Saturday, December 23, 2017

Textile Posters Exhibit

Textile Posters Exhibit

Travel Muse: Wanderlust

 and Travel Muse: Endurance

by Mary-Ellen Latino



I have been selected by SAQA to exhibit 2 pieces in the “Textile Posters Exhibit”: Travel Muse: Wanderlust and Travel Muse: Endurance, International Quilt Festival, Houston, Texas, 11/2-11/5/17 and International Quilt Festival, Chicago, Illinois in 2018.


Travel Muse: Wanderlust
by Mary-Ellen Latino


Travel Muse: Wanderlust (detail)
by Mary-Ellen Latino

Travel Muse: Endurance
by Mary-Ellen Latino
Travel Muse: Endurance (detail)
by Mary-Ellen Latino

























































































































































Here are parts of my artist statements for Wanderlust & Endurance:

Travel intoxicates my senses and fuels my soul. I can never get enough. I muse over what art I might create once I return home. The world is my oyster and there are still so many wondrous experiences to fill me up until my cup runneth over. “I have miles to go before I sleep, miles to go before I sleep”. (Robert Frost) Life is a series of convoluted circles, spirals, a roller coaster full of ups and downs, sometimes euphoria, at times hardship and despair. Trees are a metaphor for life: relentless strength, resiliency, endurance. How we choose to handle the day-to-day, how we embrace the limitless plethora of opportunities and challenges is up to us. I have faith that we can write our own destiny. Like the trees we get shaped by our environment and must beware of being swept away by the winds of conflict, stress and life provoking change.

Mary-Ellen Latino
www.highinfiberart.com
melsrun2000@gmail.com

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Congratulations to Heidi Proffetty!


Heidi won two ribbons at the Houston International Quilt Festival 2017 Show.  Her piece "Blossomed" took second place in the Art-People, Portraits and Figures Category.  Her piece "Daddy, Hold My Hand" took third place in the same category.  Both works of art utilize Heidi's own Mozaic Art Quilt technique.



"Blossomed" by Heidi M. Proffetty
Won 2nd Place


"Daddy, Hold My Hand" by Heidi M. Proffetty
Won 3rd Place



To see more of Heidi's work view her website at  www.heidiproffetty.com.
  To contact Heidi, email her at heidi@heidiproffetty.com. 

Friday, October 27, 2017

October 21, 2017 MA/RI Regional Meeting

October 21, 2017 MA/RI Regional Meeting

Held at Allison Wilbur's Studio in Bristol, MA

Topic of Discussion:  Home Studio vs Remote Studio - Pros and Cons


Fifteen members attended a regional meeting held at Allison Wilbur's sunny studio in Bristol, MA.  Located in the classroom of an old decommissioned school, the large space holds Allison's long arm, examples of Allison's artwork, books, supplies, and places to sit and enjoy the inspiration of a dedicated art space.  Attendees enjoyed a lengthy discussion regarding the home art studio versus the remote art studio.  Members shared their experiences with both.  Practical setup and organization of the studio was also addressed.  Following lunch and a short business meeting, show and tell was held.  A review of the "Explorations" call for entry helped the attendees understand in greater depth the details.











The next MA/RI regional meeting will be held March 24, 2018 at Franklin Mill Store in Franklin, MA from 10 am to 2 pm.  The topic will be "Exhibiting Your Work and the Jurying Process".  A mock jury will be held to acquaint attendees with the details involved in choosing artwork for an exhibit.

Please email Margaret at mamcgrath27@gmail.com if you have any news or information on an exhibit that you would like to share in this blog.  Profiles of individual members are always welcome!

Thursday, October 19, 2017

NEW MA/RI REGIONAL TRUNK SHOW ARTWORK

NEW MA/RI REGIONAL

TRUNK SHOW ARTWORK


The following pieces have been recently added to our Trunk Show by Suzanne Munroe and Janice M. Jones.  Enjoy!





"Eve's Sister" by Suzanne Munroe

"






"City Cycling III" by Janice M. Jones


Monday, October 16, 2017

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

CHANGE OF LOCATION

OF OCTOBER 21, 2017 MEETING


Unfortunately there will be change to the meeting on October 21st. The venue has been changed from Cheryl Resendez’s studio to Allison Wilbur’s studio in Bristol, RI. Cheryl Resendez’s husband, who has Parkinson’s, seems to have entered a new stage and needs more care in the day than previously. She regrets the change in plan and hopes you will all understand. We assured Cheryl that many of us have been in the role of caregiver for loved ones and so understand that unexpected changes happen.

