Susie Monday . El Cielo Studio

The day has ended as one of those brilliantly blue-skied almost October afternoons, surprising and glorious after a humid morning that couldn't decide its season. Just after noon a small group of us took off from El Cielo following the scenic route to Kerrville (Hwy. 16 to Hwy 173 north) for the opening of the Texas Invitational Art Quilt exhibit.

The show was hung in a renovated and repurposed post office, with high ceilings, good lighting and warm hospitality.

 Mary Ann Littlejohn, Houston, and Martha Grant, Boerne, were two of the other artists whose work marched around the room.

 Martha's piece, the puzzle-shaped one is titled "No border, no picture on the lid of the box, no box..."

Mary Ann's square of pieced original fabrics is "Neon Etude." 

 
Martha and Mary Ann both visited the studio  before we drove to Kerrville.

Here's what we ate before the opening -- a fritatta made with eggs from a local farmstead.  First preheat the broiler. Mix the following well:
10 beaten eggs
8 pieces of finely chopped sundried tomatoes
6 oz.feta, crumbled
2 T. chopped red onion
1/3 cup sliced fresh basil
salt and pepper
Melt 1/2 stick butter in a large oven proof skillet, preferably non-stick
Add the egg mixture and cook over medium hot heat, pulling away the sides to let the liquidy eggs on top flow under. When almost completely set, add about 2-3 more T of cheese, any kind, put under a hot broiler to toast and puff the top.
Slide out onto a warm platter, cover until serving and serve either warm or room temp.

And here's one of my two pieces in the exhibit. (I've been posting teasers, you notice!). If you'd like to know more about the processes that turn a stack of fabric into one of my art quilts, see this blog journal for Sept. 9.

"Our Lady of San Pedro." 2006 

Have you bought your Gee's Bend stamps yet? These beautiful US Postal stamps transform every envelope into a work of art, and the story behind them is a counter-remedy for an entire network broadcast hour of bad news (at least). I assume those of you reading this as artists and quiltmakers know the storyline, and know that a new exhibit of Gee's Bend quilts is making its way around the country now.

The women who made the original quilts -- first elevated into the (capitol A) art world by collector and art historian William Arnett in 1998 -- have made new ones, and their children and grandchildren are piecing more still, some of the youngest generation using computers for design! The new October issue of Smithsonian magazine includes a lengthy and well written story about the quiltmakers and their journeys from poverty to museum walls, "Fabric of Their Lives," by  Amei Wallach. The story answers the questions many of us had about how the museum exhibits and acclaim have changed the lives of the makers, and provides insight into the creative process(es) that guide(s) their work. The article is not yet on the Smithsonian magazine site, it posts these articles only after a couple of months, it appears.

I've only seen pictures, and I did not get to Houston for the exhibit this summer, but I am planning a trip to Austin for the exhibit there. Reading the story of what this work has done for the women, for their community and for all of us, I am reminded of the work of the potters of Mata Ortiz. There, too, creative work, dreams and the longing of all of us for genuine and heart-true craft and art has transformed lives, brought change and new perspectives to the artists and their lives. Will the youngest generation's computer aided designs be as powerful as the original work denim and clothing factory scraps? Who knows? At least, with these powerful images, we see the power of creative work, of hands on fabric, of  the transformative power of individual voice and spirit.

If you are reading this and live within a recreational drive of Kerrville , here's a Saturday suggestion -- Two of my art quilts will be on the wall at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center as part of  the "Texas Invitational Art Quilt Show." The opening is this Saturday, 2-4 pm and the exhibit will be on display through Oct. 22, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10-4; Sundays 1-4 pm. Artists invited by curator Janet Ghio include  Ginny Eckley, Martha Grant, Sue Benner, Jane Bishop, Mary Ann Littlejohn, Carolyn Dahl, Kim Ritter, Susan Lewis Story and Vicki Hallmark. I made my very first art quilt in a workshop taught by Sue Benner, so I feel really privileged to be in an exhibit with her -- and all these other inspiring artists.

You are also invited to a celebratory brunch before the show here at El Cielo Studio, but send me a comment "RSVP" so that I can email directions to the studio (and have enough pan dulce, cheese grits and tequilla sangria on hand!) How's that for a bicultural menu? 

The seasons are blurring. Summer into something not quite summer. Fall is illusive elusive in South Texas, but a little cold front, and finally a little blessed rain, have signed their names on the calendar. This is our most poignant season, with all the beauty of spring, but the edges are ragged after heat, and, this year especially, the dry, dry, dry days of summer.