International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, CA

International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, CA begins on Thursday, July 26th at 5:00pm for Preview Night and continues on throughout the weekend, opening at 10:00am.  Long Beach Convention Center

"Rituals"  An exchange between friends. A handshake. A kiss before bedtime. The artist at work.  A sun salutation. The wave before boarding the school bus. A song, a word, a meditation. A habit, a custom.  The traditional toast at a gathering. A rite of passage. The sacred moments of the ordinary.  Rituals:  What are yours?

Dinner at Eight Artists present a 42 piece collection titled "Rituals." Each piece measures 24" wide by 60" high, vertical format.  The exhibit will debut at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach July 26-29, 2012 and is sponsored by Moore's Sewing Centers. It will also be shown at the International Quilt Market (Oct 27-29) and Festival (Oct 31-Nov 4) and is sponsored by Havel's Sewing.

Dacha; Natalya Aikens

Hanbok; Frances Holliday Alford

Ritual Fire Dance; Betty A. Amador

Stillness;  Susan Bleiweiss

Cosmic Gears;  Loris Bogue 

Blue Chair Mantra;  Deborah Boschert

Night, Night; Love, Love; Laurie Brainerd 

Intimate Space;  Paula  J. Chung

Walking with Mr C and Scooter;  Gerrie Congdon

Flowers in my hair and expectations;  Joanell Connolly (pictured)

Photo Booth Hijinks;  Cindy Cooksey 

Intention;  Jane Davila

Sunrise Serenade;  Barb Forrister 

Friendship ritual;  Terry Grant

A Gardners Life;  Desiree D. Habicht 

Swirl, Sniff, Sip;  Diane Hock

Neon Coffee, Los Angeles;  Lisa  Kijak 

Links; Lyric M. Kinard

Moon Drunk;  Susan Fletcher King

Figure drawing class; Pamela P. Klebaum

Geisha;  Sherry D. Kleinman 

I See the Moon;  Susan Brubaker Knapp

Nature Journal;  Jane LaFazio 

Keeping Up Appearances #5;  Carol A. Larson

Spring Cleaning - Renewal and Release;  Jayne Larson 

Kissing the Cat Goodnight; Linda Teddlie Minton

Lost Rituals: Grief; Susie M. Monday 

Milo;  Jeannie P. Moore

Here's to Strong Women;  Rachel K. Parris 

8 of Cups;  Judy Coates Perez

You're Invited;  Yvonne B.Porcella 

Meditation;  Karen L. Rips

Sunset II;  Cynthia St. Charles 

The Kitchen Table;  Julie Schlueter

Tiempo del Sol;  Rituels de Jardin, Gayle Simpson 

Strength and Cal; , Sarah Ann Smith

Boundary Waters 60 (RockTime);   Virginia A. Spiegel 

Solvitur Ambulando;  Larkin Jean Van Horn

Shuka;  Terry Waldron 

Morning Commute with Sweet Jane;  Kathy York

Make a Wish on the Purple House;  Jamie Fingal 

The Coffee Break;  Leslie Tucker Jenison

Questions for Curators - Part 2

Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison

Questions for Curators - Part 2

photo from one of our classes in Houston

11. What's your best piece of advice for other artists?
Leslie- This sounds flippant but I believe it is the truth:  Just go into your studio and make stuff.  Don’t worry about outcome or what anyone else thinks:  keep playing and experimenting.  The best things happen when I ask myself, “What if?”.
Jamie - Start small, and play with fabric and thread.  Use the colors, textures and patterns that inspire you.  Grow into your art, but the the most important thing is just to do it - practice and have fun.

12. What's your least favorite technique that you still use anyway?
Leslie- I still, occasionally, use discharge paste.  I don’t like it because it is stinky and I am skeptical about how safe it really is.  So, I use it sparingly, with a respirator, in good ventilation.
Jamie - I am still wondering what to say.  I don’t think I have an answer, because I like everything that I do, except for making hanging sleeves, which is not a technique, but I don’t like it just the same.

