Kate Themel, Artist

Last Installment: Mystery Picture

2012-01-22T14:18:00.001-05:00

No one has guessed the building or the city yet, so I’m going to post one last photo update before the contest ends. Maybe you can pick out some distinguishing characteristics. And now for a few hints:

The city depicted here is in Connecticut
It is not Hartford
The title of this piece is “Morgan’s Flight”

Good luck everyone!

This will be the last photo update of “Morgan’s Flight” as a work-in-progress. The next time I post a photo of this piece it will be finished. Stay tuned

Next Installment of the mystery quilt

2012-01-16T16:12:00.001-05:00

Well, we have a couple of close guesses so far. Norma and Carol both guessed that these shapes are buildings. Correct!

Carol wins for being the first to guess buildings as seen from above. Congratulations Carol!

But it’s not over yet, folks! I’m posting another installment to see if anyone can be more specific. Can you tell me what building is featured, or guess the city? If you can, I’ll send you a box of cards as well.

HINT: It’s somewhere in New England.

I’ll leave the contest open until January 28th. Happy guessing, everyone!

Can you guess what this is?

2012-01-09T16:18:00.001-05:00

You may have noticed that I haven’t posted any new photos in a while. That’s because for weeks I couldn’t find the adapter thingy that hooks my camera into my PC to download photos. Not sure if that is funny or just sad. Anyway…

Found it!

Let’s start the year off right with a little contest and super-fabulous prize give away, shall we?

CLUES: This is a photo of a work-in-progress. It is a full view, not a detail. The finished piece will be about 45in.x 45in. It has roughly 4 layers of color right now. By the time it’s finished it may have 12-15 layers. Any guesses?

CHALLENGE: Add a comment to guess what person/place/thing is the inspiration behind this piece!

If you are the first person to guess correctly, I’ll send you a box of my newest greeting cards. The box will include 4 cards featuring “Dandelion” and 4 cards featuring “GottaHavaCuppa”, along with 8 envelopes in a lovely gold foil stationery box.

If there is no winner by the end of January, I’ll post a new photo or detail a little further along in the process.

Have fun and good luck!

~Kate

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T11:19:00.001-05:00

Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Inspiring New Year

May 2012 be filled with creativity, joy and color!

I’m on the Cover!

2011-12-07T13:32:00.001-05:00

… Well, my quilt is, anyway.

I’m very happy to share with you a sneak peak at next month’s MACHINE QUILTING UNLIMITED magazine:

That’s my “Teapot” on the cover! Now, I know it’s not mature and dignified to say things like super duper, but I am super-duper excited! I can’t wait until January when this issue hits the news stands.

Inside you’ll find an article about my artistic journey and photos of some of my work.

You can buy MQU magazine at JoAnn Fabrics, select quilt stores, or by subscription. http://mqumag.com/order-a-subscription/

It was my great pleasure to work with Kit Robinson and Vicki Anderson at MQU. Thanks Vicki and Kit, for your generosity and patience, and for all the hard work you put into every issue!

“Stars” Accepted into Art Quilt ELEMENTS

2011-10-26T19:56:00.001-04:00

Yippeeee!!!

I am THRILLED to announce that Stars Not Included has been accepted into Art Quilt Elements 2012!

AQE 2012 is the 10th Exhibition of this internationally acclaimed show set in suburban Philadelphia. "One of the distinctions of our show is our professional presentation of art quilts. The exhibition has been widely praised by reviewers and artists not only for exhibiting the quilts in a gallery setting but also for promoting the art quilt as an art form.”

This year, jurors David McFadden, Sandra Sider and Elizabeth Barton reviewed over 660 entries from all around the world. They selected 48 quilts, representing artists from 42 US States and 11 countries. I am very happy to be one of the 28 first-time exhibitors.

Art Quilt Elements will run from March 30 – May 13, 2012

Please see the show in person if you have a chance!

The Wayne Art Center
413 Maplewood Ave, Wayne, PA 19087 / phone: 610-688-3553
email: info@wayneart.org

My Trunk Show Quilt Part of Permanent Collection at Kresge Art Museum (Michigan State Univ.)

2011-10-21T14:18:00.001-04:00

I’m thrilled to share the news that my SAQA Trunk Show quilt, Luka’s Eyes, has been chosen to become part of the permanent collection at Kresge Art Museum at Michigan State University.

This little portrait, like all the trunk show pieces, measures 8x8 in. and is matted in a 12x12 frame.

The show’s theme called for artists to answer the question “How do we as SAQA members explain what we do – create quilts – without people immediately thinking of a nine patch that goes on your bed?”

The entire Trunk Show contains 268 small art quilts and will travel around the world from now until 2013. This week, my quilt is somewhere between Oregon and Northern California.

Fifty quilts were chosen to become part of Kresge Art Museum’s permanent collection at the end of the exhibition.

It’s a little sad to think that “Luka” will not be coming back to me after his amazing tour, but I think he has found a very nice home.

Sketching: Small Study of Light

2011-09-29T14:10:00.001-04:00

Lately I’ve been working on the idea of bright lights surrounded by darkness – what kind of colors and effects are created with different kinds of lighting, etc.

This week I created a small sketch (8” x 10”) based on a photo my brother took while visiting Spain. The setting is some kind of alley or side street, I think. And the cobblestone is slightly wet.

