Structures Hits Saint John

If you haven't yet had an opportunity to view Structures, a travelling fabric art exhibition, this may be your chance! The exhibition, consisting of 25 amazing art quilts by 19 Atlantic artists, will be on display in Saint John, NB, until March 4, 2016.

Where: The Frazee Gallery of the Saint John Arts Centre, 20 Peel Plaza, Saint John, NB
When: Friday, January 15 until Friday, March 4, 2016.
Opening reception: 5:30-7:30pm, Friday, January 15, 2016.

Structures launched last June at the Art Gallery of St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish NS. It has since travelled to the Gallery at the Guild in Charlottetown and the Inverness County Centre for the Arts, in Inverness NS. The final stop on the Structures exhibition tour will be at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Yarmouth Branch, March 15 to April 30, 2016.

The show has been well received at every stop on the tour, from people who were just excited to see the artwork. Here are a few of their remarks:

"I stand in awe of these pieces. I am officially turned on to quilting now."

"I need to remember to shut my mouth! Amazing work. Thank you!"

"An absolutely incredible exhibit. Such talent - all of you."

"Could not have been better at MOMA or the Whitney."

A Vanishing Culture

We were delighted to learn that Wolfville, NS artist Kate Madeloso was one of six Canadians whose work was accepted into SAQA's international My Corner of the World exhibition. Her art quilt, A Vanishing Culture, was one of the 41 entries juried in to the show. The competition, open to SAQA members from around the world, received responses from 115 artists who submitted a total of 189 pieces. Well done Kate!

A Vanishing Culture (70" x 24") by Kate Madeloso

Kate's successful art piece represents her Doukhobor heritage. She used a wide variety of materials and techniques to tell the story of her grandmother's immigration to Canada, including antique cottons, silks and linens, old photographs, hand embroidery, and rubber stamping.

Detail of A Vanishing Culture, by Kate Madeloso

We asked Kate Madeloso to talk about her inspiration for A Vanishing Culture:

Kate: I was in my late 30's when my mother, who I knew had Russian heritage, revealed a secret she had kept from me and my siblings. Her mother, Evdoitia Oosichoff, had come to Canada in 1897, with 7500 other Russian peasants, mostly women and children. These families had been persecuted in Russia because they practiced pacifism and refused to fight for the czar. They called themselves ‘Doukhobors’ or 'Spirit Wrestlers'. 

Detail of Kate's grandmother, in A Vanishing Culture.

In Canada, the Doukhobors were officially recognized as pacifists and were not called upon to bear arms. They played a vital role in developing the Canadian west, by settling Prairie farmland and helping to build railroads. They flourished for decades, a productive, creative and religious community holding their history sacred. The population reached its peak in 1941, when nearly 17 thousand Canadians identified as Doukhobor. Most have since integrated into the fabric of Canada, and by 2011, just over 2200 people reported being active in the culture. 

Since my mother's revelation, I've heard stories from my uncle about growing up in a Doukhobor community near Castlegar BC. Just recently, he gave me a wool rug made by my grandmother and great grandmother, together with a hand woven linen shirt which he called Dora’s ‘birthing’ shirt. She wore the shirt during the delivery of her six children. And there began my journey into my heritage and this rich and often overlooked culture.

Grandmother's rug, the inspiration for A Vanishing Culture.

Kate Madeloso, Wolfville, NS

https://madeloso.wordpress.com/

The My Corner of the World exhibition will debut at the Stratford Perth Museum in Stratford, ON, May 21 to August 14, 2016, and then travel internationally. Follow the exhibition's travel's here.

Have you Heard?

Seven members of SAQA Atlantic Canada have just received word that their pieces were juried into a Canada-wide SAQA exhibition, My Corner of the World (Canada). 

The request for submissions called on Canadian SAQA members "to create a glimpse of the spirit of Canada; to convey through their art something true, meaningful and important about this beautiful country and its people." Seventy-three artists responded, with 115 entries. All 40 artworks selected for this show are listed on the SAQA website. 

My Corner of the World (Canada) will debut in May 2016 at the Stratford Perth Museum in Stratford ON together with a parallel, international SAQA exhibition of the same name. The Canadian exhibition will then travel across the country and possibly to selected venues in the U.S. and overseas. 

