Who are the people to watch?
I'd love to have some nominations...plus website/blog links... to the people whom you think are the ones to watch. People who are doing amazing things with art quilts/textiles/fiber collages (whatever they like to call it).
I find it very hard to keep up with what's going on in the field...the big shows are only every two years...and unless you actually go to them, or buy a pretty expensive catalogue, you have no idea what's going on. And one of them actually bans people from putting images out into the world ! - making it even harder to see the best of the best.
The magazines I've looked at don't always show the best work either, for various reasons...I guess they want to show Readers' Work to keep them buying the magazine, or things that are easy to make because they assume that's all most of us want.
And while it's lovely surfing the net to find them...it takes a LONG time!
When you need inspiration, there's nothing better than looking at Really Great Work. but where to go to find it?
If you want a great example of recorded music you look at the CD reviews, for Books we have various literary prizes (and no, the NY Times bestseller list does NOT count as literature! in fact frequently the opposite! the books are the cheetos of the book world.)
If you look to see which quiltmaker has published a lot, it's usually the good teachers, rather than the amazing artists - yes occasionally these are one and the same...but by and large, if you're rushing around the country teaching you don't have much time in the studio making lots of great new innovative work...and vice versa.
You can get reviews of items that occur in multiples: like books, CDs, dvds, washing machines etc...but for art work, especially quilts which are almost invariably "one-off", how to find the best work?
Wouldn't it be lovely if there were a Quilt Review page in one of the national newspapers, so that every week we could see a Big Picture of something glorious? I must admit I get very depressed when I look through various Pinterest files online and see nothing but YouKnowWho knock offs! Yes there are some exceptions...especially from countries other than the USA...but....
So send me your finds!!
Whom do you find to be the MOST inspiring art quiltmaker?
And, if you have been, thanks for reading! Elizabeth
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26 comments:
Are you looking for specific 'quilts' or textile art that uses quilting in a broader sense.
I would recommend Kate Crossley http://www.katecrossley.com/ Some of her recent work involves stitched words and found objects layered in resin. Other work involves quilted aspects to cover and develop a 'cabinet of curiosity' look to a 3D piece.
Good images here http://www.mrxstitch.com/the-cutting-stitching-edge-kate-crossley/
Her working grandfather clock won Festival of Quilts 'Quilts Creations' section in 2014 and is now at the American Museum in Bath http://americanmuseum.org/events/workshop-cabinet-of-curiosities/
I see a lot of wonderful work at the Festival of Quilts coming out of the continent as well as UK artists. But I wouldn't say all of the galleries, if listed, would become a definitive answer to your search - even for Europe.
Sandy in the UK
PS I think the majority of the artists in Quilt Art fit the description, but some I think have become teachers...meaning I am not so sure they are up as far with the best because of the teaching time. (I hope this does not blacken my name!) http://www.quiltart.eu/
Thanks Sandy! I think you're right...I know for myself, I've not been able to work on quilts to anything like the depth I used to since I got into teaching.
However I shall check out the Grandfather clock - that sounds like fun! had not heard of her.
I enjoyed exploring the work of Kate Crossley: thank you for bringing her to our attention! I love the complex and richly detailed aspect of her work, its 3-dimensionality, and the references to layering over time.
At the other end of the spectrum, I also enjoy minimalist work. Recently, on my own blog, I have profiled two abstract artists who work with solid-coloured, hand-dyed cloth and use the rectangular format and three stitched layers that are associated with "quilts". Their accomplished use of colour and composition shines through as they manipulate simple shapes to create works of great beauty.
Kathleen Probst: http://kathleenprobst.com
Karen Schulz: http://www.karen-schulz.com
For something completely different and totally inventive, please check out the work of the young Montreal sculptor Jannick Deslauriers by doing an image search. She creates ethereal armored tanks, wheelchairs and typewriters from organza and stitch.
This website showcases many stitch, fiber and mixed media artists in interviews with photos of their work. Check the interview tab for access. http://www.textileartist.org/ Happy perusing!
Leanne L. Hopkins / Studio Joy Designs (no website or blog yet...)
Sometimes The Quilt Show runs show winners and a few jaw-droppers from some of the major shows. These include traditional quilts, but there are some art pieces too. Many of these features do not require TQS membership.
I am loving Maria Shell's quilts right now:http://mariashell.com
I love Ruth de Vos' quilts. Especially her blog, which talks about daily life with 6 children. http://ruthdevos.com/blog/
We all have favourite artists who are personal inspirations; at the top of my list is Dorothy Caldwell (http://dorothycaldwell.com/), who works "from the land", using pared-down processes. I find it inspiring when an artist, quilt or otherwise, pursues and develops a theme rooted in their own history.
But are you looking for the current or upcoming movers and shakers, the ones who will move the art of quilting forward?
The are all around if you just take some time and look a bit wider...
