Quilts=Art=Quilts

I was thrilled to have two art quilts accepted to the very competitive Quilts=Art=Quilts at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn, NY.  One of the pieces "Circus Time" had been exhibited in the Artist As Quiltmaker exhibit in Oberlin, Ohio, but the other piece "Going In Circles" made its premier debut at the Schweinfurth. I was really happy it was accepted because I think it is the best work I have done for awhile, and because Jan Myers-Newbury was one of the judges, and I am in awe of her work! Here's an image of Going In Circles:

c.2012 Going In Circles 32" x 38"

detail of Going In Circles

The exhibit runs from October 28 through January 6, 2013. I went for the opening - had to see my babies on the wall - and really enjoyed it. The museum does an excellent job of curating the show, and they were very gracious and welcoming to the artists at the opening.

The museum had sold a few pieces at the opening. I haven't heard if any others have sold, but that's always of interest. If you can get to the show, I highly recommend it.

You can see "Circus Time" here- February 4, 2012 post.

Ego less

Robert Genn's twice weekly letter had this quote yesterday:

 "Artists shouldn't enter competitions until they are tough enough to realize it is only opinion and not a reflection on their worth. It is equally dangerous to lull yourself into thinking you are great just because you place in a show." (Mary Moquin) 

A good reminder that we make art, not to please others, but to express ourselves. The end result should be the the expression of an idea, feeling, thought, along with an exploration of color and composition.

There are so many stories of an art work being turned down by jury after jury, and then being accepted into a prestigious show. The jury, venue and cohort are all variables we can't control. And, as they say about the lottery, you can't win if you don't enter.

Others have written about the thrill of being accepted into Quilt National, and the feeling of "is that all there is?" after the opening. I haven't entered QN, or an IQA show, but I'm feeling like it is time to make that leap. For me, putting the work out there is about 1/4 of the pleasure of creating the work. Hearing someone say they really responded to one of my works is very gratifying - I like that feeling of connection and communication. But it's the time in the studio that is most satisfying. Trying to make an idea come to life is like doing self therapy. I'm mostly talking myself through a problem, and if the result speaks to someone else on the planet than that's an extra bonus. 

Every artist's motivation to create, and exhibit, is probably a little different. If you're an artist, why do you create - and do you exhibit too? Some artists can create just for themselves, and don't need, or want to exhibit.

Robert Genn's site

SAQA Auction 2012

Here's my contribution to the SAQA Auction - I titled it "Spring Moons". Working in 12" square is a real challenge for me. The composition has to look good as a thumbnail photo, and as a small quilt. It's a good exercise in using design principles. This little beauty took about two days to design and put together.
The SAQA auction starts in September. It is a great way to collect art that is small, and can be hung in small places, or as a grouping. Like every non-profit, SAQA is in need of more support than it can get from membership fees. Please save up and support the auction!

Spring Moons 2012 12" x 12"

The Benefits of Community

Spending time with people who share a passion is a confirming, and rejuvenating experience. The SAQA/SDA conference had speakers who were interesting and even thought provoking at times. But the time spent at meals, over coffee or drinks, or late at night in hotel rooms with other artists, is the reason to attend a conference.

It's an opportunity to learn from others. To talk about our struggles as artists. To build a network of friends who know who you are, and what you do. It's a chance to be in a room with over 200 people who speak your language, and hear your voice.

It's also an opportunity to have free flowing conversations that sometimes lead to new ideas, invigorate the desire to succeed, and laugh out loud - a lot! It is a freeing environment, because for the most part, artists at the SAQA/SDA conference are happy to meet a new person, and know they may find a new friend/mentor/student. Or just someone to say hello to at the next conference. We put names to faces, and to their work.

Most of us are middle aged or older, dress comfortably, and like Clark Kent, are mild mannered women (in public). We don't look like we make fantastic pieces of art. It's wonderful to look around a room and see people who you know love color, line, shapes and textiles, just like you.

Being part of this community event has many advantages. The results are enhanced networking, learning, laughing, understanding, inspiration, perspective and probably many others I can't think of right now. Next year the SAQA conference is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and I'm already looking forward to it!