So please note the change in meeting place: October 21st from 10:00 - 2:00 at Allison Wilbur’s studio in Bristol, RI. The address is 235 High Street, Studio #3. The name of the building is the Reynolds Art and Wellness Center. It is a large red brick building. Parking is available on the street or in the parking lot next to the building.  We will still be having our talk about studio set up and the advantages/disadvantages of a studio away from home. Allison will also do a demo of long arm quilting.  Please bring your lunch and Show and Tell.

Please talk this change up with your fellow SAQA member friends so we can be sure everyone gets the word! If you have any questions. please email Allison or Margaret.

Thank you for your understanding,

Allison and Margaret

Allison  Wilbur
MA/RI Regional Representative
Studio Art Quilt Associates
www.saqa.com
allisonquilt@me.com
Tel: 401 316-6410

Margaret McGrath
Co-Rep MA/RI Region
Studio Art Quilt Associates
saqa.com
mamcgrath27@gmail.com
774-571-3722


Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Member Profile: Margaret McGrath

MA/RI REGIONAL MEMBER PROFILE:

Margaret McGrath

Co-Rep MA/RI Region






In the past this blog featured profiles of quilt artists, artist news, and artists in the studio.  We would like to feature more of these types of stories.  Since I am relatively new to this region, as well as to my regional co-rep position, I thought I would start off with a profile of myself, both to tell you a little bit about me, and to get the ball rolling on featuring more quilt artists.  If you have never been featured before on this blog, I encourage you to write about yourself and get your name out there.  We have a series of questions that you can choose from to stimulate the conversation about you.  If you have news, won a recognition, or published in a magazine we would love to hear about it, and to share the news with other regional artists.  A blog post about your studio would also be welcome.  Please contact me at mamcgrath27@gmail.com to become a contributor to this blog.  My "interview" follows.



WHEN DID YOU START MAKING ART QUILTS?

I started making art quilts in 2000, the year I took a comprehensive all summer course in quilt making.   As part of the certificate issued by the store, I was required to design and make a traditional quilt, or a series of art quilts.  I created five small art quilts, which were submitted to the instructors to critique.  My work was later professionally photographed and featured in the yearly charity quilt show.  I was so hooked.  After 911, I sewed continuously to cope with my anxiety, and as a result was quickly able to experience many different styles of quilting. Over time art quilts became my passion, even before I became a decent traditional quilter.  Through classes and workshops I was able discover my style and pursue it.

WHAT TYPE OF WORK DO YOU DO?  ABSTRACT, REALIST, REPRESENTATIONAL?  WHAT STYLES OR TECHNIQUES DO YOU USE?

My current style is more abstract, combining the traditional log cabin block with an unusual twist and unusual materials.  It also has a slight geometric feel to it. Although I have used all types of commercial and hand dyed fabric, including batiks. I am currently working in dupioni and other silk fabrics. Working with silk is a little bit more work, having to fuse the fabric to fusible interfacing to stabilize it.  The silks have an organic quality to them that I love.  The more colors I can get, the better the experience it is for me. Vibrant color is important in the pieces that I create. I use my colors like fabric paint, cutting the silk into strips, which I then arrange using the log cabin block, or a variation of it.  I use deep reds, blues, greens, purples, yellow, orange.  Then throw in a little silver and gold. I have been using machine and hand quilting and small embellishments such as beads, buttons, and embroidery thread in my pieces. In the past I have done whimsical, abstract landscapes, and would like to continue doing them in the future.

Tirade of Pain (2013) (c)
Margaret McGrath


HOW DID YOU LEARN THE TECHNIQUES THAT YOU USE?

After completing the quilting coursework in 2000, I took every class that I could squeeze into my life at the time.  I have also attended as many art quilt workshops that I could.  The Houston International Quilt Festival allowed me to take many classes, while we were living there.  I still attend the festival every year.  Some of my instructors of note are Ruth B. McDowell, Caryl Bryer Fallert, Gabrielle Swain, Cynthia England, Rayna Gillman, Ricky Tims, Hollis Chatelaine, Libby Lehman, Charlotte Warr Anderson.  Each instructor brought me along a little further, adding a little something to my toolbox, giving me an alternate point of view.  While I don't try to emulate any of them, each inspired me to do my own work. I continue to read a lot of books (you don't need to know how many I own!).  Currently,  I take online classes, most recently classes in free motion quilting, embroidery, and embellishment.  I am always looking for things to try.  It never gets boring.