13.  Not counting art quilts, what do you collect?
Leslie- Oh dear.  I have a glass fetish. I pick up rocks when I travel (and sometimes bottles of beach sand).  I love wind-up toys.  I collect my children’s art, and I still have all our “little kid” books.  They are so precious to me.
Jamie - Don’t get me started.  There are many things that I used to collect, but those have taken their course.  I still collect old suitcases, metal boxes, unique dishes, cups, and weird stuff that I can repurpose.

14. Which great artwork would you love to hang in your own home?   (A game also known as, "What would you steal from the MoMA?")
Leslie- What a great question!  If I could have Matisse, Raoul Dufy, or one of the other fauvists, I would be pretty happy.  I adore Mary Cassatt’s work as an Impressionist painter, and I think she was very “bad ass” to be in such a boy’s club!
Jamie - Do I have to pick just one?  Kandinsky abstract, but would love a Degas with the dancers and Mary Cassatt just tugs at my heart.

15.  What moment or event started both of you to go into the Art Quilt direction?
Leslie- I am from a traditional quilt making background. I still love the heritage of traditional work.  I evolved from that genre because I wanted to create unique pieces.  I’m not as interested in making functional textiles anymore, but still do make the occasional “quilt quilt”.  I’m simply MORE interested in the tactile, 3-dimensional qualities that are possible with the quilt as art.
Jamie - I made traditional quilts, but always with some sort of twist, because it was hard for me to conform to the rules..no big surprise there.  I just wanted more, and when I learned to fuse, my whole quilting world changed, to take me to the next level.  I still love traditional quilts, it is just that I don't want to make them.

16.  What artistic endeavors were you involved in before Art Quilts?
Leslie- I’m a painter in addition to being a quilt maker.
Jamie - Watercolorist, made jewelery and decoupage, and I still do these things, but at a lesser degree.

17.  Describe your process for choosing a theme for your exhibits.
Leslie- We have a list of possible themes.  We are always tossing things around.  As I stated before, we try to consider a theme that is broad enough to encompass both representational and abstract interpretations.
Jamie - We throw a bunch a themes around, add to, delete from and then determine if a certain theme could be interpreted into fabric from both of our points of view, and then go beyond that.  I mean if we can't come up with an idea for an art quilt - then how could anyone else?  Things to consider.

18.  What are the future plans for Dinner at Eight?
Leslie/Jamie -We hope to broaden the scope of venues for the exhibitions and we are currently exploring some options in addition to the quilt festivals.  Stay tuned!

19.  Jamie:   How do you feel that having a studio outside of the home has impacted your work? What are the pros and cons?
Moving my studio out of the house was the best thing I have ever did (5+ years), because it gave me balance between home and studio.  I go to my studio Mon-Fri, and am home at night, to cook dinner and enjoy evenings with my husband. Sometimes I bring home handwork or my sketchbook.  Weekends spent at home, and it is rare that I work in my studio on the weekends.  It has given me more focus, and freedom to explore my art, because I have more room to spread out.  I am packing up my current small studio, and moving to an industrial space with one room consisting of 1000 sf.  The con would be no a/c or heating, but I am sure I can work around that.  It's my dream space!

Leslie:    Do you feel that the geographical area that an artist works in has any effect on their work? That is the light, topography, culture, regional differences etc?
Leslie-My personal response is yes, absolutely.  Perhaps this is the artists’ version of “You are what you eat”!  As an artist, I tend to believe that my work is a response to my own history, my environment, my daily experiences.

20.  Where are you guys scheduled to teach?
Leslie/Jamie -We took a teaching break this year, and frankly, it was a good thing we did:  Jamie experienced the loss of both parents and the subsequent aftermath of dealing with all that flows from that.  We both had our youngest children graduate from college.  Personally, I have had an upswing in commitments with the Alliance for American Quilts and the Surface Design Association, as well as some other things.  For a year that was supposed to be quieter it has been anything but!  Jamie - I've enjoyed making quilts, exploring, and heading up a sub-committee for SAQA.  I do miss the students!  Maybe next year!

Questions for Curators - Part 1

Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison
a couple of serious curators


Every year we ask the artists in our exhibit to give us a list of questions to answer.  This year we have 20, so today and tomorrow, we will answer your questions.