Fiber Philadelphia and SAQA/SDA conference

The Fiber Philadelphia exhibit and the Studio Art Quilt Associates conference are this weekend, and I am anticipating a thought provoking, inspiration inducing, and laugh out loud good time. The conference is jointly produced every other year by SAQA and the Surface Design Association, and they are intense learning experiences, and great networking opportunities.

The exhibits, including, Art Quilt Elements, and Fiber Philadelphia should make for a very full weekend. After the conference, I'll be attending a 3 day shibori workshop with Jan Myers Newbury. I've taken two workshops with Jan before, but I learn something new every time. She's been dyeing fabric on a pole for 25 years, so her knowledge would take a long time to dispense. I'll soak up all I can get in her workshops.

Taiwan International Quilt Exhibit 2012

I think I'm going to start singing that Mary Chapin Carpenter song "I'm feeling lucky", although we wouldn't be referring to the same thing at all.  But 2012 is starting out very well for acceptances to juried exhibits.

The Taiwan Art Quilt Society holds an international exhibit every two years, and I've never entered a piece before this year. It just seemed too far away to be real. But others who entered where excited by the quality of the exhibit, and praised the organizers. So I took a chance, and my piece was accepted. I'm feeling lucky!

The acceptance to the Artist As Quiltmaker makes two acceptances within 3 months. My goal for the year is 4 acceptances, so if I can keep myself producing new work, entering and being accepted, I'll be pleased with my work. I've entered 4 exhibits, and been accepted to 2. The 50/50 acceptance rate is the same as last year. Instead of being discouraged about rejection, I look toward the next entry.

The theme for the Taiwan exhibit is Rivers/Waters, and I had an art quilt that was about the melting glaciers that are caused by climate change and global warming. I fine tuned the quilt, and entered it. It's pretty amazing to think my quilt will be in Taiwan - wish I could travel with it. Wouldn't it be a thrill to be in Taiwan at the opening?

Melting c.2012 by Jeanne Marklin

Why Pinterest feels icky

Pinterest has taken off as another social media site, or a time sucker, however you perceive it.
An art group I belong to organized a group board about 2 months ago. After pinning for a couple of days, I lost interest in it. Without discussion, just looking at images as a group seems pointless. I need the verbal discourse to keep my brain stimulated. And it was time that could have been better spent in the studio, where time is at a premium.

A couple of list serves have had intense discussions about the pro's and con's of Pinterest. A member sent a link to this website that advocates for Artist's rights: Artists Bill of Rights
It points out the fact that when you sign the contract for being a member of Pinterest (and who reads all those pages of words in those contracts?) it includes

By making available any Member Content through the Site, Application or Services, you hereby grant to Cold Brew Labs a worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, royalty-free license, with the right to sublicense, to use, copy, adapt, modify, distribute, license, sell, transfer, publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, stream, broadcast, access, view, and otherwise exploit such Member Content only on, through or by means of the Site, Application or Services. Cold Brew Labs does not claim any ownership rights in any such Member Content and nothing in these Terms will be deemed to restrict any rights that you may have to use and exploit any such Member Content.

I read that as the parent company can do anything with any image you post to your boards.

Some of the concerns that people have expressed are about images and artwork being used to make retail products, patterns, cards, mugs, mouse pads, posters - the list goes on. This has happened, so it isn't as far fetched as it seems. If you find that a company, or individual has violated your copyright, you can file with Pinterest - but their terms say that they will go after repeated copyright infractions. How many times is repeated? And who has the time to keep up with this stuff? They also strip the metadata that you put in your images, so it can be very difficult for people to give you credit, if they understand that there should be credit given. Copyright law is not understood by the general public.

My work is extremely personal, and I love sharing it. But it feels kind of icky to think it is out there for the world to see, without even my name on it. Since I put so much time, energy and thought into the work, it's difficult to think it can just be sent off anywhere in the world.  For those who don't create original work, and understand the effort that goes into it, this may be hard to understand. But it is hard work, and should be respected just as any work deserves respect.

So far, it looks like a website that may be valuable to retailers. Until they are more respectful of copyright, I'll stay off it. And be in the studio!