DO YOU WORK ON A SINGLE PROJECT AT A TIME OR DO YOU WORK ON MULTIPLE PIECES AT ONCE?

I tend to work on several pieces at once.  My current project inspires the next, and the next, and before you know it there are several pieces in progress.  This is how I came to work in a series.  I need to discipline myself into finishing more of the pieces.  It is so hard to pronounce something is done!  It is like losing a friend.

WHAT ARE YOUR SOURCES OF INSPIRATION?

I tend to find inspiration from the work of other art quilters, from art work of other media such as painting, drawing, and fine craft.  A great source of inspiration is in the emotion of events, of people I know or read about.  Sometimes ideas come to me from photos taken on vacation, and types of architecture or urban landscapes.  Inspiration is everywhere, if you look for it.

WHAT IS YOUR STUDIO LIKE AND WHEN DO YOU LIKE TO WORK?

My studio is in a spare bedroom of my home.  I work mostly on my Janome 7700 and Janome 6600, and I have a Brother 1500 that I take to classes and retreats.  My newest machine is an APQS George, which has enabled me to concentrate on improving my free motion quilting.  I am happy with my progress, but I have so much to learn.  There is a great deal of stuff packed into my studio:  two sewing machines, a cutting table, ironing board, a large wall of storage shelves for my books and embellishments, metal basket drawers for fabric storage, and a tall chest of plastic drawers for thread storage. Being a morning person,  I like to work in the mornings, and will often continue into the afternoon if I am on a roll.  I try to take weekends off, but I will sneak into the studio if a current project is calling out to me.  Photos of my studio follow.









Sunday, October 8, 2017

SAQA MA/RI REGIONAL MEETING
PRO CHEM & DYE
SEPTEMBER 23, 2017


On Saturday, September 23rd, twenty-two members of the MA/RI Region of SAQA enjoyed a two hour lecture and demonstration from Vicki Jensen at Pro Chemical & Dye in Fall River, Massachusetts.











Following the lecture some members chose to experiment with materials that Vicki provided.










Following the demonstration and experiment time, several members shared their current work through Show and Tell.  A brief business meeting followed.

The next meeting is a Studio Tour with Cheryl Rezendes on Saturday, October 21, 2017 in Bernardston, MA from 10 am to 2 pm.  Check the newsletter for exact address and directions (www.cherylrezendes.com).  We hope to see you there!

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Quilts=Art=Quilts

Registration from June 10, 2017 to July 22, 2017Exhibition Dates:Artist Reception & Awards: Saturday, October 28, 4-6pm
Exhibit Dates: October 28, 2017-January 7, 2018
Quilts=Art=Quilts is an international juried quilt exhibition at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, New York.  The Art Center has been a longstanding proponent of quilts as a visual arts medium and has been presenting quilts in a gallery setting since 1981.   The Art Center is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.
Jurors select quilts based on overall quality of design, visual impact and originality.  Prizes are awarded, including $1,000 for Best of Show.
The opening weekend of the exhibit will include an Artist Reception and Awards Presentation, workshops, and a Quilter’s Brunch.
All entries must be made online through this website registration process.  
The entry fee for current members of the Schweinfurth Art Center is $30.  The fee for non-members is $35.   If you are unsure of your membership status at the Art Center, please call us at 315.255-1553 or email us (info@schweinfurthartcenter.org) before beginning the application process.


For More information visit the Call for Entry

Wednesday, May 17, 2017


The Benefit Auction Deadline is June 1st!  Please consider participating in this great event, thank you!
     
SAQA is now accepting quilts for the 2017 Benefit Auction
How to Donate a Quilt to the Auction »
How the Benefit Auction Works »
Be part of SAQA’s most-anticipated fund-raising event! Donate a 12 x 12-inch art quilt to our 2017 Benefit Auction to support our exhibition and outreach programs. Last year, the auction raised almost $80,000. Help us do it again!
The 2017 Benefit Auction will take place online from September 15 through October 8.
Please email auction@saqa.com if you have any questions. 

