Sneak Preview of Challenge Quilt

I am participating in my first Quilt Challenge group -- a little personal challenge in follow-through for me, since I tend to get lots of things started and then, whoops, quite a few of them drop by the wayside. The challenge is one in which 12 participants each make a smallish art quilt every two months, with each member choosing a theme single word in turn. The word/theme for the first quilt is "wall." And along the same set of goals, here is my mantra for the month:" MAKE ART EVERYDAY. No matter what else is going on, or where ever else I am other than the studio (this month has a good deal of travel for teaching in it). So far, so good!

For the quilt challenge, I decided to continue some work I 've been doing with prehistoric imagery for this first challenge -- since it seemed to be a perfectly good fit -- rock walls, rock art! And it's given me a great opportunity to continue experimenting with transfers using polyester film and textile medium -- an interesting way to get a kind of organic quality to the image that fits the theme.

I also wanted to try and use words in each of the challenge quilts, but this one may take the prehistoric images as a preword word! If I find a poem or excerpt from a poem about cave walls or shamens maybe I will try to work it in via the quilting. If this one doesn't work out, I have another piece of fabric in the works that might be better. It's been interesting for me to have a two month stretch to work since usually I don't spend this much time on a small art quilt.

This photo shows the kind of effects you have from the image transfer, though this is a sample from another project, not fabric I am using in this piece.

This work was inspired by the Petroglyphs and Prehistory workshop that I taught here at El Cielo this fall. You can see more of the design work that is adding up in this piece on my blog entry for that event here.

How to make an art quilt my way, part 2

When last you saw this quilt ....After being stuck for a time, and being out of town for longer, I finally made some real progress on what is turning out to be someone living an archetypal life between Eve and Our Lady of Guadalupe, complete with pomegranates, of course.

The snake snuck in, though. And a new arm.

 

When we last left this quilt, it was still on the design table. I got it fused together, and then up on the wall for final fiddling around and problem solving. I also took lots of photos and screened the results on the computer to start the process of thinking how I will trim the finished product -- though That Decision won't really come until the end, after all the quilting.

Next I go to the machine (or machines -- I am considering renting time on the local quilt shop's long arm to do the "first layer" of free motion work. I don't much like it for all the detail work, since I like to change colors of thread. One factor pushing me this way is that it seems my machine is acting up and, gee, I suppose it must be time for a service call.

How to make an art quilt if you're me

 

Start with color.

 

I do this a lot. Over and over. Til its right from the beginning. And yes, the studio stays a mess til this part is done.

(and a bit of a notion of an idea, theme, relation to something earlier done)

Continue with shape and composition.

Work from strong suit to strong suit.

Keep it on the table until it's together enough to put on the wall.

(Where I am now.)

Pin up and look. Keep it up. (still to come)

This pomegranate virgin is in my heart, singing of abundance, life force, generousity of spirit. I am holding her in my heart right now.

What is your process? Where is your strong suit? Do you let yourself start there or try to follow someone else's formula for success. I think your main task as an artist is to discover those gifts, honor them, and let them lead your process. Don't believe other people's formulas. Maybe you try them out to see what works and not, but in the end, just as you stitch together your cloth, you stitch together your way  of working. It will be as unique and as personal and as much a part of your "voice" as any other aspect of visual style or content.

Art Quilts at Baylor

Jack Brockette sent along this photo -- his wife Ann took it, I think.

This exhibit at Baylor University's Martin Museum is up through the weekend, Nov. 14. If you are in Central Texas, please stop in and see the wonderful and diverse work by the participating artists: (in no particular order) Jack Brockett, Sue Benner, Liz Axford, Connie Scheele, Jane Dunnewold, Ann Adams, and me. I am honored to be included in such a group of stellar artists!

The exhibit was curated by Mary Ruth Smith, who is on the faculty at Baylor, and beatifully installed by the museum staff headed by Karin Gilliam. We were hosted by the university at a luncheon and lecture by Kay Lenkowsky, quilt artist and author of Contrmporary Art Quilts. It was a treat to meet her, and to spend time with all of these talented artists. Our work is so different and the exhibit revealed much to the local audience -- many of whom I think had never seen a quilt that wasn't made for a bed.

I grew up from age 12 to 18 in Waco, so it was a particular treat for me to be part of this show and to have all my family and relatives there able to attend. My father taught at Baylor for many years, my uncle was a dean and VP and my aunt also taught there, plus brothers and sister-in-laws, all are grads. My parents don't travel much anymore, so it was really wonderful to have them attend the reception.

Here are a few pictures from the reception:

Kate and Liz deep in talk.

 You can catch a glimspe here of Jack's hanging work and Jane Dunnewold's piece on the wall.

Here's a few other pictures from artists who participated, with their permission:

Sue Benner's "Cellular Structure VII"

Liz Axford's "9-patch" take with felted stitched work: