Scenes from our workshops in Long Beach (Part 2)

Saturday, July 30th, "Playful Painting On Canvas"
During this 3-hour afternoon workshop we narrowed the width of our canvases and created 2 painting environments.  As always, our students amazed us with their unique painting styles.  The other point that fascinates us is that, in every single workshop, the two canvases develop their own unique "personalities".
Take a look:

Students move to different "spots" on the canvas to paint.

We ask the students to work in areas they have not painted into previously at first,

and we switch who they are positioned near to change up the style of the painting!

Below are details from the canvases:

many hands make the canvas rich and textural!

Students hold up one of the finished canvases, before it 

gets cut into sections!

Here are the two finished canvases.

Students took 2 sections from EACH painted canvas.

Imagine all the possibilities that could be created from these beautiful 

painted canvases!

A note to our workshop students:  We LOVE to see what you create with your canvas sections!

Please share photos of your finished items with us!

Scenes From Our Workshops in Long Beach (Part 1)

"Musical Chairs:  A Painted Canvas Adventure"
Our day-long workshop in Long Beach CA was small, but mighty!  Our students created 2 wonderfully colorful canvases, which were subsequently divided into smaller sections.  Since we have learned through experience that people fall in love with certain areas (those boyfriends) we turn the sections face-down, mix them up, and each student selects the pieces.
After the canvas section are selected the group settles into the 2nd phase of the workshop:  working into the painted canvas with markers, cutting shapes and sections, and creating amazing cards, journal covers, and ATCs from their customized canvas.  The results were amazing!  Take a look:

students in the initial stages of painting the gessoed canvas..

the canvas evolves...

a second canvas, with a distinct personality!

students gather around a work table to share markers, glue,

and stories

creating postcards and memories

what will this be?

A few of the finished postcards, stamped, and ready to be mailed to their makers

as a memory of the day we shared!

International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, CA

Dinner at Eight Artists presents "The Space Between" a juried invitational,

at the International Quilt Festival at the Long Beach Convention Center - July 29-31, 2011

co-curated by Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison
sponsored by Moore's Sewing Centers and Brother International

Forty Artists - Natalya Aikens, Frances Holliday Alford, Betty Amador, Astrid Bennett, Loris Bogue, Deborah Borschert, Paula Chung, Joanell Connolly, Cindy Cooksey, Barb Forrister, Linda Frost, Terry Grant, Desiree Habicht, Lyric Kinard, Susan Fletcher King, Pam Klebaum, Sherry Kleinman, Susan Brubaker Knapp, Jane LaFazio, Jayne Larson, Gwen Mayer, Linda T. Minton, Susie Monday, Jeannie Moore, Rachel Parris, Judy Perez, Yvonne Porcella, Wen Redmond, Karen Rips, Carolyn Ryan, Cynthia St. Charles, Julie Schlueter, Teresa Shippy, Gayle Simpson, Sarah Ann Smith, Terry Waldron, Laura Cater-Woods, Kathy York, Leslie Tucker Jenison and Jamie Fingal.

TSB Artist, Loris Bogue has designed an exhibit book for us.  Blurb Book is available to purchase here

White Glovers in TSB Exhibit

Friday, July 29th

1:30-3:30 - Cindy Cooksey
3:30-5:30 - Teresa Shippy

TSB Artists have work in these exhibits - 

West Coast Wonders
Sherry Kleinman
Terry Waldron
Celebrate Spring!
Barb Forrister
Text on Textiles
Barb Forrister
SAQA: The Creative Force
Paula Chung
Leslie Tucker Jenison

TSB Artists Volunteering their time in the SAQA Booth
Pam Klebaum, Carolyn Ryan, Karen Rips, Gwen Mayer, Sherry Kleinman, Julie Schlueter, Jayne Larson and Teresa Shippy.

