Heather Jarmyn interview: From Modern to Art Quilts

Spooling Around by Heather Jarmyn, 2014,
w 56” x h 64”, block exchange with piecers
from Canada and US,
quilted by Krista Zaleski.

Prince Edward Island’s Heather Jarmyn creates for the joy of self-expression. Heather grew up in Southern Ontario, enjoying art classes and dabbling in different media. Her career followed a different path, however, and she now has considerable responsibility as a public servant. In spite of her demanding job, Heather finds time to create both art and modern quilts as well as to provide leadership in her local modern quilt scene. She is currently president of the very new Prince Edward Island Modern Quilt Guild, an organization that she helped launch in January of this year. Heather is also a collector of art and antique quilts.
 

Tell us about your quilt work.

Currently, my main focus is wall quilts. I make quilts for the joy of creating, both for my home and as gifts for family and friends. I’ve been very involved in the modern quilt movement, as a member of the Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild, as the PEI lead for the Maritime Modern Quilt Guild, and now leading the new guild on the Island. I’m drawn to the bright colours, flexibility and freshness of design in modern quilting. Modern wall quilts can be art quilts. Like art quilts, they can be abstract or representative and can use dense quilting or thread painting to convey movement.  

Descending into Gobblygook by Heather Jarmyn, 2015, w 32” x h 30”

Describe your journey towards becoming an artist who works with textiles. 

I learned to quilt while living in Nova Scotia, when I was in my 20s, and have made several quilts using traditional blocks and patterns. While working in Ottawa I took up modern quilting and was able to take classes from art quilters such as Elaine Quehl and Mary Pal.

I was recently delighted to learn that one of my modern quilts, Urban Pods, was juried into CQA’s National Juried Show. This is my second quilt juried into a CQA show. The first one, My Midnight Garden was an appliqué quilt of my own design.

But I’m not an artist in the sense that I create pieces for sale! I’m currently a full-time public servant with staff in five provinces. While it may evolve into something more than a hobby after I retire, for now, quilting is a creative outlet and means of relaxation. I try to spend at least 15 minutes a day on a quilt-related pursuit, whether it’s sewing, online reading or just fondling fabric!

My Midnight Garden by Heather Jarmyn, 2008, w 87” x h 86”, quilted by Cherry Tree Quilts 

Tell us about your process for creating. Where do you find your inspiration and how do you get from that to a final product?

I’m most creative in response to challenges, which provide me with freedom to experiment and broaden my horizons as a quilter. Photos or words/phrases often inspire me. The last challenge I completed had the word glitter in the title. It included a silver and gold print fabric that didn’t appeal to me, so I focused on how people are attracted to shiny things in today’s society, and our need to pause and to play. The result: a piece with the colour bars we used to see when the TV signal was down, together with the symbols we now recognize as meaning pause and play.

Pause and Play by Heather Jarmyn, 2015, w 60” x h 57”

Do you have a studio, or do you work wherever you can find a spot? 

I have a small sewing studio that was formerly a bedroom, with tables specifically for sewing and cutting. Not being the neatest of people, I like being able to walk away from a work in progress without having to clean up. Also, because it’s a small space, I can easily wheel my chair from ironing board to sewing machine to cutting table!  

What are you currently working on and why?

I just finished a piece that represents a slice of the earth in winter. I’ve always been fascinated at how pristine the snow is when it first lands, and how different it is after the wind and snow ploughs have acted on it. I wanted to show the transition of colour and structure I would find if I looked at a slice of that frozen ground. Using a gradation of solid fabrics, from white to earth brown, I played with curves, irregular edges and free motion quilting. This quilt was faced to float off the wall. 

Beneath the Snow by Heather Jarmyn, 2016, w 21" x h 35"

What (non-fibre) artists, either historic or contemporary, have inspired you and why?

I have enjoyed both the Group of Seven and the Impressionists, particularly for their use of colour. Also, the lines used by artists during the Art Deco period have inspired some of my modern works. 

What fibre artists are you currently interested in, and why?

I love the works of Mary Pal and Elaine Quehl. Mary Pal does portraits, particularly human faces, with cheesecloth. Elaine Quehl is known for her dyeing and stunning colour compositions. I’ve had the pleasure of taking classes from both these artists and have seen their work in person. I hope someday to add one of their pieces to my SAQA quilt collection. 