1.  If you couldn't do art, what would you do to feed your soul and  fulfill yourself?
Leslie -I’m a gardener and a cook, and I find these creative outlets very “artful”.  I can’t tell you how many things I have puzzled out while digging in the dirt!
Jamie - I love to read, research genealogy and tell the story of our family history in scrapbooks, work in the garden and cook. 

2.  How did you find your way into quilting/fiber art?
Leslie- Although my paternal grandmother was a seamstress and quilt maker, I did not learn from her.  Rather, I was exposed to the love of quilt making through a nurse-colleague during my years as an inpatient obstetrical nurse.
Jamie - I learned how to sew at a young age from my grandmother, which led me to make my first quilt in 1981.

3.  What has been your most memorable "aha!" moment in your art?
Leslie- Now, this is a tough question.  I’ve had a lot of “aha moments” in my studio, as I believe we all do.  If I have to choose one scenario it would have to be when I realized that creating unique cloth with personal imagery provided another “layer” of meaning to my work.
Jamie - this year actually, after losing both of my parents so close together and I was literally shut down, for obvious reasons.  I got my mojo back when making my entry for the Alliance for American Quilts contest “home is where your story begins.”

4. How do you physically design your "mock-up" for the exhibit???
Leslie- Jamie is the guru of mock-ups.  I bow to her!  It begins with a configuration, provided by the venue.  I use small photos of each quilt to arrange them on a grid.  I ask myself these questions; what quilt do I want the viewer to see if coming from this direction - those pieces are all put into play from every vantage point, and then I go about placing the pieces that enhance one another throughout the exhibit.  It’s really a dance of puzzle pieces.  I enjoy it immensely.

5. Do you Skype or I Chat often, being the dynamic duo that you are??
Leslie- Oddly, we don’t Skype very much, but we have very frequent email exchanges and phone conversations.  We have a long-running email exchange that we call, “Coffee Break”, which, coincidentally, is the theme of my curator’s quilt for the “Rituals” exhibition this year!
Jamie - We email mostly and talk on the phone.  Our e-mails always have “coffee break” or something similar in the subject, so we know to get a cup of coffee or tea, and sit down to read.  The simple joys in life are the best!

6.  Do you realize how grateful we are, as artists, for your efforts to propel us to stardom in the art quilt world??
Leslie/Jamie -Do YOU realize how grateful WE are, as curators of this exhibition, that you have carved out the creative time and energy to put forth your amazing work?  Seriously, it is our profound honor that you allow us to present your work.

7.  When you design the exhibit theme, do you consider whether the entries will be mostly representational or abstract? Do you have a preference?
Leslie- We try to come up with a theme that will embrace both styles of work.  It is, in our opinion, one of the best components of d@8 exhibits: the marriage of these two styles that become unified through the common theme.
Jamie - It’s not really something that I think about, to be quite honest.  We want the “best” work, and if it fits into the exhibit as a whole, it works for us. And work that matches the artists statement. I have no preference for representational or abstract.

8.  Have  you considered proposing a retrospective book to an established publisher?
Leslie- We have discussed this possibility.  Stay tuned!!
Jamie - Yes, and “best of” exhibits too.  Imagine the possibilities!

9.  Having curated shows myself I know that putting together "Rituals" has been a very large commitment of time and resources. Why do you do it?
Leslie- This is a multi-pronged answer:  We love showcasing the talent in our  segment of the art world, and part of that is seeking out emerging artists to rise to the challenge of entering a show.  Jamie and I enjoy the give and take of the collaborative process as co-curators.  We see things through different lenses, and I think this is one of the biggest strengths of our exhibitions.
To be honest, bringing the online entry process into the equation this year was an enormous help to us!  Wow, I can’t even tell you how many hours of labor it saved us!  Hooray for Art Call!
Jamie - It is a large commitment, but I enjoy every aspect of it, and having Leslie to collaborate with, utilizing our different strengths, works for us. Being highly organized helps.  I think the opportunity to work with such creative artists is a huge bonus. Using Art Call made a huge difference for us this year, because it took a lot of the extra work that is created by having CD’s and paperwork, off our plates.  It literally simplified the way that we work, and having the advantage of seeing all of the works on one page, and to be able to go back and forth on the artists pages to see their inspiration and statement, as invaluable.  And in turn, a venue can work with the information in the program, saving them time too.

