Subversive Fiber Art by Women on Off the Wall Friday

Wonderland, Miriam Schapiro, 1983

 Over the years, I've written posts ranting about how nobody gets what we really do.  I'm mean sure people might understand what a quilt is.  What they don't get is the blood, sweat and tears that goes into a quilt.  Okay, so that's a little dramatic...but really have you met me?  Realistically though, it's that extra "something" that makes quilt making much more than a simple craft.  It's definitely an art form no matter if you do

detail, The Bitter Nest, Part II

traditional or modern or art or a mixture of all three.  

And that's what was celebrated at the Renwick Museum's exhibit, Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women.  This was the final stop in our recent visit to Washington DC art museums. Looking back at the experience, I spent my whole time investigating how each woman made her pieces, wondering what her creative process was like.  I looked at the mark of the hand that was on display and marveled at the artists' choice of textures.  

What I didn't do was really look into the backstory of each piece.  For me, it's normally one or the other.  I can look at a piece as a form of independent art or I can see what the piece is trying to express to me.  Normally, I can't do both in one sitting or at least not on the first visit.  I figured that there would be plenty of the story of each piece on-line, so on my visit, I focused on the art by itself.  

The Bitter Nest, Part II: The Harlem Renaissance Party,
Faith Ringgold, 1988

And I wasn't disappointed.  I only recognized a few of the names I saw.  Most pieces were more than 30 years old, only proving that fiber art has always been around. (Which by the way the world seem to discover when the Gee Band quilts made such a splash)   The one that left me in awe was I finally got to see a quilt by Faith Ringgold in person.  Her quilt, The Bitter Nest, Part II: The Harlem Renaissance Party tells the story of an imaginary family.  The story is depicted through the figures in the center, while written in words around the edge.  Another thing checked off my  life's bucket list....see a Faith Ringgold quilt in person.  

The exhibit wasn't just about the art pieces themselves, but the stories that went behind them  To that end they held an open house where the artists and visitors got to mingle.  Gosh, I would have loved to been at that. Please click here though to see the pictures, because it will show you how amazing the exhibit looked in person.  They also produced a 10 episode podcast, Backstitch to feature each artist talking about her pieces in her own words.  Plus they even have a lecture on YouTube, that I haven't gotten a chance to watch.    So I was proven right - there was plenty of information about each piece online for a deeper dive into the meanings of the art.  

Besides the pieces themselves, the highlight of the exhibit was a small room that featured a peak into the work product of the artists.  When I'm doing an art quilt, I tend to have all sorts of "research" before I create.  Apparently, I'm not alone.  Not often is the viewer treated with peak behind the curtain.  Lia Cook was kind enough to show us her thought process. 

The piece I liked the most was Carolyn Mazloomi, Family Embraces (1997).  When I saw it, I said, "OMGosh!  It's hand quilted."  A voice behind me, countered "Oh it can't be.  Nothing that modern would be."  Luckily my back was to the woman because I literally rolled my eyes.  Seriously, the stereotypes of our art will never cease.  Anyways, I digress.  I thought Mazloomi's use of line in such a strong graphic statement really masterful.  And yes, the hand quilting was amazing too.  

The Family Embraces, Carolyn Mazloomi, 1997

Needless to say, it was a fitting end to our visit to DC.  The Renwick never ceases to disappoint.  I just wish it was bigger.  

And that leads me to say...

What Have You Been Up to Creatively?

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On My Mind, Nancy Crow on Off the Wall Friday

You wouldn't think that living outside of Erie, Pennsylvania would be a center of culture. And it kinda isn't.  But it kinda is.  Really, we're within an hour or two of Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Buffalo.  Plus 3 hrs out of Toronto. As well as 2.5 hrs out of central Ohio.  Yes, you read that right ....central Ohio.   Central Ohio, for you not in the know, is a hot bed of quilting.  Not only is there a plethora of quilt stores, quilt groups, retreat spots but also there is The Dairy Barn Art Center (home to Quilt National) and the Crow Timber Frame Barn.  The latter is the brain child of Nancy Crow.  