Tell us about your quilt collecting.

I have a small collection of art quilts on my wall, including work by artists Julie Haddrick and Martha Wolfe, purchased through SAQA's annual Benefit Auction, and a piece by Marcia Strong Middents, purchased through the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). I also treasure several antique quilts made by my grandmother in the 1930s and 1940s.

I bought my first SAQA auction quilt in 2010 and have since bought two more in support of the organization. There are so many to choose from, it’s been easy to find pieces that speak to me. In the weeks prior to the opening, I admire all the pieces, choose my favourite and set my clock, so I can place my bid the moment the bidding starts. I always have a second choice ready to bid on, in case my first bid is unsuccessful. I find it fascinating to see which pieces are sold first!

What are your goals for the coming year?

I’d like to make several small pieces for my home and to exhibit at local shows. And I’d love to have something ready for the 2017 SAQA Atlantic show, Transitions! Meanwhile, I’ll continue to be inspired by SAQA’s website, journal and travelling shows. In April I’ll be taking the current SAQA trunk show to PEI quilt guilds. One day, I would love to have a modern quilt juried into QuiltCon, the international show and conference for modern quilts. 

My Corner of the World Art Quilt Exhibition

Seven SAQA Atlantic members will be showing their work together with SAQA artists from Canada and beyond, at the upcoming My Corner of the World exhibition that will open in Stratford, Ontario. If you can't make it for the event, tell your friends!

Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford ON

May 21 to September 5, 2016

A Fall Day in Westport, Joan Reive, Belleville, Ontario

VERNISSAGE

Saturday May 21, 2016

1-3 pm

Canadian and international artists interpret their “corner of the world” in this colourful exhibition of exquisite art quilts.

This 80-piece show was developed in collaboration with SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates). A two-part exhibition, it consists 40 pieces from SAQA Canadian member artists, and 40 pieces from SAQA International member artists.

The artwork includes representational as well as abstract pieces, portraying a wide range of interpretations of the theme – from the geographical to the meta-physical.

The Opening Reception will be held on Saturday, May 21, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. We are pleased to welcome Incoming SAQA President Lisa Ellis, as well as other SAQA Representatives, who will offer opening remarks.

Our SAQA Artists who have work in the exhibitions are certainly encouraged to join in on the festivities, as are all of our Canadian SAQA members, family and friends who are able to be with us in Stratford for the Opening event.

Let's make celebrating this remarkable Exhibition a very special time to thank each of you who participated in the Call to Entry, and shared their beautiful work with the Juror and to enjoy the beauty of the art pieces as they begin their journey across Canada and beyond.

Looking forward to seeing many of you in May!

Stratford Perth Museum would like to thank Studio Art Quilt Associates for their collaboration and support in this project.

Originally posted by Bethany Garner, Exhibition Coordinator.

New Website for Anne Morrell Robinson

 

Nova Scotia quilt and fibre artist Anne Morrell Robinson is an award-winning quilter who has almost 600 quilts to her credit. Anne also makes hooked rugs, art dolls and jewelry from her fabulous studio in the Margaree Valley of Cape Breton Island. 

If you can't drop by for a visit, have a look at Anne's new website, Kingross Quilts and Fibre Arts.

We asked Anne to tell us about her new website:

Morrell Robinson: This is my first "professional " web site. Customers always ask about a web site and while the first one I had did the job it wasn't really reflecting what I currently need. I selected a local web designer who I have worked with before. Because he's an artist as well as a web designer, I knew he could lend an artist's eye to the project as well as the technical skills. My aim was to keep it simple and use the "one picture is worth a 1000 words" approach.

Read more about Anne Morrell Robinson here.

Structures Hits Yarmouth!

SAQA Atlantic and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Yarmouth Branch, invite you to the Structures exhibition opening, 2:00 pm Saturday March 12, 2016.

Yarmouth is the final stop on the year-long tour of SAQA Atlantic's Structures textile art exhibition. If you haven't had an opportunity to see it yet, plan a trip to Yarmouth soon. The exhibition, consisting of 25 amazing art quilts by 19 Atlantic artists, will be on display in Yarmouth NS, until April 30, 2016.

