghanistan embroideries.

The artists will be in attendance on July 4 from 7 to 10 pm at an opening reception.

Hours are Tuesday to Friday 12 to 6, Saturday 12 to 4. The gallery is closed Sunday and Monday.

I am in Italy so someone please send me a 'review' of the exhibit! I am sure it will be interesting.

Official invitation
June 2 is actually the hanging of the works
so I recommend not going on that day.

There is always much variety in the pieces selected in this annual show.

Well Made Quilts are a Pleasure to See

I visited the York Heritage quilt show. It was on for only two days.

It's like a stained-glass! It was gorgeous!
by Kim Workman

Another quilt that brought back images of European
 church stain glass.
Work by Lynne Lee

Back in 2012, I included one of Robert Gutcher's quilts for the exhibit I curated, Tradition in Transition which was shown in France. His machine quilting is superb! His sense of colour appeals to me. I have a similar pattern that I kept from about 15 years ago and I may tweak it and use it for my Spring Clean-Up class I host in the spring. The aim for those classes is to use up your stash and not buy any new fabric. This quilt design would fit in for sure!

Quilt by Robert Gutcher
This quilt sparkles like a jewel!

I like the woven pattern below. The colours are definitely the hot choice these days. They follow the trends of the Modern Quilt Movement.

by Valerie Prideaux
The label stated:
Made with permission of the artist Eleanor McCain

The one shown below wasn't as flashy as some of the others but effective nonetheless.

machine pieced and quilted by Linda Morse
inspired by a Denise Schmidt design

It is a guild show that I try to attend because the works exhibited always demonstrate great skill!

I was able to purchase a few hand-made gifts to give away to my Verona friends when I visit them this week.

Hand-made ornament using felted wool, hand embroidery,
  beads and an antique button at the centre
 by Sandy Lindal

I always hear, 'I can make that', when I am shopping at these stands but why not buy something anyway and support makers!

Expectations

I visited the World Of Threads festival exhibit (going on till November 30 in Oakville and Mississauga).

Not To Know But To Go On
Installation
Judy Martin

Judy Martin's works were spectacular and by far my favourites.

detail, Not To Know But To Go On
Judy Martin

I have been following her Circle Project (details seen below) since the beginning and I was glad to have finally seen those 4 pieces 'live' and not from a photograph. It's a whole different experience standing in front of such work. The size, the detail.

I see many textile exhibits around the world. I'd like to make a general comment about some of the textile "artwork" I am seeing. Just because the work is messy doesn't make it art. Just because you can collage or sew things together doesn't make you an artist. One of the qualities an artist has to have, in my opinion, is an advanced skill level in the medium of choice while executing his/her thoughts and ideas.

I expect to see techniques that are well executed when I go to exhibits.

If you chose fabric as your medium, best learn your basic sewing skills.

* in this spot I had written a few lines about certain works I saw at the World Of Thread exhibit that in my opinion were lacking skill in the sewing department and after talking to my husband about it he pointed out that I could still give my opinion and not point to someone's work in particular. True. So I have removed the images and criticism but I do stand by my opinion that if a work is going to be exhibited it should be demonstrating fine skill.

Moving to Judy Martin's work. Well, here is someone who knows her craft and has a skill level that is impressive.

detail, Not To Know But To Go On
Judy Martin
I love the way the embroidery floss changes
the colour of the fabric underneath

The above 3 images are details of the Circle Project
by Judy Martin and community 

I also enjoyed the weavings of Quebecer, Louise Lemieux Bérubé. Again such skill!

Rodin e Claudel no 1
244 cm x 412 cm
Louise Lemieux Bérubé
2012
jacquard weaving
cotton, linen, dyes

I loved her theme too, maybe because my previous career was in dance and I can appreciate the movements of her subjects.