A very interesting exhibition is on right now in Philadelphia. From delicate cake decoration motifs to metal sculpture, from revealing lingerie to fences and landscaping... Three designers were chosen to interpret lace patterns. They did it with great gusto!
The Lace in Translation show features the works of Demakersvan, a Rotterdam (Holland) design studio, TordBoontje, a Dutch-born designer who works in France, and Cal Lane, a Canadian sculptor who now lives in Putnam, New York.
Here is an excerpt about sculptor Cal Lane's source of inspiration:
"...objects, once relied upon for their durability, are transformed via oxyacetylene torch into delicate and decorative skeletons... Lane borrows a tradition from her grandmother who sifted powdered sugar through a stencil to create a powdered print on cakes."
In workshops given by master quilters, which I attended eons ago, I remember our well-known teachers urging us to "work big". This would qualify, I think.
Until October 29th, Quilt National 2009 is travelling and will be on exhibit at the Foundry Art Centre, in St-Charles, Missouri.
Here is a video report from someone who attended. There are many very eloquent pieces in the show, some of them about war, some about feminist issues, or about the earth... Overall, the 85 or so pieces in the show are powerful means of expression, largely by women...
My quilt, Tunicates #1, is in there. Here is a link to an article about the show in the local paper, the St. Louis Beacon.
It was a real pleasure for me to travel to Ohio, to be there for the opening of Quilt National, back in May... I really enjoyed meeting artists from the US, Europe and Australia. An eye opener!
Summer so far: a whirlwind of activity. Not much time in the studio. I have spent a lot of time outdoors, enjoying the weather and taking hundreds of pictures. My image bank is growing.
I hope to translate some of those images, make them work. Some new pieces are being assembled... slowly.
Actually, I have stopped worrying about being productive. What a relief! This is the season of gathering: gathering fruit, and ideas. Inspiration.
Last Tuesday, the Mayne Island Quilt Guild hosted Hands Across the Water, an annual get-together that attracts visitors from several Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island.
A kind Saturna captain gave us a ride to Village Bay, on nearby Mayne Island (a very nice half-hour on the water) where we were met by Judy, our hostess. Judy drove us to the event, and provided many insights on Mayne Island along the way.
The event was held in a seaside pavilion at Dinner Bay Park, near the grounds of the Japanese Garden. Many quilts were on display in the Japanese Garden, right on the fence. A beautiful outdoor setting! Great lunch al fresco, fantastic Show and Share, something I haven't enjoyed in years because I don't attend guild meetings anymore...
This is my slide show of that sunny day. Hope you enjoy it!
Barbra and I really basked in this opportunity to meet people from Galiano, the Penders, Mayne (of course!) and Duncan, on Vancouver Island.
Visiting quilters will want to know that the Mayne Island Quilt Guild meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 9 am, at the Agricultural Hall, near Miners' Bay.
My special thanks to our Mayne Island hostesses: we won't forget your hospitality.
While I was at Quilt National 2009 (see my report on that trip here) in Ohio, a couple of weeks ago, I was fascinated by some of the pieces on display. Some of the artists used - very effectively - a special technique to create their images, the "discharge" process. When you discharge colour, you remove it from an area, using various chemicals and tools.
Bob Adams, celebrated artist and teacher, has considerable experience with this process. In this video, Bob explains very nicely how you go about discharging dye from fabric:
While it's easy enough to do, Bob clearly explains in his video that safety precautions are a must: use a proper respirator mask and gloves to protect yourself. Personally, it's something I would do outdoors, or under a covered area - like a carport.
In Canada, surface design supplies (including Thiourea Dioxide, one of the discharge chemicals) can be ordered online at Maiwa Textiles or G&S Dye. Maiwa also posts this detailed PDF instruction sheet that gives you the recipes for discharge paste (like the one Bob used in the above video). To find out where you can buy the chemical elsewhere, just Google Thiourea Dioxide.
If you prefer a simpler approach, try this little experiment with a bleach pen, an eraser carved with your motif, and a little bit of dark fabric:
My thanks go out to "Smidgen" who posted the above video on Youtube.
Well, I don't know about you, but it's time for me to go play outside. Later!