Where: Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Yarmouth Branch, 
             341 Main Street, Yarmouth, NS. 
When: Saturday, March 12 until April 30, 2016.
            Wednesday - Friday: 8:30am - 4:30pm
            Saturday - Sunday: 11:30am - 4:30pm
Opening reception: 2:00 pm, Saturday, March 12, 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, the Inverness County Centre for the Arts, in Inverness NS, and the Saint John Art's Centre in New Brunswick. The show has been well received at every stop on the tour. Don't miss it!

Regina Marzlin interview: Textile collages, pieced, layered and stitched

African Sun, by Regina Marzlin, 2014, 12" x 12"

Nova Scotia artist Regina Marzlin creates colourful, often abstract, textile collages using hand-dyed fabrics that she alters using a variety of surface design techniques. The various textures, the interplay of colours, the build-up of layers and the addition of stitch are important design components in her work.

Regina discovered quilting soon after she immigrated to Canada from Germany in 2003. She was fascinated by the craft and quickly moved from making traditional quilts to designing her own quilted art pieces. In 2009 Regina earned a Level 2 Certificate in Design and Craft from City and Guilds of London, with a focus on Patchwork and Quilting. For the past ten years she has worked on developing, showing and marketing her artwork, as well as promoting textile arts in a variety of ways. She is about to assume the role of regional representative for SAQA Atlantic Canada. 

As a fulltime artist, mother and active SAQA volunteer, Regina graciously gave us some of her precious time to participate in SAQA Atlantic’s new artist interview series.

Becoming An Artist

Describe your journey to becoming an artist who works with textiles.

When I saw my first quilts in a Calgary quilt shop, I was immediately captivated. Though I had never learned to sew, I soon taught myself to make a quilt using books from the public library. Creating with textiles appealed to me as a wonderful form of artistic expression and after making a few traditional quilts, I began making my own designs. 

In 2005, I began to study with Linda and Laura Kemshall of Design Matters (UK), towards City and Guilds certification. The program was a tremendous learning experience and has had a major influence on my work. I had my first sales in a gallery in 2007, just four years after I started working in textiles.


Do you engage in other artistic endeavours?

I’ve worked with ceramics and paper, mostly making cards, with stamping, painting, layering. I also occasionally do drawing exercises as a way of improving my drawing skills. 


What specific artists, either historic or contemporary, have influenced your work?  

Currently, I'm interested in the abstract paintings of the Canadian artist Melanie Authier. She creates deep visual spaces that are non-representational and invite your imagination to roam. Among other contemporary artists, I love the works of Debbie Lyddon, Gerhard Richter and Leya Evelyn. I also admire the work of historic artists Paul Klee, Franz Marc, Wassili Kandinski and Sonia Delaunay.


What fibre artists are you currently interested in? 

Linda Colsh,  Michael James (both because of their masterful use of photographic imagery on fabric), Mirjam Pet-Jacobs ( I love her simple but powerful compositions), Dorothy Caldwell (for her impressive use of marks on a very large scale), Charlotte Yde, Deirdre Adams.

Lost Words, by Regina Marzlin, 2015, 10" x 10"

Working Directly and Intuitively with Textiles

Tell us about your process for creating. Where do you find your inspiration and how do you get from that to a final product?

I find my inspiration in nature, architecture, geometry, history and science. I often start with a photograph, sometimes altering it digitally and printing onto fabric, but more often just using it for inspiration. I rarely start a project with sketches or a set plan. Instead, I work directly and intuitively with textiles, Often, my starting point is textile surface design, making stamps and masks, painting on fabric, etc. I then play with repetition and varied scale of motifs. Hand and machine stitching complete the artwork.

Autumn Colours, by Regina Marzlin, 2010, cover artwork for the literary magazine "The Antigonish Review" Autumn 2013

Do you have a studio, or do you work wherever you can?

My studio is a very small room (about 90 sq ft) on the main floor of our house, with two windows that make it bright and provide a view. It has French doors that allow me to feel connected to the family, even when the doors are closed.