With this piece I’m testing out some ideas about shadows and the way light is reflected off wet stones vs. dry stucco. Like any sketch, I tried to work “quickly” (2 days) and not over think it; I just wanted to create the illusion of light in general.

Over the next few months I’ll be experimenting and testing out different theories with these little pieces, until I get a handle on the idea for a large composition. I’ll share my sketches as I go along. Hope you enjoy them!

“After the Wake” will be on display with A Show of Heads (Hudson, NY)

2011-09-20T12:10:00.001-04:00

My portrait, After the Wake has been accepted into “A Show of Heads”, a multi media art exhibition presented by SlowArt Productions, publisher of Direct Art Magazine.

It will be on display at the Limner Gallery in Hudson, NY from November 3 - 27, 2011.

Reception: Sat. Nov.5, 2011 5 – 7 PM

Open to all artistic media, the exhibition includes various interpretations and portrayals of the human head, from the traditional to the abstract and conceptual.

LIMNER GALLERY
123 Warren Street
Hudson, NY 12534
518-828-2343
TheLimner@aol.com

Gallery Hours
Wed through Sat: 12pm - 5pm
Sunday: 11am - 4pm

“GottaHavaCuppa” SOLD: 2011 SAQA Benefit Auction

2011-09-16T11:31:00.001-04:00

SAQA Benefit Auction officially began on Monday September 12th at 2pm Eastern Standard Time. After one week, SAQA has sold 25 pieces and raised over $10,000!

My auction quilt "GottaHavaCuppa" went up for bid on Monday and was sold on Wednesday.

There are still MANY beautiful art quilts available, but they are going fast! Please visit SAQA’s website and consider bidding on any one of these lovely 12x12 quilts to help support fiber art.

SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) is a non-profit 501c3 corporation. Your donation to SAQA is tax-deductible and very much appreciated! http://www.saqa.com/saqa-u.php?ID=1791

“Dandelion” Earns the People’s Choice Award at Quilt National

2011-09-06T10:30:00.001-04:00

The final results are in!

Visitors to Quilt National in Athens had the opportunity to see all 85 quilts and vote for their favorite. At the end of the show’s run at the Dairy Barn Art Center yesterday, the votes were counted and “Dandelion” was named the winner of the People’s Choice Award!

I am so thrilled to see the announcement on Dairy Barn’s website. http://www.dairybarn.org/quilt/index.php?section=226&page=366

Winning the People’s Choice Award means so much to me as an artist. This is NOT to take anything away from Young Emerging Artist award, which is an incredible honor to win.

But the People’s Choice has nothing to do with me as a person or my age. It is based on my artwork speaking for itself, making a connection to viewers. That is a true thrill. WOW!!

Thank you Dairy Barn Art Center and everyone who made the trip to see the show.

If you missed Quilt National in Ohio, you can see the exhibition in St. Charles, Missouri at the Foundry Art Centre. Visit Quilt National’s page for an updated schedule:

http://dairybarn.org/quilt/index.php?section=226&page=245

New Work: “Stars Not Included”

2011-09-01T10:39:00.001-04:00

My latest piece “Stars Not Included”, in case you are not familiar with sailing/navigational equipment, is based on a mariner’s sextant. This tool has been around for centuries, helping sailors find their way across the oceans and back home again.

Although I haven’t sailed in years and even then we didn’t use a sextant, making this piece brought back memories of racing in Long Island Sound. I can smell the sunscreen and salt water now!

The basic principle of the sextant uses 2 fixed reference points to help the sailor figure out his/her location. Typically the 2 fixed points are the horizon line (which I can easily find) and a known star or constellation (this is where I am completely useless. Hence the title).

I love the beautifully complex shape and different metal finishes on this little technological marvel, especially the polished brass scope. Maybe I like the scope because I actually know what that part does, unlike the rest of the dials, wires and mirrors. Those are a complete mystery.

To me, that “unknown” quality makes this object even more intriguing. Or maybe I’m like a bird, simply mesmerized by anything shiny.

“Dandelion” featured as the Jaw Dropper in MQU Magazine! (Machine Quilting Unlimited, Sept/Oct issue)

2011-08-23T10:20:00.001-04:00

I received an early copy of Machine Quilting Unlimited magazine – and was THRILLED to see my “Dandelion” featured on page 78, in the section labeled “Jaw Dropper”!

The current (Sept/Oct 2011) issue of MQU magazine will go out to subscribers and select fabric stores September 1st.

Look for the cover, showing a detail of Ann Horton’s quilt “Honoring Those Who Served”.

Sneak peak of the contents and Editor’s note here: http://www.mqumag.com/media/uploads/2011/08/15/files/TOC_Sept_.pdf

Check out the MQU website for information on how to order the current issue or subscribe: http://www.mqumag.com/home/

Festival of Quilts Opens Today in Birmingham, England

2011-08-11T11:49:00.001-04:00

Boatman Sketch is on display now, as part of SAQA’s special exhibit in the Festival of Quilts.

The show opened today and will run until Sunday. If you happen to be in the Birmingham, United Kingdom area please stop by and see it!