Congratulations to all our members who answered the call for My Corner of the World (Canada). Here is a sneak peek at those entries that were selected.

Detail of Rusty Gate by Penny Berens

Rusty Gate
Penny Berens, of Granville Ferry NS
“An old rusty gate leans against the side of my house right by the back door. It welcomes every visitor and tells me I am home. This piece is that gate rusted onto cotton fabric and hand stitched with cotton and rayon thread.”

Detail of Fishing Weir in Moonlight by Sandra Betts

Fishing Weir in Moonlight
Sandra Betts, Saint John NB
“I wanted to express the serenity and beauty of New Brunswick, the Picture Province. This common sight along the Bay of Fundy is transformed into a thing of beauty by the moonlight.”

Detail of Laurentian Fall by Susan Lilley

Laurentian Fall 
Susan Lilley, Bridgewater NS
“I made Laurentian Fall after a Thanksgiving weekend at my family’s cottage. My challenge was to recreate the intoxicating glow of the sun shining through the brilliant yellows, oranges and reds of the sugar maple, so characteristic of the Laurentian Maple Forest in central Quebec.”

Detail of Into the Heart of the Birches by Holly McLean

Into the Heart of the Birches
Holly Mclean, Bathurst NB
“I draw solace from nature, especially on the trails that are near my home here in northern New Brunswick. I feel a connection to all trees and as I walk the trails, it calms me to breathe in their healing essence. In my region, pretty white birch tree stands are common, seen along trails and along highways and byways. The beauty and simple graphics of the white bark set against the ever changing colours of the seasons and weather, captivate and inspire me to create them in fibre.” 

Detail of At Anchor by Heather Loney

At Anchor
Heather Loney, Dartmouth NS
"I've spent many summers in Nova Scotia before moving here full time. All of the shoreline drives are special, but Peggy's Cove, symbolic of so many fishing communities is the most popular."

Detail of Fundy Flame Agate by Kate Madeloso

Fundy Flame Agate
Kate Madeloso, Wolfville NS
"You can pick amethyst off the shores of the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia. I was enthralled watching a presentation by Dave and Chris Sheppard on their rock hounding adventures, climbing the cliffs and scouring the beaches of Cape Split. With permission to use Chris's photos for inspiration, I endeavoured to recreate a slice of agate which was an exciting challenge to do in fibre, fabric, beads and thread."

Detail of You've got Mail by Susan Tilsley Manley

You’ve Got Mail
Susan Tilsley Manley, Westville NS
“You've Got Mail is part of a series about the accelerated corrosion of rural life in Nova Scotia. The disappearance of door to door mail delivery is another way our society is changing rapidly and not for the better. I'm a little surprised it got in as it is not the typical "love letter to Canada" but more a lament of loss. I suppose all the best love songs are on that theme.”

More information about venues and dates will be posted as it becomes available. Stay tuned!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

As we say goodbye to 2015 I'd like to wish all SAQA Atlantic members a happy holiday and productive new year. This is a time for reflection about the events of the past year. 2015 was a hallmark year for our region. It began with a retreat, co-chaired by me and Kate Madeloso. Then we moved on to a very successful regional show (which will continue into 2016) thanks to the hard work of curator Regina Marzlin. The year ended with planning for the travels of the SAQA trunk show, masterminded by Helene Blanchet, and preliminary planning for a retreat in October 2016. I am pleased that we now seem to have a plan for regular retreats and shows. That structure brings more value to your SAQA membership and should help us attract new recruits.

During my time as regional representative it has always been my intention to turn much of the region's business over to the members. I believe that people gain much more and grow as artists and members of their community through active participation. I am pleased to acknowledge the work of the following people who actively contributed their time and energy to our region in 2015.

Jennifer Scantlebury Vienneau - regional rep, blog, retreat, regional show

Kate Madeloso - retreat, regional show

ReBecca Paterson - retreat

Susan Tilsley Manley - retreat, regional trunk show, 2016 retreat

Regina Marzlin - regional show

Heather Jarmyn - regional show

Heather Loney - regional show

Helene Blanchet - regional show, SAQA trunk show

Susan Lilley - blog, 2016 retreat

Kathy Tidswell - blog

Holly McLean - blog

Linda Mackie Finley - 2016 retreat

In January the SAQA trunk show will start its journey through the region. Each of you who presents it to a guild or other group or drives it from place to place will be an active participant in spreading the word about art quilts. I thank you in advance for all that you will do.