Though the room is smaller than I wish for, I make it work. It’s nice to have a space where the sewing machine can be permanently set up. There’s a small cutting table above my grandmother's chest of drawers, where I keep much of my fabric. There’s also a bookshelf and many small storage containers. I set up a moveable design wall in the living room when I need it, and I use other rooms in the house for additional storage. It’s a bit of a challenge to remember where everything’s kept!

What are you currently working on and why?

I just finished a piece that will be part of a local art exhibition about drawing. Using my favourite monoprint technique, I did an expressive drawing of a bird directly onto fabric and the results are quite exciting! I’m looking forward to delving deeper into that technique.  

A Rare Bird, by Regina Marzlin, 2016, 12" x 12"

The Business of Art

What are your goals for the coming year?

I’ll soon be taking over the role of SAQA representative for Atlantic Canada, so I’ll become more engaged in the business of promoting textile art and working for our local SAQA chapter. I’ll also continue creating a cohesive body of my own artwork. At the same time, I will no doubt create some new work in response to specific calls for entry. When the theme speaks to me, I enjoy the challenge of working towards a deadline on a given theme for a group exhibition. 

Barn Boards, by Regina Marzlin, 2014, w 32" x h 18", 1st prize in the Focus on Fibre Art exhibition "Prairies", 2014

Do you teach, lecture, curate or have a business of your artwork?

I consider myself a full time artist. Over the past two years, I’ve gained valuable experience as curator of the SAQA Atlantic regional exhibition, Structures. The show is travelling to five galleries across three provinces, requiring a lot of coordination. I’ve also written a few exhibition reviews for magazines such as the SAQA Journal and Arts Nova Scotia. I occasionally give trunk shows for quilt guilds across the province.

How do you show and sell your quilts? Where can your work be seen?

Most of my sales are from seasonal galleries and nearby arts and crafts fairs. I exhibit my work in group exhibitions around Nova Scotia and occasionally in national and international shows. My work is in private collections in Canada, Europe and the United States. One of my commission pieces (My Favourite Book) hangs in the children’s room of the Antigonish Town and County library. 

My Favourite Book, by Regina Marzlin, 2011, collaboration with young artists 

My scheduled showings for 2016: 

February 2 - 27

ASAP Drawings, Antigonish Town and County Library, Antigonish, NS

January 15 – March 4

Structures, The Frazee Gallery of the Saint John Art Centre, Saint John NB (juried)

March 15-April 30

Structures, Art Gallery of NS Yarmouth Branch (juried)

To learn more about Regina and her artwork, please visit her website at reginamarzlin.com.

Best Before February 29th

Back in 2010, the online subscription program The Quilt Show honoured Yvonne Porcella as their annual Quilt Legend. This one-hour episode begins with a delightful, up-close and personal look at Ms Porcella's studio and her amazing art quilts and wearables. Then she puts on her "teacher" hat to demonstrate her techniques for creating fantasy faces and for taming various types of silk.

For those who would like to learn more about this amazing woman, The Quilt Show has made their 2010 Quilt Legend episode, honouring Yvonne, available for free viewing, but only until February 29th. 

To access the episode, click here, then scroll down to episode #713.

Celebrating Yvonne Porcella

Yvonne Porcella, founder of SAQA, died on February 12, 2016.

Ms Porcella was a pioneer and legend in the art quilt world, an inspiration to many. She had a vision, to create a network of quilt artists who would pool their resources in order to support and expand the reach of quilt art. She turned her vision into reality when in 1989, 50 U.S. artists united to form Studio Art Quilt Associates. SAQA has since grown to include over 3500 members from around the world.


If you aren't familiar with Yvonne Porcella's vibrant artwork, take 10 minutes to view Bold Strokes, a retrospective of her creations.




Ms Porcella was keynote speaker at the 25th Anniversary SAQA conference. Her 45-minute address, History of the Development of the Art Quilt Movement: Early Exhibits and Studio Art Quilt Associates, will be of interest to all artists who work in textiles.  



To honour her legacy and to continue her vision, SAQA has established the Yvonne Porcella Memorial Fund for Regional Development.

Yvonne Porcella's vision and energy will be missed by many but will live on in the work of SAQA and its members.