10.  What's the most inspiring trip you've ever taken?
Leslie- I have been very fortunate to travel a great deal.  I believe one of  my favorite trips was to Italy:  we visited many parts of north-central Italy where we have close friends who live on the shore of Laggo Maggiore, on to Florence, and then to Rome.  The beauty of the land, the history, and the lifestyle and culture of the Italians was so inspiring.  Second to that would be Russia.
Jamie - My inspirational places to visit are Seattle, Ashland, OR, Cambridge, MA, NYC and San Francisco.  Mostly because there is family there.  And in those cities, there is a synergy with the architecture, artistic community, restaurants, culture, and they get my creative juices flowing.

Artist Profile: Jamie Fingal

Jamie Fingal

Orange, California

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?  Here are my top 5 ideas - meditation/ yoga, dinner at 8/spoon-ology, remembering, studio/where imagination comes alive, and what's for dinner?

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects?  I organize The House Quilt Project, and throughout the year I make auction quilts for SAQA, Girl Scouts, and The Alliance for American Quilts.  I also am one of the featured artists for FiberArt for a Cause, that benefits The American Cancer Society.
 

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  Name/where?  What is the best part of being part of an art group?  Yes, I belong to a couple of groups - "8 that Create" where we talk online, have lively discussions, get help with issues in our own artistic lives, and make art for group shows.  The Sketchbook Challenge consists of a group of mixed media artists.   The best part is the friendship, but also that we can come together as artistic equals to share, learn and grow.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what?  I am a member of SAQA,  served as a co-rep from 2008-2010, and now chairing the Membership Sub-Committee at present.  I am also a member of the Alliance for American Quilts.

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  Name 5.  Red, royal blue, hot pink, lime green, orange.  Name 5 of your least favorite colors?  White, yellow, brown, beige or any pastel

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy?   My studio space is in an office park, divided up into 4 rooms, cluttered, but there are places where the floor is visible.  It is a creative organized mess all of the time.  Moving soon to a large one-room industrial space where I can spread out, and it will be fabulous!

7.  What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design?  I have many discussions with myself, before the idea ever makes it to my sketchbook.  And then to fabric.  It is rare, that I can stand at my design table and just make something, without a plan.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why?  A house with a cup and saucer on the roof.  Women with houses on their heads.  And then there are the zippers, who knew?

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?  Can't name just one - Klimt/circles, Hundertwasser/houses, Chagal/whimsy and Kandinsky/abstract

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles?  "Embellished Mini Quilts" by Lark Books; 2 DVD's by Interweave/Quilting Arts - Whimsical House Quilt and Rebel Quilting: Thinking Outside the Block.  My work was part of the premier issue of "Surface Explorations" eMag with Quilting Arts.

11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life?  Yes, I make art full time.  My other career is cooking dinner every night of the week, and throwing family parties.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life?  This is a hard one, because I feel so blessed in my artistic life.  Winning the Grand Prize in the Alliance for American Quilts Contest in 2011.  There's nothing like the thrill of having your best work, be voted in by the members.  Thrilling.  

http://JamieFingalDesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.JamieFingalDesigns.com/

Artist Profile: Leslie Tucker Jenison

Leslie Tucker Jenison

San Antonio, Texas

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?  A shared toast with my women-friends & rituals of remembrance.

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects?   I have participated in every FiberArt For A Cause fundraising event for the American Cancer Society, The Texas Quilt Museum, and The Alliance for American Quilts, among others.

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  Name/where?  What is the best part of being part of an art group?   I am fortunate to belong to several groups:  The Austin Art Quilt Group, Eight That Create, Art Cloth Network, Fiber Artists of San Antonio and the Modern Quilt Guild.  Collaborating in a supportive environment is the best part of these groups.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what?   I am a professional artist-member of SAQA, serve on the conference committee for the Surface Design Association 2013 conference, and serve on the board for The Alliance for American Quilts. 