National Exhibition Centre
Birmingham, West Midlands B40, United Kingdom

Website: http://www.twistedthread.com

Hours: Thurs - Sun:
10:00 am - 5:30 pm

“Blood Iris” is Complete – a grim name for a lovely flower

2011-08-04T19:02:00.001-04:00

All done! “Blood Iris” (also known as iris sanguinea) is complete, finished size 33” x 46”. I just finished the binding, which is a very light khaki green batik.

It was scary cutting so much off the top and sides, but in the end I think the tighter composition works better. There was just too much white space around the flower.

I also added a few different colors into the background stitching, to give an impression of something blurred in the background and further break up the white space. It’s very light, like a diluted watercolor wash. Some of the detail is lost because I took this photo with a flash, but you may be able to see some color variation in the detail below.

Thanks to my friend and fellow artist Martha Wolfe for the idea of quilting the background first (before I added the layers of fabric for the flower). That step saved me a lot of headaches later! I could really stitch a lot of details while the foundation remained flat. I didn’t have to worry about starting in the middle and working out towards the edges like you would do for a traditional quilt. I could just work on a section at a time, one color then the next.

I’m very happy with how this piece turned out. I’m considering entering it into a few shows but I’m kind of looking forward to just hanging it in my living room.

New Portrait: “Under Stress”

2011-07-31T20:30:00.001-04:00

So this week I have been watching the news… feeling a mixture of anger, fear, disgust and helplessness. I needed to break away from the TV and do something constructive!

When I entered my studio, this portrait was right in front of me. It has been on my design wall for a few months, pieced together but not quilted.

So I took a second look at it. It was mostly red and black. Stark. Ominous. Looking like a person who is preparing for the worst.

It seemed like a good place to work out my anxieties.

I used blue threads to represent patience, listening, meditation and thought, as a way to “cool down” the hot colors in the fabrics which represent conflict, noise, anger and fear.

I like the way the colors seem to vibrate next to each other. It looks uncomfortable and jumpy. Like a person who is quietly freaking out.

Finishing this portrait gave me a sense of accomplishment and control. In the end, I felt a lot better.

Of course the same problems remain in the world, and I still have anxieties about the future. But at least I didn’t spend all day stewing about it. If nothing else, I occupied my brain for several hours with lines and colors instead of worry and frustration. Good therapy!

Show & Tell Time: Update on “Iris”

2011-07-29T10:19:00.001-04:00

So here we are at the end of Phase 1. All the fabric pieces are in place, the background is quilted with big meandering stitches to give it some structure and strength as we move to Phase 2, quilting.

I was able to get quite a bit of detail with the pieces of fabric, partly because the composition is so large overall and I didn’t have to cut very tiny pieces. The finished work will be about the same size as “Dandelion”, roughly 3ft x 4ft.

Also, the hand dyed fabrics provide a lot of energy and variation within each color. The fabrics are doing a lot of the work for me. I love working with tie dyes and batiks, its like painting with watercolors.

Thinking of titles for the finished piece…

If you know my work you’ll know I don’t get all that fancy with the titles. I’m pretty literal most of the time. It makes it easier when I’m talking about a specific piece because people remember what it looks like, not the stylish name I made up. For example, I thought of naming this “The Day Before the Big Storm” because that’s when I took the original photo. But in the end I know everyone would end up calling this the Purple Flower quilt, or Japanese Iris. So maybe I’ll just go with that. It’s easier to put on a title card anyway. :-)

I know this flower is in the Japanese iris family but to be truly accurate, I had to look it up. Yes I have botany books in my library. Why? I never successfully cultivated a flower in my life (unless you count the Peace Lily that a friend gave me 10 years ago that I managed not to let die). But I love looking at flowers and learning their names – they have such cool names! I’m pretty sure the species I have in my yard is actually called “Iris sanguinea” or “Blood Iris”. Gardeners out there – any thoughts?

Stay tuned for updates on Phase 2 – detail stitching!

New Project: “Reminders”

2011-07-25T14:45:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone. Long time no post!

I started a new side project recently, called “Reminders”. I came across a great blog post on “Hyena in Petticoats”… it was a step by step guide to making a cathedral windows quilt. http://hyena-in-petticoats.blogspot.com/2007/08/cathedral-window-quilt-tutorial.html

I’m not a GREAT seam-matching precision piecing kind of gal, so I’ve always been a little intimidated by traditional quilt designs. But this one was easy! There is actually very little sewing involved. There is a LOT of folding fabric origami-style and ironing, so beware of the steam setting (I already scalded myself several times). In any case, I had a lot of small scraps of really beautiful batik fabrics which were languishing in plastic boxes. So I gave this project a try.

The nice thing about this project is that it is finished as you go. I can add rows of windows until I like the size. And it is automatically quilted when you sew the colored windows into place. Nice! When you sew each row, you are left with these floating folded triangles along the edge (see detail photo) – just waiting for the next row to hook on to them. So far I have 47 “windows” completed. My goal is to have 95.

The title “Reminders” refers to several ideas. 1. Each one of these fabrics is from a past composition. When I look at them, I’m reminded of how much I enjoy making fiber art! 2. It’s a reminder that things don’t have to be perfect to be beautiful and valuable. I might be tempted to focus on the mismatched points and uneven folds in the white fabric, but instead I’ll look at the beauty of those colorful little diamonds. 3. Why 95 windows? Followers of Baha’i faith repeat the name of God 95 times per day as a form of meditation & prayer. It is called an “obligatory daily remembrance”.