Nancy Crow
(photo credit Schweinwurth Art Center)

If there was a mother of the art quilt movement, I would nominate Nancy Crow.  Born in 1943, she pioneered her way through Ohio State achieving an MFA in Weaving and Ceramics.  Moving into fiber and quilting, she developed what we now know as improvisational piecing to take quilting from folk
craft right into accepted art.  (Well mostly accepted.  There are still some die hard haters who insist it's still craft, but if anybody is an accepted artist, it's Nancy).  She's won multiple awards including the Living Treasure Award from the University of North Carolina.  Her work is part of the permanent collection of many museums including The Renwick Gallery/Smithsonian Institute.  (As an aside, if you haven't put the Renwick on your bucket list, stop reading this and do it.  It doesn't get as much press as the National Gallery but it houses the work of most talented artisans in our country)

I say all of this in a way of an introduction, because I took a drive to Kent University in Kent, Ohio.  (Yes THAT Kent University).  Besides its tragic past, it also houses the Kent State University Muesum with it's renowned collection of fashion, costume, and accessories.  At the core, is the collection of Shannon Rogers and Jerry Silverman who donated over 4000 pieces.  

On exhibit this weekend was a timeline history of fashion, a stunning collection of Katherine Hepburn Clothes, and Nancy Crow's On My Mind showcase.  To say it was a textile junkies dream is an understatement.  

There are four series of works that are included: CONSTRUCTIONS, RIFFS, DRAWINGS, and MONOPRINTS.  Although I've seen Nancy's work many times, it was a treat to see all 40 pieces displayed to perfection. Nancy hasn't been just an artist for the last 50 years, she's also been teaching.  Her classes have spring boarded many quilters into the world of art.  I myself have watched her classes and roomed with her students.  I also lucky enough to sit and listen to a lecture that finally explained to me the idea of composition and depth.  

This exhibit runs through December 15, 2024, and I encourage you to take the drive to Kent to see. it.  The campus is lovely, and they even have a nice museum store (we also went into the bookstore which was cool too). 

(my favorite piece)

Under Things that I Like....

Did anybody hear about the Monet water lilies painting that sold for 65 million dollars at Sotherby's this week?  If you want to watch the 17 min auction you can see it here (although spoiler alert...it's a quiet affair).  How often do you get to see a Monet come up for auction?

It does make one wonder who bought it.....

So, What Have You Been Up to Creatively?

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All About the Quilts On Off the Wall Friday

A Fantasy Garden, Christine Weise/Shelley Cassatta

You know when you go to a Sewing & Quilting Expo, you are overwhelmed by the amount of things to buy and classes to take.  Well at least that was how it was for me during the recent Cleveland Expo.  It was a lot!  But tucked in the back of the Expo were rows of black curtains, filled with the most gorgeous quilts!  SAQA had shared a few exhibitions and there were also some from the North Texas Quilt Festival.  The exhibit was so stunning, I ended up going through it 3 times during the day.  I thought I would share some of the highlights!

Crumbling, Janet Windsor

This piece was so stunning in person.  The texture that Janet brought to life was amazing. It was crazy! Here is a detail

Detail, Crumbling, Janet Windsor

Tiger's Eye, Heather Pregger

I love this piece because #1 it's by Heather Pregger and I love her work (she's so good at the whole improve piecing thing). #2  It's a terrific study in value.  #3  She achieves amazing movement with all straight lines.

The Language of Trees, Victoria Findley Wolfe

Symmetry, rhythm and movement is the story of this piece.  Plus - Victoria Findley Wolfe - enough said!

Sea Glass, Nancy Goodman

I found the composition of this piece brilliant - it's circular emphasis with a lot of rhythm thrown in to add interest.  Also, that palette is HOT - yellow, green, teal, orange with a great use of neutrals - brown and black.

Nice Ice #1, Caryl Fallert-Gentry

Yep, you read that right. This was made by Caryl Fallert-Gentry.  Obviously it's a huge departure from her other series.  Techniques she used were photographed digitally painted, thread painted and machine quilted.  Another great use of brown as a neutral.

There were so many more.  It truly was a feast for the eyes!!

So, What Have You Been Up to Creatively?

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Sewing & Quilt Expo on Off the Wall Friday

Waiting for the vendors to open!

Okay am I the only one who has never been to a Sewing Expo?  This year I finally got to attend since it was returning to the I-X Center on the westside of Cleveland...and let me tell ya....most of the women I talk to have been going for years.  After spending the day, now I understand why.

