Member News - Ann Brauer

Member, Ann Brauer, was chosen out of a field of 150 applicants to be one of 89 artists in attendance at the Berkshire Crafts Fair, an annual juried arts show. Held yearly, the show runs from August 12 through August 14, 2016. Drawing artists from California to Maine, one hallmark of the show is it's breadth of master artisans showing a wide array of contemporary and traditional craft. Funds, raised from the ticket sales ($8 per person) at the Berkshire Craft Fair, benefit the Monument Mountain Regional High School.

The 43rd annual Berkshire Crafts Fair will take place August 12, 13 and 14, 2016 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Monument Mountain Regional High School, at 600 Stockbridge Rd., in Great Barrington, MA.

Member News - Dawn Allen

Irma and Doris Go Wine Tasting
Black Birch Vineyard
August 5 to September 25, 2016

“Irma and Doris Go Wine Tasting” is a Fabric Art Exhibit featuring artist Dawn Allen. Dawn recently discussed her choice of names for her work in her blog, "As I was feeding my donkeys and horse, I was reflecting on how naming art pieces and naming animals is a similar process and an honor. That is when it came to me to name my flowers with human names rather that title them!" Sharing the name of the exhibit, the piece below is 6 feet tall and each of the leaves are named separately and will be sold separately.

Irma and Doris Go Wine Tasting

"Irma and Doris Go Wine Tasting" is a veritable garden of three-dimensional fabric flowers and foliage. You’ll want to get “up close and personal” to fully appreciate and enjoy the size, intricacies of beads and thread, and vibrancy of color in all of Dawn's creations. The cotton sateen fabrics themselves feature Dawn’s original designs—bright graphic patterns created from her own photographs of flowers and nature. Dawn’s exclusive hidden-wire technique brings each piece to life in three dimensions. Do not miss this glorious garden!

Dawn Allen started quilting and beading when she was a child. She loves creating three-dimensional fabric art—“happy art”—that brings color, whimsy, and beauty into any space. Her work has recently been exhibited at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA and at Highfield Hall and Gardens in Falmouth, MA. Her home studio is in Westfield, MA.

The exhibit can be viewed at Black Birch Vineyard, 155 Glendale Rd, Southampton, MA from August 5 to September 25, 2016. Hours at the vineyard are 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The Artist’s Reception will be held on Friday, August 5th from  6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.

Visit Dawn’s website at dawnallen.net.

Member News - Nancy Donovan

Upper East Side Flower Shop

One of our newest members, Nancy Donovan, has had her quilt, Upper East Side Flower Shop accepted for the exhibit "In Full Bloom" at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas this fall. International Quilt Festival is scheduled this year for November 3  through November 6, 2016. "In Full Bloom" is one of the many shows within the big show and will be on display throughout the festival. Go to IQF to find out more information about the festival.

Regional Exhibition - Currents

Currents
At the Brush Art Gallery & Studios
August 7 through September 18, 2016

Magical Moment by Tricia Purrington Deck

Water: that transparent fluid that falls from the sky and makes up our streams, lakes and oceans and covers 71% of the earth’s surface. It is an essential component for all life forms on earth and plays a significant role in our lives every day, providing us with drinking and cooking water, agricultural irrigation and water to wash ourselves and clothing. Rivers and oceans provide us a way to transport items all over the world, generate power using hydroelectricity and water and steam are used as a way to provide cooling and heating as well as a way to extinguish fire.

Deep Sea Currents by Rosemary Hoffenberg





While it can also be a source of recreational pursuits such as swimming, boating, surfing, fishing, ice skating and skiing, it can also be a powerful source of destruction causing landslides, floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, avalanches and cyclones. Just as too much of it can be destructive, so can too little, causing droughts that spark wildfires and poor crop growing conditions which impact food supply.

April Showers by Dawn Allen

Currents will premier at the Brush Art Gallery & Studios in Lowell, MA on August 7 and will be on view through September 18, 2016. The Artist's Reception will be held on Sunday, August 7 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The Brush is located at 256 Market St, Lowell MA. For more information or for directions call (978) 459-7819.

Cover Currents Catalog

The Currents Catalog is now available for sale on Amazon.com or through the CreateSpace Store. Rather than using a printing service and committing to purchasing a large number of catalogs we elected to use Amazon.com self publishing service. This helps keep the cost of the catalogs low at $15.00 a copy plus shipping. It is a full color catalog, size 8" x 10". To order just use the links above. 

Exhibition News - NE Quilt Museum

CONFLUENCE
Water's Beauty, Use and Misuse

July 14 through October 16, 2016

Aquifer by Carol Nilsen

CONFLUENCE is an exhibition that was conceived by California artists, Inga Gorsvans-Buell and Deborah Weir, in response to two issues of great importance to them both: water and art. It is a bold exhibition of thematically cohesive artwork displaying a wide range of quilting techniques. The goal of the exhibition is to expose viewers to a colorful and sophisticated experience with a wide array of quilts on the topic of water.  The artists examine oceans and rivers, creatures who inhabit the seas, life in coastal regions, man-made piers and bridges, and the pollution we discard into them. Intellectually compelling, visually beautiful, and intriguingly varied, this exhibition is particularly relevant at this time of rapid global changes. 

Gyre 11 by Deborah Weir

The exhibition is showing locally at the New England Quilt Museum from July 14 through October 16, 2016. The Curator's Reception and Gallery Talk with quilt artist and Co-Curator, Deborah Weir will be held on Saturday, October 15 at 11:00 am. The program is free for members and non-members may attend for the price of admission. The NEQM is located at 18 Shattuck St, Lowell, MA.