Basically I’m creating a visual reminder to myself to stop and reflect, to take some time to pray each day. And to look for the hidden gems in life. It can mean different things to different people.

Trip to DC for Sacred Threads

2011-07-17T15:44:00.001-04:00

Worth the trip! The Sacred Threads exhibition this year was incredible. To really appreciate the 170 quilts on display, you had to set aside at least a few hours. Unlike a typical art exhibition, the artist’s statement was included along with each piece. Learning the story behind each quilt was enlightening, powerful and at times heartbreaking.

I got to meet the lovely Lisa Ellis, who took over management of the show with Christine Adams after founders Vikki Pignatelli and Wendy Bynner stepped down. I also talked to Luana Rubin, owner of www.equilter.com (where I buy almost ALL my fabric and thread). She shared a few of her own quilts and talked about the design & creation of her fabrics.

I was thrilled to participate in this unique show, and plan to enter again in 2013.

Here are a few photos from my visit:

My sons Graeson and Luka admire their portraits.

Here is my sister Megan next to her portrait, looking much happier in real life.

Luka’s favorite quilt in the show was Arlene Wagner’s piece called “Make Me Smile”. Guess it worked! I asked Luka what he liked about it and he said it made him think of playing.

I love this one: “Primary Chairs” by Jeanette Thompson. To see it in person, you notice that one leg of the chair is broken, and different objects are placed on it to balance it out. For some reason it just spoke to me.

The “Walking in Love” special exhibit was amazing. I admired the beautiful, sheer drapery and individual panels made by various artists. My brother-in-law and husband noticed the awesome hanging system, specially made for this exhibit. I never would have seen the spiral-shaped copper pipes if they hadn’t pointed them out!

You can see more examples of Sacred Threads quilts on their website:

http://www.sacredthreadsquilts.com/html/gallery2011.html

Two Openings this Week: Herndon, VA and Morristown, NJ

2011-06-25T12:10:00.001-04:00

I have fiber art in two exhibitions that officially opened this week.

The Opening Reception for “Sacred Threads” is TODAY

After the Wake and Lemme See! are on display in Herndon, Virginia (just outside Washington DC) in the “Sacred Threads” exhibition.

Church of the Epiphany

330 Hidden Meadow Dr.

Herndon, VA

Sacred Threads is an exhibition of quilts exploring themes of spirituality, joy, inspiration, peace/brotherhood, grief and healing. This biennial exhibition was established to provide a safe venue for quilters who see their work as a connection to the sacred and/or as an expression of their spiritual journey.

Opening Reception Saturday, June 25 · 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Sacred Threads on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sacred-Threads-Quilts/116893261699431

For Planning Your Trip to Sacred Threads, please visit this webpage: http://www.sacredthreadsquilts.com/html/trip.html

******************************************

Monastery at Kosljun is at the Morris Museum in Morristown, NJ in the “Visual Thoughts” exhibition featuring artwork by Fiber Revolution.

Opening Reception Wednesday June 29, 2011, 6:30 – 9:00 PM

Morris Museum

6 Normandy Heights Road

Morristown, New Jersey

“Visual Thoughts: The Art of Fiber Revolution” will run from June 23 – October 16, 2011

*************************************

And if you are in the Ohio area, Dandelion will remain on display at The Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens until September 5, 2011.

The Dairy Barn Arts Center
8000 Dairy Lane
Athens, OH 45701

GALLERY HOURS
Tuesday 12:00-5:00pm
Wednesday 12:00-5:00pm
Thursday 12:00-8:00pm
Friday 12:00-5:00pm
Saturday 12:00-5:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm-5:00pm

Next up: “Iris”

2011-06-10T13:39:00.001-04:00

I’m anxiously waiting the new fabric and thread I ordered to arrive so I can start on my next piece, “Iris”. All those rich purples and greens… Yummy!

The other day (after surrendering in a fight with my PC over corrupted files), I took my camera outside to find hope and inspiration.

This lovely iris was growing right outside my front door! I love flowers but I’m definitely no gardener. We haven’t ‘planted’ anything other than grass seeds in the past 8 years. So anytime a real flower appears on our property I’m amazed.

Then last night we had a terrible storm which left the little guy still standing but sadly missing most of its petals. I’m so glad I took a picture of it before, so I can try to recreate its majesty in fabric. I have it sketched out; when finished it will be about 35”x50”. At that size, I wouldn’t expect finished photos for a while.

I may work on a few small sketch projects, to figure out a few things. If those turn out well I’ll share some pix. Stay tuned!

“Woops” is NOT good when using rotary cutters….

2011-06-06T18:57:00.001-04:00

Good news: “Sunflower” is now finished.
Bad news: I accidentally trimmed it about 1/2” too small. Argh!

The Japan show requires pieces be 20”x20” square. I can’t blame my tools, it was entirely my own fault. However, there’s a little red area on my new ruler, about 1/2 inch along one side, which I stupidly misread. The result is that I cut off too much from the edge of my quilt, making it 19 1/2” per side.

As my kids would say… DERP!

sigh, So now my options are:

1. hope the rules are kinda flexible on that size thing… or

2. make another sunflower the right size.

