Recently I was invited to exhibit a hand full of my quilts at the local art center in Conneaut, Ohio. Now its always flattering to get asked to show your work, but this time I found it even more so. My work hung along side the pieces of 5 of the most talented quilters in the area. Let's just say I was in good company.Now, I know its a little daunting to show your work, especially in your own backyard. Will your neighbors really get what your art is about?? I mean, even Jesus was rejected in his home synagogue. But I think its especially important for fiber artists to exhibit to the general public if only to get the word out that quilts aren't just for beds anymore. It literally took about 15 years for my friends and family to realize that I was doing original artwork and not just sitting around making log cabin quilts (not that there is anything wrong with traditional quilting - you all know I love making traditional quilts). Still, these days, I'm just artist that happens to use fabric as my medium.
So it was super nice for the Conneaut Art Center to give us such a nice venue. The room where they will be exhibited is not only a gallery, but a multipurpose room. So its the perfect place to reach
I picked 4 quilts to show - Fall I, Fall II, Ephesians 4: 3.4 (aka the birdhouses) and Lilies and Clapboards. I chose them because they seemed all sort of linked - whether through the color palette or the taste of rural life that inspired them.
Andddddd to top it all off, the artists were invited back for a Round table Discussion on our work that was taped for the Community Access Channel. How cool is that? It sorta freaked me out a bit, but then I had to put on my big girl pants and do it. Of course , it went fine and it was super fun!! I loved hearing the view points of the other artists.
Ohhh and here is a sneak peek of my latest project - inspired by Monet.
So What have you been up to Creatively?
11 comments:
Congratulations! That is so exciting to be able to show your work to your friends and family. I hope they all gave the appropriate oohs and ahhs and wows! Keep up the good work!
Congratulations! It looks like a wonderful exhibit!
Congratulations! I am curious to see your Monet.
Congratulations.....and how honored the OTHER artists must be to share the exhbit space with YOU!!!
Hi Nina: This is my first time visiting. I came here via Gwyned Trefethen's blog. Your work is so lovely. I am eager to start reading through your blog a bit more to have a better look. Your post on Monet (last week) was great. Nice to meet you!
Bernie
the exhibit looks wonderful! Congratulations!
That is awesome, all of it-the venue, your work, that you got to show your work and that you were part of a panel!
Congratulations! It looks like a great place with good lighting. Well deserved
Congratulations! Your wonderful pieces really deserve to be viewed and enjoyed by everyone!
Congratulations, Nina Marie! Of course...I know exactly whereof you speak, having just spent the weekend at my fifth Annual Art Show and Sale in "Bed Quilt Central". I can only aspire to be invited to show my work! ;-) Well done!
Your blog is so mush fun to read. I like all the quilts from different people.
You inspire me to get busy creating!
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