Phillida Hargreaves, Joan Reive (85 years old and still making stunning art quilts), Karen Goetzinger (installation artist), Heather Dubreuil (took a technique she loved and turned it into award winning small quilts she is sharing now worldwide), Penny Berens (Nova Scotia artist focuses on colour and hand stitch, Judith E. Martin (monumental collection of focused, women's work in the arts), Ann Fales (landscapes that speak)... so many more just in our small "sisterhood" of your neighboring Canada. Kit Vincent from Ottawa stormed into Q=A=Q and laid down her art - Best of Show and 1st place two years in a row... have a peek across the border! Gordana Brelih (watch this gal move!!!, Dianne Gibson, Elizabeth Duggan Litch, Sharron Deacon Begg, Maggie Vanderweit, Ann Sanders, Tracey Lawko, Dwayne Wanner...
And yes! MARIA SHELL (Alaska neighbor)... making huge inroads in the art quilt world.
Cheers
Bethany Garner, Kingston, ON
wow! thank you to everyone! I shall have a great time looking up all this folk...of course I too find Dorothy's work awe-inspiring and was lucky enough to see several pieces in the Textile Museum in Toronto some years ago...I agree Bethany - North is the way to look! Maybe, it's the long cold winters!!
And, Margaret, both current and upcoming artists...people who really inspire, those whose work will still be wonderful in 100 years from now.
Wow! What a great list of names and links. I can't wait to begin looking them up and studying (and appreciating) what they do. Thanks, Elizabeth, for asking the question. Textileartist.org somewhat serves this need, but all we need is a moderated list on a web site listing good work and pointing out what makes it so! I know what appeals to me personally in an art work, but that doesn't always mean it is great art. It would help me to have the principles of art that are used to make it outstanding. Thanks all!
That's an excellent idea, Mary! Maybe someone will take up the idea...I will look at all the suggestions and see if I can contact an artist to show their quilt and discuss it.
Great list - can't wait to peruse them! I would suggest Judy Kirpich
http://unmultitasking.blogspot.com/
http://www.judykirpich.com/
I enjoyed discovering some new inspiration in the links already mentioned. Thanks everyone. I found a whole new group of textile artists through the on-line magazine at http://www.throughourhands.co.uk/ which is free to enjoy.
I am vacationing in Maui and visited the guild website, discovering local quilt artist Robin Ferrier. Her blog is very inspiring, anxious to try some of her ideas when I return home, wonderful, colorful and whimsical. Her blog is simply robin.com
Bonjour,
Pas beaucoup d'artistes européennes dans vos commentaires , alors voici quelques artistes intéressantes voir le site : http://www.tafch.ch/ et le blog:
http://tafch.blogspot.ch/
Salutations de Suisse
In a recent post on her blog, Shelly Stokes, posted the following info about Betty Busby....I am blown away by her work though fractals have long fascinated me. Here is Shelly's quote..
"PBS New Mexico featured the work of art quilter Betty Busby in the January 23 segment of Colores!. (Thanks to SAQA - Studio Art Quilt Associates for sharing this link.) The segment on Betty’s creative process begins at the 2-minute mark. It’s about 8 minutes long and worth a watch."
I think it is worth the time to watch her talk about her inspiration and creative process. Hope I am able to copy the hyperlink so it works....
https://cedarcanyon.infusionsoft.com/app/linkClick/32739/83be9ce1785160ef/3037557/13eb0ecb5076ba51
merci Marianne, je vais voir le site vous recommendez! Elizabeth
and thank you to Mary Helen for the link to the talk...I shall follow that up..
and thanks to everyone - we'll have a visual feast from all these suggestions!!
Always fascinating artists featured here.... http://thetextileblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/inspirational-8.html
enjoy!
Look at Carol Trice at www.caroltrice.com
innovative, has a show in Dallas, where she lives, so she is South!
I need to make one nice big list of all these suggestions....a good job for a grey rainy day...thank you everyone.
I admire "the Brits"...Linda (lindakemshall.com) and Laura Kemshall (laurakemshall.blogspot.ca) and their work with Bobbie Britnell, Canadian Catherine Nicholls (http://ravensthread.com/)...and their "Through Our Hands" e-magazine (http://www.throughourhands.co.uk/)...and Canadians who have -- and are -- making their mark, such as Mary Pal (http://marypaldesigns.com/), Elaine Quehl (http://www.elainequehl.com/), embroiderer Monika Kinner Whalen (http://mysweetprairie.blogspot.ca/) -- Canada's answer to Jean Littlejohn...and then there is my SAQA colleague and friend, Susan Lenz of South Carolina...who seems to do it all! (http://www.susanlenz.com/)...
Great day to come back to blog reading. Thanks for throwing out the net E. Great catch!
Lori Kennedy at the Inbox Jaunt is VERY inspiring-- she draws on fabric! with a sewing machine! Her quilts are fabulous and truly one of a kind. PLUS, she is extremely generous with her tutorials!
I'd encourage everyone to take a look at the amazing work she is doing!
http://theinboxjaunt.com/
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