If I make another one, I think I could do a good job and maybe even improve it a little. And for once I have this done way ahead of the deadline (October), so I could feasibly finish another one with time to spare. But if I make another one, I’d want to change it a little (not just the size). Different color scheme? Another angle?

Any advise is welcome.

Ah, well. That’s why Norm Abram always says “Measure Twice, Cut Once”!!!

The other good news is that I really like this piece on its own. It’s still beautiful and makes me happy to see it. So even if it doesn’t go to Japan I won’t mind having it around the house.

Back to Work: Progress on “Sunflower”

2011-06-02T11:13:00.001-04:00

After all the excitement of the past week, I’m back to work in the studio, getting some of the quilting done on “Sunflower”. Here’s a sneak peak of the work in progress.

This composition will be 20” x 20” when finished, and will travel to Japan for the invitational Friendship Show in December.

Breaking from tradition, I’m trying to get this done ahead of the deadline in October. Actually once I figured out my approach, making its has been really fun to create.

“Sunflower” is the brand-new-box-of-Crayons kind of fun. I love the colors & the way the flower looks like it’s on fire. Seems like I’ve been in a color pendulum swing in my recent work… going from monochromatic gray to super bright, saturated orange & yellow.

At the moment I’m using the stitches to blend the colors on the petals and flesh out come additional details in the center – all those little seeds… Yikes! I’m also thinking of changing some of those dark red sections on the left; it may be too much of a solid color. Maybe I’ll add a few pieces of batik or modeled hand dyes on top to break it up. It will mean tearing out a lot of stitching and re-doing that section, but might be worth it. We’ll see. Stay tuned!

Young Emerging Artist Award at Quilt National!

2011-05-30T11:57:00.001-04:00

I'm honored and overjoyed to announce that "Dandelion" has earned me the "Young Emerging Artist" (YEA) Award, sponsored by Katie & Bobby Masopust.

What a thrill to be there and meet the artists, many of whom I have admired for a long time. And to see a little diamond-shaped badge on my name tag denoting a special recognition.... WOW!

I can finally share a photo of the finished piece. It will be on tour with QN for about 2 years, and then off to its new owner (“Dandelion” was sold during QN’s Opening Weekend). Strange to think it won't be coming back to my house. But I am happy to let it go since I know it will be loved and appreciated.

We got back from Ohio yesterday; I'm trying to settle down and regroup. Going through the exhibition book (it's beautiful, by the way) and remembering what each artist said about their work, recreating the experience in my mind. It has truly been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I've received many congratulatory emails & comments from friends and fellow artists. Thank you to everyone, for all your encouragement and support!! And many thanks to The Dairy Barn Arts Center, all the hard working staff, and to Katie & Bobby Masopust for their generous support.

The YEA Award was created by the Masopusts to reach out to young artists and introduce them to fiber art. It was intended for an artist under age 30, to encourage more young people to enter Quilt National.

This year there were no artists under age 30 who were accepted to QN, so they expanded the eligibility to “30-something”. Lucky me! It is with a sense of humility that I accept the award, knowing that the sponsors may have liked to give it to a younger person. But I will always cherish the YEA Award and my QN experience, and I will definitely encourage young people to explore fiber as an artistic medium.

Check out the “Quilt National ‘11” Photo Album on Dairy Barn Arts Center’s Facebook page to see more photos of the show and all the award winning quilts.

Gearing up for Quilt National

2011-05-18T16:01:00.001-04:00

I’m so excited! The opening of Quilt National is just over a week away. I can’t wait to go and see the show. And I will be honest, I’m looking forward to seeing my own work displayed at the Dairy Barn Art Center. It’s hard to believe I began working on that quilt nearly two years ago!

Stay Tuned - I’ll be sharing photos after the QN Opening. But if you’d like a sneak peek at my exhibition quilt, check out the Dairy Barn’s website under “Exhibitions”. Right next to the description of Quilt National 2011 -- that’s my Dandelion!

If you wont be able to make it to Athens, Ohio to see this show in person, the exhibition catalog can be purchased through the Dairy Barn’s website: http://www.dairybarn.org/shop/proddetail.php?prod=a-books-QuiltNational11&cat=7

SOLD: Artifacts – Film, Cassette and Telephone

2011-05-09T11:33:00.001-04:00

I’m thrilled to report that 3 of my fiber art pieces have been sold at The Art Bazaar in NYC.

Film, Cassette and Telephone are gone. Just Light Bulb remains available from the Artifact series. During the Artists Reception last Friday, it seemed like “Telephone” resonated with people the most. I talked to so many viewers, reminiscing about their giant clunker phones of yesteryear. Who knew we would miss them so much?

If you are hoping to see some of my artwork in person, please make a trip to fantastic NYC before May 30th. I am planning to be at the gallery next Saturday, May 14th if you’d like to stop by and chat.

The Art Bazaar
175 Seventh Avenue (@West 20th St)
New York, NY 10011
Tel: +1 646 588 5252

New Work - Artifact: Cassette

2011-04-26T19:23:00.001-04:00

Ah, those old mix tapes… I remember trying to tape songs off the radio as a kid. Now we don’t even own a radio or stereo. And cassettes? My kids wouldn’t even recognize this thing if they saw it. Who needs tape when you have ipods and mp3 players?