Tuesday, May 9, 2017



Andrea Brokenshire class at ProChem
“Painted Silk Appliqué on a Confetti Background"
July 10-14, 2017

If you noticed Andrea Brokenshire’s Rhodedendron quilt at the MQX show this year or her passion flower last year you might be interested in taking a workshop with her.  

Award winning artist Andrea Brokenshire will guide you through the process of painting your personal floral image on silk.  You will learn how to prepare the silk for painting and then transfer your design. The majority of the week will be spent painting your floral image, after a discussion on the basics of color theory and how to mix colors using a CMY color wheel. Andrea will do a demonstration on making the confetti background, in addition to finishing the edges of the appliqué to prepare it for the confetti background. There will also be a group discussion on how to machine quilt your flowers.

Complete information about the workshop is available by clicking this link:
 and take a look at her website




Thursday, April 27, 2017

SAQA MA/RI Newsletter coming out soon!

Our monthly newsletter comes out the first week of May. Please send any announcements of Calls for Entry, Exhibitions, Opening receptions, etc. connected to Art Quilting to Allison Wilbur at allisonquilt@me.com.

Monday, April 10, 2017



Contemporary Craft
June 16-July 21, 2017
Juror: Lindsay MiÅ›, CraftBoston Director
Entry Deadline: April 21, 11:59pm
Entry Fee: $30 for 1-3 submissions, $45 for 4-6


The Brookline Arts Center invites New England-based artists to submit work for an exhibition of contemporary craft. Since the 1800s, New England has long been at the center of American craft from silversmithing to woodwork to textiles. In recent years, the craft movement has defied boundaries and gained recognition as an art form in its own right. What defines studio craft today? How does it navigate between function and fine art?

Eligibility
All artists residing in New England (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island) are eligible to submit work. All applications must be entered online through the BAC's submission form.

Artwork Requirements
  • All media welcome.
  • Artwork must have been created within the last five years.
  • All submitted work must be original.
  • Work must be available for exhibition dates.
  • Maximum size 2D: up to 84" in either dimension.
  • Maximum size 3D: combined dimensions must not exceed a total of 144 inches (height+width+depth), total weight must not exceed 100lbs.
  • Video work: If accepted, the artist is responsible for providing all necessary viewing equipment.
Submission Requirements
  • Submit all application materials electronically at http://www.brooklineartscenter.com/gallery/ContemporaryCraftCallForArt by midnight on April 21. Only applications submitted online will be accepted. *For submission assistance, please call 617-566-5715, or email office@brooklineartscenter.com.
  • Artists may submit up to six works. One jpg per submission. Images MUST be in jpg format, high quality, 1 MB size max. All work must be accompanied by title, materials, dimensions and year of completion (fill out on submission form).
  • Format for image files: Lastname_Firstname_1, Lastname_Firstname_2, etc.
  • Artists must also submit an artist statement and resume. Files must be in pdf format.
  • All work must be original. By completing the application, artist agrees that he/she is responsible for the creation of submitted works.
  • Submissions without payment of entry fee will not be considered.

Notification
Artists will be notified of their submission status via e-mail by 5:00pm on Friday, May 5, 2017. If your work is accepted, it must arrive presentation ready (with appropriate installation materials) by 5:00pm on Friday, June 9, 2017. Shipped work must be received in reusable wrapping with check or prepaid label for return shipping. Work must remain on exhibit through Friday, July 21, 2017.
More Information

Thank you!
Meghan Missett
Communications Coordinator

Brookline Arts Center
86 Monmouth Street
Brookline, MA 02446
617-566-5715



Quilt Class with Wen Redmond
Saturday April 29, 2017 from 10am-4pm

Join fiber artist Wen Redmond for an all-day quilt class to create your own mixed media/collage/photo transfer! Combine your black and white photograph with an easy collage technique. Using a paper-backed fusible to create a collage substrate, you’ll experience collage, transfer, and finishing techniques. 

The class fee is $75, and an additional fee of $10 covers a kit including a Printed Inkjet Black and White photo, Gel Medium, Paper Backed Fusible, and Finishing Varnish. Note: If you prefer, email a black and white picture file to Wen at least two weeks before class, with transfer image in subject line.