Reason 1 - the Expo encompasses all that is sewing and quilting - If it has to do with those two things, then you will find it there.  There were vendors for EVERYTHING which includes but not limited to sewing and long arm dealers, quilt shops, notion shops, vintage sewing supplies, embroidery supplies, hmmmmmm and even a tea vendor.

Reason  2 - There were talks going on two stages all day.  The talk were given by different vendors so they were on a wide range of topics but still all had to do with  - you guessed it - sewing and quilting.

Reason 3 - There was a really great quilt exhibit which included not only collections from SAGA but also challenges from different quilt guilds across the country.

Reason 4 - Maker Space where they had Make & Take projects for a nominal fee.  I think I saw at least 4 or 5 of them going.

Reason 5 - A full day of classes, anywhere from 1 hr lectures to 4 hr classes.  These weren't the most in depth classes but they weren't expensive, so they were good if you just wanted to try something out. 

Reason 6 - There was a pretty cool scavenger hunt where you ended up with a little prize at the end.  (I really had fun doing this because it made me really understand the layout of the expo!  Plus I get to try the little sewing clips they gave me!)

and finally

Reason 7 - A really nice door prize drawing at the end of the day which included 2 sewing machines.  Everyone gets together for the drawings and it was really fun.

Since it was such a long day, I'll keep this short, but let's just say it was worth $$.  I didn't buy a lot - 6 fat quarters of dupioni silk, a new rotary cutter that has BALL BARINGS!, a yard of batik rayon that is gorgeous, some amazing hugo tape and a few other notions.  

My mind is on overload and I'm not quite sure how ladies do it for the full 3 days....but they assure me they are!

So What Have You Been Up to Creatively?

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A Week at Quilting by the Lake - Off the Wall Friday

So last week was my 17th year at the quilt conference, Quilting by the Lake.  I love going back every year because it seems so familiar and yet there is always something new.  This year was no

Suffrage Quilt, Votes for Women, Ellen Blalock

exception.  In fact, I'm not sure if its because I'm finally truly over my blue period or because I'm in an up swing of creativity but there seemed to be inspiration EVERYWHERE.  I took a ton of pictures and I thought I would share a few.  This year I kept them to the gorgeous campus (which is finally over the major construction its been under the last few years) and the quilt show.  But besides these, there were some great lectures that were fascinating, an amazing show and tell and a super fun mini-mall.

So every morning I got up around 5:15 am and headed to the Family Y which is on campus and open to QBL participants.

  One morning it looked like this

 Another morning it looked like this

When you're in Syracuse you never quite know what the weather will bring!!
The campus was filled with gorgeous wild flowers  - everywhere!

The architecture is pretty amazing since its a two year community college!

But what was the best was this year quilt show!

Martin Luther King, Susan Robinson

Cabin on a Lake, Cheryl Kosarek

Label Quilt, Carol Boyer

Close Up of Label quilt

Gatekeeper 2, Lily Moebes

Close up of Gatekeeper 2 by Lily Moebes

There are many, many more pictures of the week - it was just one big visual explosion I swear!
Next week, I'll do a post on my amazing week with Emily Richardson.  I want to think a bit more on the class yet.  I still haven't caught my breathe from it all - it was quite the whirl-wind!

So What Have Been Up to Creatively?

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Quilting by the Lake Quilt Show - Off the Wall Friday

Greetings from Syracuse, NY!!  What an exciting week its been!  Exhausting ....but Exciting!!  I promise I'll catch you up on my class, but before that I wanted to share some of this year's quilt show.  Each year, the conference hosts a juried quilt show asking past and present participants to enter quilts.  Each year it is fabulous. 

Here is some eye candy for you enjoyment!

Don't ask me how I chose which to take pictures of for this blog. It was just row after row of amazing quilts.What I really liked about this show was there were several quilts from past classes (some that I was in).  You can really see the fruits of the students labor!  Plus there was a good range of traditional quilts, modern quilts and art quilts. 

Stay tuned for more on this amazing week!

So What Have Been Up to Creatively?

Outdoor Quilt Show ... Off the Wall Friday

 Outdoor quilt shows are so pretty I thought I would let the pictures do all the talking.

There were over 70 quilts.

So What Have You Been up to Creatively?