So the 4th in the artifact series is almost done, but I have the idea to use thin black satin ribbon as the tape - making it come out of the cassette in a tangle. Remember how that tape would sometimes get wrapped around the inside of a tape player, and you’d have to wind it back in using a barrette or a pen, turning those little toothy gears? Good times…

I just have to locate the right size ribbon and I’ll probably sew that on by hand. But I don’t have much time if I’m going to have these ready for The ART BAZAAR!

This week I’ll be busy finishing the final touches and framing/labeling/pricing all the work to be hung on May 4th. More info on the Art Bazaar exhibition/art sale:

http://katethemel.blogspot.com/2011/04/art-for-sale-at-art-bazaar-nyc-may-5-30.html

Hope you have a chance to see the show!

My Work Chosen for Sacred Threads 2011 (Herndon, VA)

2011-04-23T23:05:00.001-04:00

I’m very excited to announce that two of my favorite pieces, After the Wake and Lemme See! have been juried into Sacred Threads 2011.

I am thrilled to participate in this very special exhibition. If you will be in the Washington DC / Northern Virginia area this summer, please stop by and see the show.

Here is a little more information from their website www.sacredthreadsquilts.com:

Sacred Threads is an exhibition of quilts exploring themes of spirituality, joy, inspiration, peace/brotherhood, grief and healing. This biennial exhibition was established to provide a safe venue for quilters who see their work as a connection to the sacred and/or as an expression of their spiritual journey. The objective is to create a dignified exhibition of artwork that touches on both spiritual and personal levels all those who view it. We want to share with others the experiences of quilters whose stories may be a source of healing and strength.

Entries were juried by Sue Reno, Sue Pierce and Diane Herbort

The Exhibition will run from June 22, 2011 - July 4, 2011

Artist’s reception: Saturday, June 25, 2011 / 2:00 - 5:00 PM

Location: Church of the Epiphany

3301 Hidden Meadow Drive

Herndon, Virginia 22071

For Planning Your Trip to Sacred Threads, please visit this webpage.

Fun with Sharpies and Egg Dye

2011-04-22T18:43:00.001-04:00

View Full Album

Happy Earth Day Everyone!

And to all who believe, Happy Easter, Ridvan or Passover. Its that time of year when you celebrate Spring by coloring eggs with bright, unnatural colors… I’m not sure where the tradition started but who am I to question?

So what do you do with the eggs that turn out kind of, shall we say, less than pretty? Let’s say someone (Not naming names!) went a little overboard to see how many colors she could dunk the egg into. And then let’s say instead of being cool and marbled, the egg ended up looking like some kind of gray mutant alien egg. Hypothetically.

It looks like an oval meteorite next to all these bright colorful eggs that the 4 and 6 year old made like experts. I’ll tell you what I did… waited until the kids left and then broke out the Sharpie markers, extra fine.

I just started doodling, starting with the eggs that didn’t have great color. Then I moved onto more because it was so much fun! The results are a mix of wonky Ukrainian-inspired patterns and freehand sketches. Not bad. I’m kinda proud of the drawing of an Iris on the purple one.

I hope you are all enjoying some time with family and loved ones this weekend, and maybe finding some fun ways to express your creativity!

See “Monastery” at The Morris Museum (Morristown, NJ) in June

2011-04-15T13:05:00.001-04:00

Fiber Revolution Presents: VISUAL THOUGHT

An Exhibition of Fiber Art

Curated by Kevan Rupp Lunney

June 15 – October 9, 2011

The Morris Museum / 6 Normandy Rd / Morristown, NJ 07960

More about this quilt:

Monastery at Kosljun was inspired by a recent trip to St. Mary’s monastery on Kosljun – a tiny islet off the coast of Krk in the Adriatic Sea.

The Franciscan monks have occupied it since it was renovated in the 15^th century, built on the site of a ruined Benedictine abbey. Visitors are asked to be respectful and quiet since the monks (who continue to live and work here) have taken a vow of silence.

Although the public areas are usually decorated with flowers and potted plants, I chose to recreate only the stone architecture in this quilt. I felt like these graceful archways were alive somehow, keeping secrets and watching generations of people come and go over the centuries. It is amazing to think these very walls have been standing and providing shelter for over 500 years.

More about Fiber Revolution:

Fiber Revolution is a network of professional textile artists combining their knowledge and experience in marketing to exhibit and sell their artwork.
Fiber Revolution's goal is to provide greater visibility for our art while educating the public about fiber art as an exciting art form. Although the art is constructed from fabric, it is not meant to lie at the foot of the bed, but rather to hang on the wall like an oil or watercolor painting. The artists use fiber as their medium - dying it, painting it, cutting it, tearing it, stamping it, fusing it and embellishing it. The final step, stitching through the layers of fabric, brings a dimensional depth to the artwork that mere paint cannot.

Art For Sale at The Art Bazaar (NYC) May 5 – 30, 2011

2011-04-13T21:41:00.001-04:00

View Full Album

Come See My Work at THE ART BAZAAR Gallery in New York City

MAY 5-30, 2011

Artists' Reception:
Fri. May 6th: 6 - 9pm

Established in 2009 by Michael Lyons Wier as a response to the limited amount of exhibition opportunities available to artists in New York City, The Art Bazaar was envisioned as a "grass roots initiative", providing artists with a unique opportunity to promote and sell their work.