Student quilts will be exhibited in the Member’s Gallery with Contemporary Art Quilts 2017: A Juried Exhibition in the Parker Gallery from August 5 to September 1, 2017.

Thursday, April 6, 2017


“Because”
Motherbrook Arts & Community Center, 125 High Street, Dedham, MA www.motherbrookarts.org.
March 6 to April 30, Tuesday through  Saturday, noon to 4
SAQA members will be part of a quilt exhibit titled “Because.” Artists included are Judy Becker, Ann Brauer, Nancy Crasco, Michele David Bea Grayson, Carol Anne Grotrian, Mary Ellen Latino, Amy Ropple, Ethel Shulam and Iris Sonnenschein.  Because is an art quilt exhibit featuring ten quilters, many of whom are nationally known and three of whom are part of a 30-year retrospective currently hanging at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell, MA. Each quilter has her own approach, and the hanging quilts feature a wide range of styles and techniques.





Color, Line, and Shape in FiberApril 1-28, 2017
Sandy Gregg and Valerie Maser-Flanagan
Newton Free Library Gallery
330 Homer Street, Newton MA
Library Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9-9; Friday: 9-6; Saturday: 9-5; Sunday: 1-5




Monday, April 3, 2017


Valuing your Art
SAQA MA/RI Regional Meeting
March 11, 2017
New England Quilt Museum


Panelists Janice Jones, Vivien Sayre and Sarah Ann Smith led a discussion on Valuing your Art.  Vivien Sayre, a certified Quilt Appraiser, opened the discussion with a cautionary statement. The decision on how to value your art work can easily become confused with an internal dialogue about your self worth. It is the job of a quilt appraiser to look at art objectively by asking a series of questions, and as an artist, you can ask the same questions to help you determine the value of your work. 

1) What have you spent to create the piece? Keep an accurate and detailed list of expenses whether it be commercial fabric, thread, embellishments, batting, paint or other materials. For items like hand dyed fabric, be sure to include the cost of the dye and any supplies used in the dyeing process. Find a method that works best for you to track these costs, whether it be by keeping a notebook in your studio or something on your phone. A baseline calculation would be that a piece is worth 3 times the materials cost.

2) How much time was spent creating the piece? Again, come up with a method for tracking the time you spend on each piece. This can be cumbersome, but it will give you a very important factor in setting the value. Do you have an hourly rate you charge for creative work?

3) Do you have a history of previous sales? Keeping accurate records of pieces sold will help you get a realistic idea of the market for your work. Note the sale price, but also a description of the piece - size, materials, complexity, etc.

4) Has the piece won awards? Winning awards or other recognition increases the value of a piece. Keep track of which awards were given, when, and any financial awards as these all add value. Also, keep track of where the piece has been exhibited, especially juried shows.

5) How many gallery shows have you had? Solo shows or shows where you are the featured quilter add to your reputation and thus to the overall value of your work.

6) Know your market. The crafts market is at a low today, but the fine arts market is stronger. This means that in general these days your work will be valued more as art than crafts (quilts). If you want to understand your market better, go to local gallery shows, museum exhibits, auctions, etc. and keep track of what fiber art is selling for. Again, keep detailed notes as to size, materials, artist's reputation etc. This is something like selling a house - you have to find comparable sales in order to make an educated decision about what to set as a value.

7) Go to where the market is strongest. If a certain gallery has a strong history of selling pieces for higher prices, this is a good place to offer your work for sale. If you are looking at a crafts fair and the   past sales indicate lower prices, it might not be worth investing in renting a space.

8) Look at other quilt artists online. How are they pricing their work? Are they in the same geographic area? How does your work and reputation compare to them? Is their work selling?  Take a look at major fiber art online venues such as the SAQA online auction, textileartists.org and artofthequilt.com

9) Get an appraisal. Certified appraisers spend many hours researching all these questions for each appraisal. At the bottom of this blog post there is a list of certified appraisers in the New England area. Appraisers can give you either a Fair Market Value, Insurance Value (which is high because it is based on replacement cost) or donation value. 

Janice Jones spoke from the artists point of view. She talked about how she calculates the value of her work for pricing purposes and how this relates to the venues where she sells her work. Price per square inch gives her a general range but she also takes into account an hourly rate for her time in order to account for pieces which might be either simpler or more complex. Because galleries charge a commission, she notes it is important to price your work high enough to include this commission. Janice noted that it is well worth paying this commission because a good gallery will promote your work and therefore lead to more sales.