TOURS, FACULTY, MAKE IT UNIVERSITY

SAQA Docent Tour
Terry Waldron - Sat, July 30 from 11-12pm

FESTIVAL FACULTY
You can sign up for classes at the show!
Thursday, July 28th
Jane LaFazio
#210 Recycled Circles - All Day Class
Judy Perez
#214 Tsukineko Inks - All Day
Jamie Fingal/Leslie Jenison
#204 Musical Chairs - All Day
Friday, July 29th
Judy Perez
#312 Heavy Metal - All Day
Jane La Fazio
#309 Monoprints on Cloth - All Day
Saturday, July 30th
Judy Perez
#413 Tea & Ephemera - All Day
Jamie Fingal/Leslie Jenison
#432 Playful Painting on Canvas - 2-5pm
Saturday Sampler
Terry Waldron

MAKE IT UNIVERSITY
Workshops $15 Cash/Lottery
Thursday, July 28th
7:00-8:00pm - Judy Perez
DeColorant
Friday, July 29th
1:30-2:30 - Jeannie Moore
Stitch and Paint Flower Pins
3:00-4:00 - Leslie Jenison/Jamie Fingal
Scrappy Pin Cushions
Saturday, July 30th
11:45-12:45 - Jane LaFazio
Drawing and Watercolor a Flower
Sunday, July 31st
11:30-12:30 - Leslie Jenison/Jamie Fingal
Scrappy Pin Cushions

MIU - OPEN STUDIOS
Friday, July 29th
10:15-12:15 - Jeannie Moore
12:30-2:30 - Jamie Fingal/Leslie Jenison

Saturday, July 30th
10:15-12:15 - Jamie Fingal/Leslie Jenison

MIU/SURVIVING THE RUNWAY
5:30-7:00pm - Join us for some fun!

CREATE in Lisle, IL

CREATE with Cloth Paper Scissors in Lisle, IL
Wed, Aug 24th to Sun, Aug 28th Retreat

Folding Artists Houses - Sat, August 27th from 9-4pm

Apron as Personal Armor - Thurs, August 25th from 9-4pm

Teaching at Festival in Long Beach

Leslie Tucker Jenison and Jamie Fingal will be team teaching at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, California - July 27-31st at the Long Beach Convention Center.  We are very excited about being part of the "faculty!"

Thur, July 28th - 6 hour class - 9am to 5pm
#204 Musical Chairs:  A Painted Canvas Adventure - join us for a fun filled day of free-style painting on canvas, where students will change seats when the music stops, to create a collaborative painting on canvas.  Each student will receive a section to make the following items below -

from the painted canvas, students will create one-of-a-kind art cards, ATC, postcards and a cover for a sketchbook

Sat, July 30th - 3 hour class - 2-5pm
#432 Playful Painting on Canvas - come release your inner child and paint a collaborative canvas.  Each student will receive a section to take home.

Make-It-University - Scrappy Pin Cushions - recycle an Altoid tin to create a unique and fun pin cushion.  MIU is a lottery system, so come early to put your name in the appropriate container for each day.  Arrive at least 15 min ahead of time, so if they call your name, you will get in the class.  Classes are $10 cash.