General Hours:
Tues - Sat: 11am - 7pm
Sunday: Noon - 6pm

Participating Artists:

Natalya Aikens
Luis Alves
Catherine Boruch
Mary Jean Canziani
Rose Frisenda
Mike Hersh
Natalia Kadish
Yadviga Kelly
Kevan Lunney
Mark Person
Brian Petro
Marina Reiter
Kate Themel

ART BAZAAR is located at:

175 Seventh Avenue (@ West 20th St)
New York, NY 10011
Tel: +1 646 588 5252

“Artifact: Film”

2011-04-04T18:53:00.001-04:00

Number 3 in the Artifact series, “Film” is finished. I was one of those people that hung on to my manual camera long after digital cameras came on the scene. I loved the control I had with my Canon; I’d used it all through high school and college and I just couldn’t get used to those little point-and-shoot cameras. How could this thing the size of a deck of cards take decent pictures?

But then I had my first child. I didn’t have time to sit there and manually focus the camera as my son was scooting across the floor. I gave in and bought a cheap point & shoot just so I could catch him in action.

But like most technological advances, once I got used to the quicker, easier, clearer photos of digital, my manual camera got shelved. I still have it. Every once in a while I find a random roll of 35mm film in a drawer or suitcase. It’s fun to get it developed just to see what’s on there.

But now it’s harder to find a place where they know how to develop film, especially the one hour places that treat everyone’s film like McDonald’s treats burgers. You’re pretty much at the mercy of whatever settings their machines are set to. So you could get pictures that look great or look like they were taken under water, you never know. I guess it makes sense to use film if you do your own developing and can manipulate the results. But I can do that on my PC with digital photos, with no fumes or expensive equipment. Which is why my beloved 35mm film is now an artifact of the past.

“Artifact: Telephone” Complete

2011-03-31T16:40:00.001-04:00

The second in the Artifact series, “Telephone” is now quilted and showing a lot more personality.

The numbers are pretty sketchy but they were fun to do. I always learn something about an object when I draw it, because I have to observe it very closely, breaking it down into shapes then details.

I guess that’s why I choose maybe mundane items for my subjects so often. I always think I’ll find something new about them.

I forgot (or I never knew) that there is no “Q” or “Z” on a phone dial. (see detail image below). And the letters start at 2 instead of 1. Why do I care about this stuff? I don’t know. Like I said, I like seeing things I never noticed before.

Then I started wondering, “Why do they even have letters at all?” I really can’t figure out what their purpose could be. If you know, please leave a comment.

Enjoy!

Work in Progress – Artifact: Telephone

2011-03-29T11:44:00.002-04:00

Next up in the Artifact series… the good ol’ telephone.

I remember using this exact model “back in the day” only ours was the color of wood putty. It weighed about 5 pounds and did nothing but ring and make phone calls. No call waiting, no voicemail, no caller ID. You never thought about where you left it. It was always in the same place. You had to go TO the phone to use it.

We had one phone in the house; the springy cord gave you about a 6 foot walking radius if you stretched it out… not quite enough to talk alone in my room. I don’t know how many times the phone fell off its stand because someone stretched the cord too far. That thing would dent the floor before it suffered a scratch – it was indestructible. God forbid it ever fell on your foot!

This was back when phones had one purpose – for people to talk to each other. Dial a number and see if anyone picked up the other end. If you called someone and they were already on the phone you got a busy signal and had to call back later. If they didn’t answer, again you had to call back later to try your luck. If you left your house to live your life, you couldn’t call anyone or get any calls. These are quaint stories of the past.

The photo shown here is Artifact: Telephone at the end of “Phase 1”. That means all the fabrics are in place and it’s ready to stitch. Stay tuned for updates & photos of the finished piece soon.

New Work, New Series: So Long, Light Bulb. I’ll miss you.

2011-03-27T15:12:00.001-04:00

My latest piece “Artifact: Light bulb” (finished size 8x10) was inspired by the news that the incandescent light bulb will be phased out of US markets. First one to go is the 100 Watt bulb, gone by the end of this year. For a long time this thing has been the symbol of ideas and invention. So what will replace this icon… a squiggly corkscrew florescent? Sigh.

I agree that the incandescent bulb is inefficient and wasteful and makes no sense to keep since there are much more efficient bulbs out there. But I’ll miss them. I’ll miss the warm light of incandescent bulbs probably the way people missed oil lamps when electric lights became the norm.

The idea of seeing this technology become outdated made me think of all the things I’ve grown up with, not to mention owned and used myself, that are already a thing of the past. Some of the technology I was so impressed with as a kid leaves my own kids bewildered.
Contemplating the revolutionary Commodore 64 home computer –64 KB of memory? HUH? As in kilobytes? You can get an iPod with 64 GIGA-bytes. So that’s what, a million billion times more powerful than this so-called computer?
Atari joysticks - Why did they only have ONE button? How did you jump and shoot at the same time?
I'm thinking, what Jump and shoot... We were playing Pac Man! You go around a maze and eat dots.
Unbelievable, and yet we still survived and enjoyed life.

Vinyl records, typewriters, cassette tapes, film cameras… Sure, people still use them sometimes. Like they use a wood fire to cook or a horse and buggy to ride around for fun. You can choose to go “retro” and do silver print photography. But no one depends on these things anymore.

