Local Art Show, next Working in Series class

My next Working in Series class starts at Quilt University this Friday.  If you have ever wanted to take your art quilting to the next level, working in a series is the way to do it.  Developing the same theme in many different ways really stretches and exercises your design skills: creatively, technically, professionally and emotionally.  This class begins with the students surveying serial work in many different countries and mediums and is often a most exciting part of the course as you discover new artists, new ideas and new possibilities that you would not have access to in any other way.  Imagine being able to send out a researcher of local art in your own country plus North and South America, Canada, Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East! Not always in every class, but often!!  And I'm looking for the first student from Antarctica - though I believe penguins havn't yet got the hang of a sewing machine.....even though there is, in fact, a walking foot called the Penguin walking foot!!!

But meanwhile....back at the home base...I visited the first of our two local annual art shows on Sunday.

visitors to the Art Show in front of Terri Jarret's beautiful scrap quilt Carried Away

 These shows are tremendously popular in the community and each gets about 600 entries in every conceivable medium, and some you probably wouldn't conceive of!  Outside jurors are brought in to whittle down the numbers to something manageable...I was lucky enough to get into both shows and even got a small award in one of them.  Of course the preponderance of the work is painting and photography but there were quite a few fibrous pieces this time too.

Aline

Bonita Kelemen's amazing portrait of Aline was outstanding for its millions of beads obsessively applied and the eye catching command gaze of the subject.
Not only is the lady encrusted with beads but her face is embroidered solidly - you can't see it but there are hundreds of lazy daisies and french knots and many other classic embroidery stitches.    "Fabric collage on raw linen canvas with embroidery and beadwork" was the description.  I don't know the artist who does, however, live in Georgia.

Hole in the Sky that the Night burned through

 Justine Stevens' work was also very striking - again this artist is totally new to me.  She's a recent graduate of the BFA program at the University of Georgia with an emphasis in print making however what was most fascinating  again was the combination of techniques: embroidery over paint (acrylic, gouache, watercolor) and collage on linen.

Disbelief in String and paper

Substitute a Floating Palm Frond

  These are tiny pieces - about 6" square and full of amazing little details.

I'm so sorry I missed her exit show.  It's very good to see young people getting into fiber!










Another new fiber artist, for me, was Travis Craig
with his funky little figurative piece:

Got Stars on My shoulders, don't Need 'em in my Eyes

I'm not quite sure whether that's a walking stick in front and this is a disaffected soldier or whether there's a more light hearted meaning - though I doubt it...
it's a striking image that catches your eye, it's intriguing and well proportioned.
I don't know anything about Travis - it's a fairly common name but it would be fun if he were the longboarder seen in the youtube clip
What athleticism!!

There were also several fine woven pieces by local weavers I know well - and only 4 quilts, two by yours truly and two by member of the local guild: Terri Jarrett and Jodie Seila.  We're in good company!

The other art show doesn't open till next month - alas the opening is when I'm away but I shall visit afterwards and see how fiber art is faring whether we call it a quilt or a fabric painting or a collage or even just "art".

And now to write a welcome to my Working in Series class - there is time to sign up until Saturday...the class starts late Friday.
So, if you have been, thanks for reading!   Elizabeth