Fri, July 29th - 3:00-4:00pm

Sun, July 31st - 11:30-12:30pm

Questions for Curators - from TSB Artists

1. What are your final decisions based on? (Statement, Cohesiveness, Color)
J- Good design, how it relates to the statement, and does it go with the exhibit.
L-We consider each entry on its own merit in terms of composition, value, and overall design.  Then, we look at the artist statement, how it relates to the theme, and how it fits into the collective exhibition.
2. How long does the process take? (Start to finish)
J- We were not together in the same room this year, so it took a bit longer - 2 weeks.  Last year, we were together and it took 2 days.
L-This year we set up a private blog to view the entries and comment back and forth to one another.  It took a bit longer, but I think it worked well since we were unable to work directly with one another.
3. How do you and Leslie determine the equal balance of selections?( When you both live in different states). 
J- The exhibit is determined as a whole - the big picture.  And then how pieces relate to one another.  That is what the 4x6 photos are for.
L-I think we answered these questions in #2, but one thing we do is look at which pieces will look good together so the collective body of work flows for the viewers.
4.  Each year you always seem to come up with a theme that appeals to a broad range of interpretations.  How do you do it? 
J-We start brainstorming about the theme as soon as we can, with e-mails and then narrowing it down to a specific few. Having our private blog helps too, because the brainstorming is there, anytime we need to review it. We discuss how it could be interpreted, and do we find inspiration in the theme ourselves.
L-Sometimes we struggle with the theme because we want something that can have both a representational or a more esoteric interpretation.  We have started a list of potential themes and we are frequently discussing this during the times we are together, tossing ideas back and forth.
5.  What is your absolute favorite part of curating an exhibit? (or your top 3 favorite things?).
J-The artists rising to the challenge to make a piece of amazing artwork, to the statements, and then seeing the exhibit hanging at Festival in Long Beach for the first time!
L-I have to agree with Jamie.  I would add that I consider it an honor that the artists are willing to rise to the challenge and submit their work for the exhibitions. 
6.  I'm curious how the two of you find time for your personal work, along with traveling, teaching classes, and promoting us?
J-  This is the first year that this has been a challenge.  With our other projects, TV tapings, curating, teaching, it has been difficult to find time to make a piece for The Space Between.
L-LOL!  Yes!  This year, I think we both have been squeezed a bit!  We have had some amazing opportunities this year:  both of us were asked to contribute work to two books, both to be published in 2012.  We both taped workshop dvds for Interweave, and we are teaching more this year.  I serve on the board of the Alliance for American Quilts, as well.  I really have to protect my studio work time! 
7.  How do you find balance, doing all that you do?  
J- Ha ha - always looking at what is more important - what is the bottom line? What don't I really have to do, what is making me crazy?  Just do it. And alot of post-it-notes and lists all over my studio. I try to leave it in my studio on the weekends, so that helps with balance. I do have a very supportive and understanding husband, which I am quite happy about.
L-Yowza!  Balance?!  Well, Jamie and I are at a point in our lives where are responsibilities with our children are much lighter, since they are all grown and on their own or away at college the majority of the time.  Our spouses are very supportive of what we do.  My dog isn't quite as gracious about my absence, but she is adjusting.  Jamie and I are both really focused people.  We have a great partnership and we bring different strengths to the table.  It just seems to work.
8. Do you have any tips on traveling, from the standpoint of teaching and/or showing your work?
J- Be organized and know what you can do. Share what you have learned.  I think it’s important to get your best work out there in the quilting world, so that your name and style can be recognized by your future students.  Leslie and I always bring a few small pieces to share with our class about what we do, even if the class has nothing to do with quilt making.
L-The work in the studio really should inform everything else.  That is my humble opinion.  I have to keep pushing myself as an artist all the time.  The joke (that isn't really a joke) at Art Cloth Studios is, "Just Do The Work".  Keep making stuff, even when you don't know what to make.  Get in there and do something.  I love to teach, and was a community health educator in my former career as an RN.  I love being able to bring that skill set to this world.
9.  What's your new favorite toy? 
J- 2 Things - Martelli Notions self-healing cutting mat and non-slip ruler and my Havel scissors, rotary cutter, nippers, pinking shears, and I want the GO cutter that Leslie has.
L-I love two new things:  Havel  everything (scissors, rotary cutter, nippers) and my shiny new Go! cutter.  I named mine "Go Gettem!"
10.  How do you market the show to attract sponsors?
J- It all comes down to who you know, and who you feel comfortable with in sending a sponsorship letter to and then following up with them.  We have had great exhibits, amazing artists and artwork, a blog, good exposure, etc - it all comes full circle. I always hope that companies would jump at the chance to sponsor our exhibits.  A girl can dream.
L-Our personal contacts in the quilt world.  As our exhibitions are getting attention from a variety of media and more people are aware of the exhibitions, we hope that we will continue to partner with companies to showcase the artists.
11.  How do you resolve differences or disputes between the co-curators?  Rock, paper, scissors?  
J- Very diplomatically.  Compromises can be made one to another. Variety is the spice of life!
L-Some people are surprised to hear this, but I think it is really good that we often do not agree on the pieces to be selected.   We will both argue, sometimes passionately, for certain pieces to be included.  It comes down to evaluating the pieces for their strengths, and then we often compromise over several quilts.
12.  What is the best thing and what is the worst thing about being a curator?
J- Having a stunning exhibit.  Sending rejection letters.
L-I feel honored to be able to see all these amazing works of art.  It is an absolute thrill to see the selected quilts hanging in a show!  As Jamie said, declining someone's work is an unpleasant task. 
13. Do you think it is helpful to have a consistent size for all the pieces in an exhibition. If so, why? 
J-The same size gives the exhibit a unified look.  Easier to store in my studio.  It is easier to hang, because they are all the same size, and instead of looking how uneven pieces hang together, you can concentrate your efforts on how the color and design hangs together.
L-Since our themes allow so much room for interpretation the uniform size provides a stunning visual cohesiveness to the collective group.  We must stack the quilts and roll them into a gigantic 'burrito" for shipping and storage between shows.  Having one size makes this much, much easier.
14.  What was your reason for wanting to curate? 
J-I have curated many exhibits and have always found it both a challenge and quite fun to put together a show with the work of many talented artists, with different styles, color palettes, design elements and achieve a knock out exhibit.  When I found out that IQF was coming to Long Beach in 2008, I put together an exhibit, "Everything Under the Sun" which showcased group quilts all about Long Beach.  Asking Leslie to join me in curating Edges in 2009 was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
L-I have curated numerous exhibitions in a small gallery I was involved with here in San Antonio.  Jamie and I co-curated an online exhibition, and she invited me to co-curate Edges.  The rest is history!
15.  I'd love to know how your would express your goals/mission/intentions in curating the exhibit. And how you feel you have achieved it.
J-I defer to what Leslie says below -
L-The goals are (hopefully!) outlined in our call for entry with each exhibition.  The mission is always the same:  we ask artists to interpret a theme in the form of a quilted construction that is specifically created for  the exhibition.  Once that process as culminated in the submission of the finished quilt, we have the opportunity to explore what the artist has decided to create.  If the art reflects the theme, has good composition, use of color, value, and perhaps even texture, and we can understand the meaning of the piece through a well-articulated artist statement, we feel we have achieved our purpose as curator/jurors. 

Jamie Fingal - Orange, CA

1.  What do you call yourself - art wise?  I am an artist, but when referring to my art quilting - I am a Contemporary Quilt Maker...or perhaps a Rebel Quilter.
2.  How do you jump start your creativity when you are in a slump?  This does not occur very often, but when it does, I go shopping to see colors, shapes and patterns.  The dish department can be very inspirational.  I also enjoy taking pictures of obscure items.
3.  If money wasn't an issue, what would you do with your art?  Public art projects for local libraries, schools and non-profits.  Can you imagine the possibilities?!
4.  Do you keep a sketchbook, journal, etc.?  Yes, I keep a sketchbook/journal of my ideas for projects, and a record of every piece I make during a given year, complete with title, size and artists statement.  I keep a running list of what pieces are available to enter in shows.  I also carry a small sketchbook in my purse, because you never know where or when inspiration will come from.
5.  Where can people see your other work this year?  The Sketchbook Challenge on-line. 101 Patchwork Projects magazine. I taped a segment for Quilting Arts TV Series 800 at IQF Cincinnati.  My art quilt "Soul Sisters" is traveling with the Alliance for American Quilts - Grand Prize Winner 2011.  Upcoming Workshop DVD for Quilting Arts about color, design and working abstract.  Sacred Threads exhibition in Virginia June 22-July 4th.  I made a zippy 3-D house for the Artists Village, an invitational project by Kathy York. The House Quilt Project - making house quilts for wounded warriors (url below).  My artwork will be featured in two mixed media books next year.
6.  Do you teach?  Yes!  International Quilt Festival in Long Beach (July) and Houston (Nov). Create in Chicago (August) and the schedule is on this blog.
7.  Is there a particular artist who had influenced you in your art life? and why?  Long admirer of Klimt, Kandinsky, and Kahlo.  In my work as a quilt artist, Terrie Mangat and Yvonne Porcella for their whimsical delight.
8. Where or what show do you hope your work will be in someday?  A girl can dream... Quilt National and Quilt Visions.
9.  Describe your studio workspace.  600 square feet divided into 4 rooms in an office park that is less than a song away from my house.  Design room with fusing table and stash, 2 sewing stations, a design wall, an office, and a really messy storage room.  It's a sacred place.
10.  What 3 tools could you not live without?  Only 3?  Who came up with this number?  I'm going with 5 - Sewing machine, Mistyfuse, scissors, Bess 2 and a digital camera.
11.  What drives you to make the work that you do?  I have something to say! Sometimes with serious intent, but most times, just fun.  It's inside me and yearning to get out on paper and cloth.  Make time for art!
12.  How do you balance your life?  Family first.  Studio time is Monday through Friday and I rarely bring work home.  I think that having my studio out of the house has helped me to balance my life. It's not perfect, but it works for me.  And yoga is a part of my life too. My nights and weekends are devoted to the two of us, family and friends. I still make dinner almost every night, which I enjoy and my husband (my biggest fan) and I love to entertain.

http://JamieFingalDesigns.blogspot.com/

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