Sarah Ann Smith uses a similar per inch formula to help with consistency and encouraged artists to be objective about the quality and value of their work. As a professional, you have to recognize that the price should be based on materials + time + overhead + profit. Do not undervalue your work. In doing so you undercut other artists and lower the market value of art quilts as a whole.  The price you charge for someone coming to your studio, the price online and the price in a gallery should all be the same. The only instance in which Sarah might see lowering the price of a piece would be when dealing with a collector who has bought multiple pieces already. 

Sarah also noted that the value of your art is based on your level of professional development. This means that building a resume which includes exhibits entered, awards, publications, and pieces sold all contribute to the value of your body of work. Your overhead costs need to take into account the time and expense it takes to build this reputation through a website, social media, printed materials, mailings, etc. Make sure your work is presented in the best possible light - literally! The quality of the photographs of your work is very important. Overhead also needs to take into account the cost of your studio space, computers, printers, memberships, website fees, etc. 

As we wrapped up the discussion, the question of insuring your art was brought up. As you develop a body of work, it is important to carry insurance to cover any unforeseen calamity. The Hartford offers a group insurance policy which quilters can be added to at any point in the year. This insurance is not prohibitively expensive, is very simple to sign up for, and is a business expense that is well worthwhile.  Information on this insurance policy can be found below.

As you can see, the discussion was thoughtful, based on years of experience, and targeted to art quilters. If you would like to read further on the question of pricing your art quilts, Sarah suggested an article on textileartists.org which can be found here.


Surrounding us in the classroom gallery of the museum were the 41 quilts in Water is Life. This is the 4th Quilt for Change exhibit I have organized and I hope you will have a chance to see the exhibit at the museum or as it travels with Mancuso Quilt Festivals. 28 of there artists in the exhibit are SAQA members.


We closed with Show and Tell including pieces from Diane Harris Powers and Stephanye Schulyer of the NH/VT/ME regional group that joined us for the meeting. We were also to  5 very special quilts from Vivien's  private collection.

We hope you will join us for our next meeting on June 3 at Blaine's Sewing Center in Cranston RI where Carol Anne Grotrian will talk about "Composing your Art."



**************
Society of Quilters - Quilt Insurance

This insurance covers your quilts and items that you need to make your quilts including sewing machines.  We cover these items anywhere in the U.S. and Canada and this does include shipping.

The cost is $1.18 per $100 of value; which is $118 for $10,000 (subject to an $88 minimum premium).  There is a $500 deductible per incident.  The premium is paid annually.

There are 3 ways to value your quilt(s)
Certified Appraisal
Established Market Value (sale of 2 or more quilts)
If the quilt was purchased, receipt
If none of the 3 apply, then it is cost of material.

The carrier is Hartford.

This is a master policy under the name Society of Quilters.  The policy period is 2-1-17 to 2-1-18.  You can be added at any time during the policy period and would be charged a pro-rated premium.  We add you onto this policy as an additional named insured.

For mor information please contact:
Chris Johnston, CIC
chris.johnston@usi.com
1-800-688-7472 ex 41282

AQS Certified Appraisers in the New England Area*

Massachusetts           New Hampshire                                                

Marjorie Childers Julie Crossland
298 Jarvis Ave. Apt. #101 5 Harvest View Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040 Hudson, NH 03051
Phone: 413-539-5857 Phone: 603-595-9519
E-mail: childersm@elms.edu E-mail: quiltsappraised@comcast.net

Vivien Lee Sayre Gerald Roy
9 Maple Lane P.O. Box 432
Marshfield, MA 02050 Warner, NH 03278
Phone: 781-834-1261 Phone: 603-456-6281
E-mail: vsayre@nesa.com E-mail: Pilgrimroy@tds.net

Maine Connecticut

Bonnie Dwyer Lois Palmer
35 Estates Dr., Unit 1 1379 North Stone Street
Manchester, ME 04351 West Suffield, CT 06093
Phone: 207-622-6202 Phone: 860-668-2710
E-Mail: bonniedwyer45@gmail.com E-mail: LPalm5647@gmail.com