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  Name 5.  Name 5 of your least favorite colors?   Faves:  Gray, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Orange, Chartreuse.  Least Faves:  the horrid mid-80s-era country blue, mauve, seafoam green, beige.

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy?  I make a huge mess when I work.  Then, I clean it up. 

7.  What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design?   It varies from project to project:  some ideas feel more intuitive and I jump right in, others require more thinking, note-taking, drawing in my sketchbook.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why?   Rounded, amorphous circular shapes.  I have an endless fascination with surface tension and the effects of pressure upon objects.  I love cellular imagery.

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?  Favorite painting genres:  Impressionism (Mary Cassatt), Fauvism (Mattisse, Dufy), Abstract Expressionism (DeKooning), Surrealism (Dali).  Sorry, I can’t choose just one.  Each, in their own way, defied the status quo and pushed boundaries, personal and with the medium.

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles?   I have been a contributing artist to several books (The Journal Quilt Project, The Sketchbook Challenge), published numerous articles for Quilting Arts, an interactive article in the premier edition of “Surface Explorations” e-mag, have had images in a number of other publications, and have a workshop dvd entitled “DIY Surface Design” with Interweave.  

11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life? I am a full time studio artist, which encompasses a number of activities.  Formerly, I was an RN specializing in all aspects of women’s health and community education.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life?   I am thrilled to live an artistic, creative life.  Each facet of my work as an artist, writer, teacher, or curator brings a deep satisfaction that I savor.  I consider myself to be an extremely fortunate woman.

http://www.LeslieTuckerJenison.com/

http://LeslieTuckerJenison.blogspot.com/ 

 

Artist Profile: Rachel Parris

Rachel Parris

Birmingham, Alabama

 

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have? I thought of watching the birds in my backyard with my husband every morning over coffee. I also thought of my walks on the beach in the early morning when I am able to visit the gulf coast beaches of Alabama. I have lots of little rituals in my daily life. I also realized that there are some old rituals that have gone from my life. I think that is ok. Our rituals should serve us, not vise versa.

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects?  No

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  Name/where?  What is the best part of being part of an art group? I do not belong to such a group. My friends in Houston and online are my quilt guild whether they know it or not.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what? no

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  Name 5.  purple, fuchsia, turquoise, red, yellow, Name 5 of your least favorite colors? brown, orange, ???

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy? I work messily in my dining room. This requires a lot of cleaning up of materials and dragging out of same over the course of a project. My neat nick husband endures the mess with a love that only he could muster.

7.  What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design? I spend a lot of time thinking about; and some time laying out a design on my computer as I don't have a design wall.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why? I love circles and spirals; but, am not sure they show up in my work as much as I would like because they frequently get a little "flat" on me.

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why? Georgia O'Keeffe. I love her colors and I love the fact that she apparently loved the Southwest as much as I do.

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles? You jest!

11.  Do you make art full time? I do not.   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life? I work on learning to be the person I want to be. My foray into art quilting has led me many directions that enrich my life on a daily basis.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life? When I learned that one of my very first journal quilts was going to be included in the Creative Quilting book I cried for two days.

http://rachelparris.blogspot.com/

Artist Profile: Deborah Boschert

Deborah Boschert
Crofton, Maryland

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?  I considered creating a quilt inspired by my daily walk to and from school with my son. The idea stuck with me so I did make a quilt about walking to school for the "map" theme for the 12x12 challenge. http://twelveby12.org/maps/deborah.html

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects? I donate a quilt to the SAQA auction every year. A couple of years ago I volunteered to lead a project in a local elementary school. Several groups of fourth grade students created fused appliqué art quilts on themes such as outer space, rain forest and under water. It was such a pleasure to introduce them to fiber art and to working collaboratively.

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  I've moved several times since I began art quilting and I've been lucky to find small groups of arty-types in each of the places I've lived. I continue to keep in touch with almost all of them including the Frayed Edges in Maine and "the Wonders" in Texas.   What is the best part of being part of an art group? The best part of the relationships developed in these groups is that we truly know each other as individuals and as artists. We understand how our lives complement our art and how our art complements our lives.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what? I am a member of SAQA and a co-rep for the Maryland/DC/West Virginia region.

