20 metres!!!!!! - Susan Tilsley Manley (Durham, NS)

What's on your wall?
Spousal support.
I have either educated or infected my beloved John.
I'm not always sure which.
He brought home two side rails from a baby crib that he saw in someone's trash at the side of the road. Proudly, he told me that he passed them, stopped short, backed up, and threw them into his truck. "I thought you could hang stuff from them."
Yup.
Then he figured out how to hang them on my studio wall so I could reach them, remove them if necessary, and save space. Two bike brackets were purchased at the DOLLAR STORE, a little cursing and a power driver later, I have the ultimate storage for my ironed, dyed and printed fabrics.
Then, of course, I had to do some dyeing to fill them. Twenty metres later, I am thrilled.
And I think I'll chose "educated".
Thanks John.

Trunk show goes on the road

by Chris Nielsen, Head of St. Margaret's Bay, Nova Scotia

I took the trunk show out for its first 'visit' today. I arranged to attend a weekly meeting of a group called the Community Stitchers. There were 57 people present this morning. I gave a brief presentation about the evolution of quilts from utilitarian item to artwork and talked about the definition of an art quilt. Then I highlighted a few of the pieces in the trunk show to illustrate the diversity of techniques and approaches.When the group approached the tables where the show was displayed I stood and listened and answered questions.

Here's what I learned:

This group was particularly enchanted by the pieces that involved handwork.

Shiny things grab everyone's attention.

Many people were interested in exploring/playing a little with the concept of art quilts but wanted instruction. I had many inquiries about classes and workshops.

I also brought along three of my poem series and one unrelated piece in progress. I left them on tables at the back of the room so that people could see a larger implementation of the same techniques. They attracted a lot of interest and one brought tears to the eyes of the organizer of the group. She began to tell me stories about an image related to her father. I doubt that she will explore art quilts but I encouraged her to see if she could find a way to express what she was feeling using the skills and materials with which she is familiar.

It was interesting to see the trunk show through the eyes of people who were completely new to what we do. It raises questions for me about how we can, as a group or as individuals, help novices come to the point where they could call themselves art quilters.

By the way, I think at least one person present will become a SAQA member within the next year. Another might follow her lead.

The trunk show will be with me for another week. I have dates to take it to a couple of out-of-the-box places. On the theory that people often won't go to an art gallery, I am bringing the art to them.

Workshop - Laurie Swim, Nova Scotia

The Fall Colours Quilt Cruise led by Susan Purney Mark and Cathy Miller made a stop in Halifax, Nova Scotia where quilters took part in a landscape workshop hosted by Laurie Swim.

Current Work - Deb Plestid, Nova Scotia

Winter at Blamoral Mills

What’s on your wall? Chris Nielsen

Nova Scotia SAQA member, Chris Nielsen shares a piece she is currently working on.

Says Chris, "This isn't actually on my wall. It is a partially done mock-up in Photoshop of the background for a piece tentatively titled Trapped: Paradise or Prison. I constructed the NS Tartan and once I am happy with a layout I will cut it up, put it back together, add three organza "patches" and stretch it on canvas. After that's done I can build the actual work."

Survey article on art quilts

The magazine Art and Antiques recently published a long article about art quilts. The magazine serves people who are actively involved in the international art market and the article (which you can find here) is an important step in educating viewers about the potential of fibre art.

Show Announcement - ReBecca Paterson, Sussex, NB

Newest SAQA Atlantic member, ReBecca Paterson is one of nine fibre artists taking part in a collaborative show, “ Fibre Art and New Brunswick Artists Who Make It”, an exhibition of inspired fibre art at Hooper Studios Gallery, 177 Kennebecasis River Road, Hampton, NB.

The show opens Sunday, September 22nd between 2 pm and 5 pm and continues until Saturday, October 26th.