2016 will bring exciting change to the region. I plan to step down as rep so that I can devote my energies to service on the SAQA Board. I am not going anywhere, though, and will always be available to listen and to help out. I am pleased to announce that, pending approval from SAQA, Regina Marzlin will be your next regional representative. She made a commitment to SAQA at a time when there was not much activity in our region and has been an important part of our growth and development. As a full-time artist she has a unique perspective on what SAQA can offer its members. Regina's term will begin in early summer. 

Here's to another amazing year of art quilts.


Chris Nielsen

December Blogwatch

Here's a quick review of what some SAQA Atlantic members are blogging about this month.

Winter Solstice

Penny Berens’ blog features a brief meditation on Winter Solstice, an art quilt she created last winter.

Winter Solstice by Penny Berens

Christmas Decorating and Sewing

Holly McLean muses about being creative with Christmas decorating, while at the same time keeping it simple.

A bird nest in the Christmas tree is said to be good luck.

Finding Light in Dark December

Regional SAQA rep Chris Nielsen’s blog has several postings this month. In her latest entry, Busiest Year, Chris muses about how her life has changed over the past year. In previous December 2015 entries, Chris tells us how she finds light in this darkest of seasons. Don’t miss the video she posted of Chiharu Shiota's fabulous installation at the Venice Bienale 2015!





Chris was recently elected to the SAQA Board for three years and is now actively seeking someone to take over the responsibilities of regional representative. Please consider this opportunity and give Chris a call to find out what the position entails.

Hope and Survival, The Halifax Explosion 1917 Commemoration Quilt Project

Update

Just over a year ago, Nova Scotia artist Laurie Swim undertook a monumental community art project to mark the upcoming centenary of the 1917 Halifax explosion. The fibre art piece, Hope and Survival, will honour the lives lost or dramatically changed by the explosion and celebrate the heroic efforts to assist survivors.

One panel from Laurie Swim's Hope and Survival project, commemorating the 1917 Halifax explosion.

On Sunday, December 6th, Laurie will be presenting an update on the Hope and Survival Project as part of the annual commemoration of the Halifax explosion, at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax. The event will include a display of the first twelve columns of the Scroll of Remembrance, one component of the overall project.

One small section of the Scroll of Remembrance, work in progress by Laurie Swim and volunteers.

The scroll, once completed, will list the names and ages of all 1,946 victims of the explosion. The names are beaded in braille in recognition of those blinded by the blast. Hung together, the single sheets of the scroll represent the windows where so many stood watching the collision of the two ships on that fateful day.

Names and ages of victims, beaded in braille by project participants. Laurie Swim

  

“Thanks to all of you who beaded the sheets, this part of the project is nearly completed. Without your enthusiastic participation, I don't think it would be nearly as far along in its progress as it is”  says artist Laurie Swim.

This year's commemorative event will include Laurie’s presentation about the project and a memorial concert with David Stone and friends.

The annual commemoration of the Halifax explosion takes place on Sunday, December 6th, 2015, from 1-3pm. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, 1675 Lower Water Street, Halifax, NS. Admission free.

Pricing your Art Quilts

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If you're agonizing about the price to charge for the quilts you're entering in My Corner of the World, here are a few resources to help you sort it out.

SAQA Resources

Methods of Pricing

A quick intro to two ways of pricing, by size or time+materials. Lists seven articles on pricing published over the years in SAQA journals, accessible online.

What Are You Really Earning? by Anne Copeland
An interesting table provides a clear picture of earnings per hour, based on selling price.

Pricing Your Artwork by Judith Trager
This article has a more flexible approach, stating that "Art has no fixed value." Thoughtful comments for beginners. Outlines her own, "spongy" approach to pricing.

Strategies for Pricing your Artwork by Elizabeth Van Schaick
Recommends calculating average labour time in selecting a value per square foot, thus integrating both approaches to pricing.

Other Resources

Question about Pricing and Selling your Quilts by Caryl Bryer Fallert
An interesting article on how to come up with your own price per square foot.

Pricing Art Work - The Fat and the Skinny by Sara Jo Renzulli
Thoughtful blog post about art pricing in general, by an established painter and needle felter.

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