New York Sue Reich 28 Scofield Hill Road
Eugenia Barnes Washington Depot, CT 06794
2524 Platt Road Phone: 860-868-0028
Marcellus, NY 13108 E-mail: suereich@charter.net
Phone: 315-673-4334
E-mail: Muzzy37@aol.com New York Continued:

Linda Hunter Elizabeth Davis
5229 Mapleton Road 257 Wardell Road
Lockport, NY 14094 Rush, NY 14543
Phone: 716625-8039 Phone: 585-533-4404
E-mail: hunterlj@roadrunner.com E-mail: bethdan533@frontiernet.net

Joyce Fischer
137 Connecticut Ave.
Massapequa, NY 11758
Phone: 516-541-0505
E-mail: joyce.fischer@aol.com

*Additional information can be found at The Professional Association of Appraisers – Quilted Textiles –



Local Landscapes: Quilts by Sue Colozzi (SAQA Member) 
Falmouth Art Center.  137 Gifford St. in Falmouth, MA http://falmouthart.org/  
April 1 - 29.  Opening reception, Friday, Apr. 7 from 4:00 - 6:00.  

For more information please contact Sue Colozzi



Cape Cod Fiber Artists
Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Falmouth Rd, Cotuit MA 
March 25-April 22, 2017


The artists represented in this show are a loosely organized group that celebrates the individual freedom to explore art fibers. Under the unofficial name of Fiber Frenzy, they have exhibited across Cape Cod. Each artist has a unique approach to fiber art and the end result is an eclectic but cohesive exhibit of weaving, art quilts, and fiber-centric mixed media. This is a display of the many different approaches that can be considered fiber art.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Exhibition News - Ro Morrissey

Personal Space

Cotuit Center for the Arts

January 9-February 11



My View by Ro Morrissey


The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod (AFCC) will host its 10th Annual Member Winter Art Exhibit January/February 2017 at the Cotuit Center for the Arts. Forty-six Cape artists offer their interpretations of the theme "personal space." The exhibit will open with a invitation-only reception in January 2017 and will run through February 11, 2017.

SAQA member Ro Morrissey has a piece, My View, included in this all-media exhibit. The Cotuit Center for the Arts is located at 4404 Falmouth Rd, Cotuit, MA 02635 on Cape Cod. For hours and directions call 508-428-0669.

Friday, January 20, 2017

EXHIBITING Your Work
An Overview on Showing Quilt Art
by Nancy Turbitt


SAQA NM Regional exhibit New Mexico:Unfolding premiering at the NM Statehouse in Santa Fe, April 2013

Exhibitions are a major part of my concern as a studio artist. As a result of my involvement in the regional works of SAQA's Massachusetts/Rhode Island Region for the last three years, I have juried, curated, and exhibited in several shows. I personally had never exhibited my work before 2013. I often announce exhibits as they come up on this blog, so I thought it might be useful to discuss a few things here that I have discovered since I have been active in SAQA.

For those who are creating art in their studios on a fairly regular basis it may at one point become a priority to exhibit your work. How will the public know what is being created unless it is shown some way in a public forum? These days we have options. We can look to exhibit alone - a solo exhibit, with colleagues - a private group exhibit, with SAQA - a regional or all-SAQA exhibit (members only), online exhibitions - through SAQA's website or other online forums for exhibit or lastly in a juried group exhibit for a museum or gallery.


Fiber Exhibit at IMAGO in Warren, RI

Let's talk about the options. Solo exhibits are a necessary part of any artist's journey. Sometimes they can be a rather easy endeavor but they always take work. Your local library, community center, school, church, or business can often be a great way to ease into a solo experience. When you have a body of work that is photographed well in a portfolio, a website with your work included, or a brochure that shows a good deal of your work, you may want to start out looking in your own community. Of course, galleries and museums may be a bit trickier. They will want to see your resume as well with a proven track record of exhibitions under your belt. In the smaller venues you can expect that you will be responsible for hanging your own work and taking it down. You will also have to do your own publicity. This leads me to discuss adding colleagues to your exhibit.


Solo Exhibit by Dawn Allen

Two or more artists with work which shows well together may want to approach community exhibition spaces as a group. This splits the workload, splits the expense of publicity, and adds depth and quantity to the exhibit. Expect that the venue will want to see a representation of all artists work and may, in the case of an art center or gallery, expect resumes from all artists involved. This is a great way for a novice to ease into the exhibition scene, with the security of other artists included.