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  My favorite color combination is green and purple. I even have a whole Pinterest board dedicated to it! http://pinterest.com/d_boschert/the-green-and-the-purple/ I also use lots of blue in my work. There are bits of pink and fuscia in my art quilts, but not much..

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  I work in a wide open basement space with areas for creating, ironing, stitching, and collecting inspiration. Are you messy or tidy? I'm pretty messy when I'm in the midst of creating, but everything eventually makes it back to its proper place.

7.  What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design? I ponder big ideas and themes, then I think about what techniques, colors and surface design elements I want to incorporate. I might make some small thumbnail sketches of the basic shapes for the composition, but I let the real creative spirit happen somewhat improvisationally as I'm working with the fabric.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why? I just love a simple little house shape and I return to it again and again. For me it symbolizes many things including family and stability, but also transition and growth since I've moved many times in my life.

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why? I really love Sheep Jones who has a studio and gallery at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, VA near where I live. I am mesmerized by the layers she can create with oil and wax and I'm often thinking about how I could create similar effects with fabric.

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles? I am a co-author of Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge. I am thrilled that my new video workshop, Contemporary Fabric Collage, has just been released from Quilting Arts. http://www.interweavestore.com/Quilting/DVDs-Videos/Contemporary-Fabric-Collage-Download.html?SessionThemeID=16

11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life? I am determined to spend more time actually making art, but it seems that I have been addressing various administration things that needs attention. Some of it relates to art -- but it's so different than actually making art. My other career, which I enjoy very much, is parenting my two kids and keeping our family running as smoothly as possible.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life? It was so fantastic to meet eight of the other artists from our 12x12 group. We've been creating together for more than four years and we all met in Houston last November. It really was "thrilling" in so many ways. (I'm also thrilled when I complete a project, clean my studio and start something new. That needs to happen this week!)

www.DeborahsStudio.com
http://DeborahsJournal.blogspot.com

Artist Profile: Lisa Kijak

Lisa Kijak
Irvine CA

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have? I thought about reading goodnight stories to my toddler; the early morning cuddles when she wakes up and crawls into our bed, etc. But ultimately, I wanted to see if I could find a way to continue working in my series. Like most parents, our world revolves around caffeine. Neon Coffee was the perfect choice.

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects? I am currently working on a piece for the SAQA benefit auction. It will be my first year donating.

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  Name/where?  What is the best part of being part of an art group? I don't know if it qualifies as a "small group" but I am part of Quilts on the Wall, a fiber art group in Southern California.  We meet every other month. I like that gets me out of the studio and connecting with other creative people. They are a great source of inspiration and support.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what? I am a member of SAQA, but have not held a position within the organization.

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  Name 5.  Name 5 of your least favorite colors? I don't know that I have true favorites, but am generally drawn to red, orange, black, white and turquoise. As for least favorites, while I use a full range of values in my work, I tend not to be a fan of pastels.

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy? Messy during a project, but tidy afterwards. My studio is colorful, well lit, with room for friends to visit.

7.  What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design? I almost always work from a photograph. I spend a lot of time taking pictures. I work digitally, editing, shifting colors, and moving elements around until I am satisfied with a composition. Then I print the digital sketch out full size and start selecting fabrics.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why? Right now I am working on a series based on old neon signs. In general though, I am drawn to complex surfaces that show the passage of time.

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why? I love the work of Margaret Kilgallen and her use of typography, signage, printmaking and found objects.

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles? No, maybe someday.

11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life? I am a former art therapist, now stay at home mom. I do make a daily practice of creating art in every spare minute I can find.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life? I was juried into Visions 2012. I am beyond thrilled!

www.lisakijak.com
http://lisakijak.blogspot.com

Artist Profile: Betty Amador

Betty Amador
West Hills, California

!. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?   I thought about the more mundane rituals but then I was struck by the title of De Falla's piece called "Ritual Dance of Fire"  and decided that I would make that my "ritual" piece.

2. Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate you work? If yes, what project or projects?    No.

3. Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists? yes/no Name/where? What is the best part of being part of an art group?    I belong to two art quilt groups. One is called "The Extreme Quilters". It is a group roughly of 25 art quilters. We meet once a month and have a show once a year. The other group I belong to is a small group of 8. We meet once a month for potluck dinners. This group shares ideas and we critique new work. They are a very sharing and supportive and have become wonderful friends

4. Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA? Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what?   No.

5. What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work? Name 5 and your least favorite colors? Name 5.   I love most colors, especially off beat colors. Of course black and white are a "must". Any color is wonderful but has to work with the other colors I use.

6. Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less. are you messy or tidy?    I tend to be a tidy person but when I am working on a new piece it can be chaotic. Fabric everywhere, drawings all over. My studio is not very large so there can be stuff everywhere and on the floor as well.

7. What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design?   I often start with a doodle or drawing or some idea in my head for a piece. Once I have the idea on paper and I have some idea where I am going, I choose my palette.  On the design wall this often has to be revised. Ideas I have in my head don't always work out in reality.

8. Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work? Why?   I love wonderful odd shapes, circles, crescents, triangles and curvy lines.

9. If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?  I tend to like many of the Abstract Expressionists. It is difficult for me to say who is my favorite.  I have learned a lot from all of them. I think I favor the artists of our "time".

10. Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD? If so, can you tell us the title or titles?   No.

11. Do you make art full time? If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life?   I am now a widow and I devote most of my time to creating art.

12. What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life?   Getting into IQF and the possibility of getting accepted for a Lark book called "People and Portraits".

www.BettyAmador.com

Artist Profile: Jayne Larson

Jayne Larson 
Indianola, WA

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?   My ritual sign off on emails to people I care about "XOXO", hugs and kisses, love in an age of email, texts and twitter.

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects?   Not at this time.

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  name/where  what is the best part of being part of an art group?   Yes. Eight of us meet monthly. We call ourselves GTG, get together group. By far the best part of our group is how different we each are in our work and how much we inspire and support each other in our work.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what?   I'm a member of both SAQA and SDA.

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  name 5 and your least favorite colors?  Name 5.  My palette has been changing with my new environment. Current favorites include greys, blacks and  neutrals with bright highlights of red, golden yellow, and turquoise. I will very rarely use greens, browns and purples except as shades and complements of other colors.

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy?   Key elements are my design wall, sewing space, and a microwave for dyeing. Most of the time, my space is a study in organized chaos.

 7.  What is your creative process?  think, draw, design, make or right to the design
Think, dream, and more think?   Sometimes it takes me months to to come to grips with a design idea. Walking, drawing or doodling are helpful too.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why?  Hand stitching has become a key element in my work during the past few years. I like the unique personal quality, almost like handwriting, and the energy that stitching gives the work. I love playing with threads of different texture, sheen, color.

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?  A current favorite is Sarah Sze whose assemblages convey an amazing sense of space. They are like drawings turned into sculpture.

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles?  None yet.


11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life?  Between art, gardening, cooking and learning about my new location, I have never been busier.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life?   Being an artist in the 2012 D@8 show!

Artist Profile: Natalya Aikens

Natalya Aikens
Pleasantville, NY

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?  Other ideas were really just wisps of thoughts that never wove together. This was the only one that really spoke to me.

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects?   Not currently.

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  Name/where?  What is the best part of being part of an art group?    I belong to two groups: Fiber Arts North East, which is a group of artists in New York and Connecticut led by Jane Davila; and Fiber Revolution, a group of SAQA artists in the Northeast. Best part: being able to talk about art and exhibit together.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what?   I am a member of SAQA and SDA, but I have not had a chance to volunteer yet.

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  Name 5.  Name 5 of your least favorite colors?   That's hard! All color usage depends on my mood of the moment. Five of my favorites could be: moss, black, scarlet, turquoise, silver. I can't name least favorite, because when they are needed in a piece, they become a favorite.

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy? 
Fairly organized, continually evolving depending on the project being worked on. Only truly messy at the end of a project, tidy at the beginning.