Often you will find calls for entry directly from galleries and museums around the country. Visions and Quilt National are two very well known biennial exhibitions calling on very experienced master quilt artists and in the case of Visions, the museum's membership. There are always smaller, less daunting, exhibitions that you can find to enter. In our region The Whistler House Museum of Art, NEQM, IMAGO in RI, the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown, Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, ArtSpace Maynard and The Fuller Craft Museum to name a few are amongst the venues which have hosted textile exhibits in the last few years. Outside our region venues like the Texas Quilt Museum, the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum and repeating shows like Quilts=Art=Quilts at the Schweinfurth Art Center in NY, Art Quilt Elements at the Wayne Art Center in PA are all places you can look to for calls for entry. Quilt shows like IQF in Houston and Chicago, and MQX in Manchester, NH are another way to search for ways to exhibit. Some venues or shows may require you to join as a member adding to the cost of entry.


Show catalog for a Texas Quilt Museum exhibit in 2014

SAQA offers some of the best opportunities for a quilt artist to show their work. If you are a member you can enter any all-SAQA call for entry for the simple price of the entry fee. If you are lucky enough to be accepted, your work will travel all over the US and sometimes even abroad. SAQA assumes the cost of travel from venue to venue, the cost of insurance once they have received your quilt and the cost of all publicity including a full color catalog book. You simply have to get it to them and that is your only expense. There were 16 all-SAQA exhibits traveling in the year 2016. It's a great deal and offers a wonderful opportunity, if you jury in.  


SAQA's Seasonal Palette at NEQM

There has been a great deal of discussion about the all-SAQA shows lately. The last two big shows had over 500 entries each (SAQA allows up to 3 entries per artist per show) and accepted only a small amount of artwork (under 40). I won't say it is easy to get in. Look around at all the amazing quilt artists you know and whose work you see publicized by SAQA and other venues. You will be competing with these artists for space in a show. Attention to the theme, professional photography, and following directions from the prospectus, are very important when entering a big show.

Regional SAQA shows are sometimes easier to get in because not as many entries come in for them. Each SAQA member belongs to the region that they live in as well as a another region of their choice. A member can enter any exhibit from both the regions that they are signed up for. Remember, if you choose the UK as a second region and you jury into their regional exhibit, you have to assume shipping & insurance to get it to the UK. Regions do not have as much money for their exhibits, only what comes in from the entry fees. Often you will have to assume shipping and insurance costs for both sending your work out to SAQA and it's return to you. The last two MA/RI exhibits have created a catalog and several pieces (7 total) have sold in 2016 from the venues in which they were hanging.


Sue Polansky & Carol Vinick at the SAQA MA/RI Regional exhibit Art As Quilt, Highfield Hall, Falmouth, MA

All this leads me to say that it does take some work finding the best places to exhibit and it takes a considerable amount of dedication to getting your work exhibited. But there is nothing more satisfying to an artist than seeing their work hanging in an exhibit. The best place I have found to find calls for entry is actually the SAQA website. SAQA has a great network of information about not only their own all-SAQA and regional shows but all the other big and smaller shows as well. I have often found links for the prospectus for other than SAQA exhibits on the website at www.saqa.com/calendar.php?ID=9

Coming up for all-Saqa shows are:
Textile Posters: Communication & Commentary, Deadline: January 31, 2017

...and newly announced all-SAQA exhibits for next year:
Dusk to Dawn, Deadline: January 31, 2018
Metamorphosis, Deadline: February 28, 2018

some other exhibits coming up quick:
Interpretations: Conversations, Visions Art Museum, Deadline: January 31, 2017
Pathfinders: New Territories, So Utah Museum of Art, Deadline: February 1, 2017
Fantastic Fibers, Yeiser Art Center, Deadline: February 4, 2017
ARTQUILTSrespite, PAQA South, Deadline: February 10, 2017

...and a bit further down the calendar:
Wild West: 21st-Century Quilts Salute the American Frontier, Texas Quilt Museum,     Deadline: March 1, 2017
Art Olympia 2017, Tokyo, Japan, Deadline: March 15, 2017

Go to Calls for Entry (all) at saqa.com to check out their list of many more exhibitions.