7.  What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design?
It varies, sometimes I think and then dive right in, other times I doodle first. Always intuitive though, going with the flow.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why?
Architectural details, especially windows predominate. I am very drawn to windows, what do they say about the window to your soul? 

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why?    OOhhh, how do I choose?? Currently I am in love with the work of Alexander McQueen, the boldness, the drama of his creations is breathtaking! I also love the work to two contemporary painters, whose careers I follow with interest, Tracy Helgeson and Carol Marine. I love the way Tracy uses translucent layers and Carol's bold strokes.

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles?   I have a DVD called Texture Transformations for Cloth Paper Scissors at Interweave.

11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life?   I do make art full time, while balancing motherhood. I have had previous careers in costume and fashion design, and find that elements of them are present in my current art form and the best part is that I am allowed to work from home!

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life?   I am happy to report that I had work in two galleries during Fiber Philadelphia this spring. I am looking forward to teaching at Create New Jersey this summer and in the suburbs of Chicago in November as a guest of North Suburban NeedleArts Guild.

http://www.artbynatalya.com
http://www.artbynatalya.blogspot.com

Artist Profile: Frances Holliday Alford

Frances Holliday Alford

Grafton, Vermont

 

1. What other ideas for this theme "rituals" did you have?  I had a lot of ideas.  I thought about family rituals, things we did as children.  I also though of religious rites and rituals.  It is such a rich subject.

2.  Are you involved in any community or group projects where you donate your work?  if yes, what project or projects?  I have donated a lot of work to community projects.  Our local school, Grafton Elementary, our hospital, Grace Cottage in Townshend, Vermont,  Jenn Mason's Meals on Wheels, and The Grafton Womans Club which uses the money for scholarships for local students.

3.  Do you belong to a small group of like-minded artists?  yes/no  Name/where?  What is the best part of being part of an art group?  I have been a long standing member of the Austin Art Quilt Guild.  I no longer live in Austin, but still participate and even fly down for occasional meetings.  Kathy York, Sherri McCauley, Connie Hudson, Leslie Tucker Jenison and Susan Lewis Storey are active members now. In the past our group included Judy Coates Perez, Vickie Hallmark, Julie Upshaw and Yoshiko Kawasaki.  Now that I am in Vermont, I meet on Monday mornings with Lynne Crosswell and Mara Novak.

4.  Are you a member of a professional art organization, such as SAQA?  Have you ever held a volunteer position in the organization, and if so, what?  I am a member of SAQA.  I am also a board member for the Quilt Alliance.

5.  What is your favorite palette of colors that you use in your work?  Name 5.  Name 5 of your least favorite colors?  The five best:  Hot Pink, Turquoise, Yellow, Red, and Purple,   The five least:  Brown, gray, mauve, olive, rust.

6.  Describe your creative work space in 20 words or less.  Are you messy or tidy?  I have a converted barn, two stories.  Lots of room for lots of projects.  I am tidy but I have an assistant who keeps it that way.

7.  What is your creative process?  Think, draw, design, make or right to the design? I go right to the design.  It can get a little nerve wracking because I don't always know where I am going.  But I love doing the work as it comes to me.

8.   Is there a particular object or shape that shows up repeatedly in your work?  Why?  I find a lot of floral images in my work. 

9.   If you had to choose a favorite artist from another media, who would it be, and why? I love the pointillist work of Paul Signac.  The very precise positioning of small dots of color gives me chills on the back of my neck.  I do much more spontaneous work but love the precision of his.

10.  Have you written a book related to Art Quilts and Quilting or have an instructional DVD?  If so, can you tell us the title or titles?  I have written articles for Quilting Arts Magazine.

11.  Do you make art full time?   If you have another career, would you describe what you do? and how you incorporate art into your life?  I wish I really had full time to do my art.  I am doing about twenty hours a week and wish I had more.  I do not have another career but am a recovering school teacher.

12.  What is your most thrilling news to date in relation to your art quilt life?   I have had quilts on the cover of Quilting Arts Magazine twice.  I have been invited to put on a quilt show in Seoul, Korea this fall.

 

http://franceshollidayalford.com/

http://franceshollidayalford.typepad.com/frances_daily_collage/