So I’ve decided to document some of the “oldies but goodies” of my own archaic technological past. Some people will recognize what they are right away. Other things like the rotary phone might take some explaining. As my youngest asked me, “what’s the round thing for?” (the dial) and “what’s this big part?” (the phone’s body, attached with wire to the earpiece). Of course, every phone he’s ever seen or used basically looks like an earpiece alone. Why would anyone make a phone so heavy?

I do miss the ability to slam a nice big, indestructible phone down on the handle and hang up in a huff. Pressing “END” just doesn’t give me the same satisfaction. Especially when I’m stuck on hold for an hour, usually with tech services, trying to figure out why my computer thinks my iPad is a digital camera…

A Look into my Home Studio

2011-03-21T15:54:00.002-04:00

Today was the last day to enter the FiberArts Readers’ Choice Studio Contest, so it was a great motivation to finally clean up my studio! I’m stuck inside today anyway so might as well do something useful.

Ahhh…. I love an organized room…. I better enjoy it while it lasts!

Since I needed to take photos for the contest, I thought I’d share some of them with anyone who’s interested. So here’s where the magic happens….

The first photo is my sewing area, where I spend the greatest amount of time. When we converted our basement into a playroom and studio, I made sure to keep at least one window.. even if it is tiny. I just like being able to see a bit of the world outside.

I really love my studio, or as my kids call it “Mom’s Playroom”. All the desks & tables are on castor wheels, so I can customize the space depending on the project. Although I still end up doing a lot of work on the floor.

This gigantic shelf system is from IKEA. It is over 6ft x 6ft and weighs a ton!! Luckily its supported by a concrete floor. The full spectrum florescent lights are essential for choosing colors and putting compositions together. But I have 3 incandescent lights hanging over my sewing machine. I just find the warmer, softer light is easier on my eyes when I’m working on the detail stitching for hours on end.

Here’s the work sink that was in the basement when we started (very convenient!) and laundry area. I added a little curtain to hide the pipes and storage area under the sink. On top of the rolling desk (right side of sink) is a big portable ironing surface, about 26” x 36”. I have the iron out all day while I’m working on a project but somehow I never seem to get our clothes pressed. :-) Gee, must have slipped my mind…

I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief tour of my fiber art studio. Feel free to leave a comment or question, if you are thinking about building a home studio.

If you’re interested in entering the FiberArts Studio contest, it's easy and free to enter. Hurry, the deadline is TODAY! Just upload a few images of your studio and fill out the simple online entry form at http://www.fiberarts.com/studios

New Work for SAQA Auction: “GottaHavaCuppa”

2011-03-05T14:34:00.001-05:00

This 12” square is my contribution for SAQA’s 2011 Benefit Auction. The idea for “GottaHavaCuppa” (thanks Debbie Bein for the title!) was inspired by something my 6 yr old said recently. He told my husband “Don’t ask Mommy to play when she just wakes up. You have to wait until after she drinks her coffee.” HA HA! Funny, and yet completely accurate.

I’m sort of making fun of myself by creating an intimate portrait of my morning coffee. There’s really no deep emotional meaning to it, other than my love of fresh coffee and the familiar white dishes and blue & brown color scheme of my kitchen. It makes me feel happy, so hopefully it will appeal to auction buyers too.

I had a bit of silk organza left over from “Onions” so I used it for the steam. And the fabrics for the cup & saucer are scraps from “After the Wake”. I just have to add a binding and hanging sleeve and it will be ready to ship – I might even make it by the Early Bird Deadline, which would be a first!!

(Detail, “GottaHavaCuppa”)

New Work: “After the Wake”

2011-02-19T12:21:00.001-05:00

My latest work is a portrait of my beautiful sister Megan. The image is inspired by a photo my brother Patrick took of Meg back in 2000, shortly after the loss of our father.

If you’ve ever been to an Irish wake, you know that it’s a mixture of laughing, story telling and bouts of crying with a lot of food, drinks and random people in and out of the house. It’s comforting but exhausting.

With this composition I was trying to conjure the moments after the guests leave, when things are quiet and reality is starting to sink in, when you are too worn out and shell-shocked to laugh or cry, or even talk. The people still around after are usually your closest family, so you can communicate by simple eye contact.

In the photo Meg is looking right into the lens, neither shying away nor playing to the camera. It could be an act of courage or defiance... or maybe just a way to make a connection during a lonely moment.

My sister has this kind of mysterious Mona Lisa face that’s often impossible to read – her delicate features can harden into an impenetrable poker face; she is confident and strong but still gives the impression of holding something back to protect herself. I imagine there are a million things churning behind those eyes.

New Work: “Golden”

2011-02-14T12:58:00.001-05:00

You may recognize this, or parts of it, from my previous post. Yes, I liked the irregular grid pattern and bright colors in “Cabin Fever” but something was missing. That something was RED. And maybe a bit of pizzazz.

I keep an illustration of the golden spiral (a.k.a the golden ratio, golden section) in my studio. It’s actually quite useful especially for drawing portraits - ears, hands and fingers generally have these proportions.

The golden ratio is the mathematical expression of repetition found in nature. You see this kind of ratio the segments of nautilus shells, leaves, etc and it is one of the building blocks of fractals. Pretty cool. Anyway, this illustration has been in the background for a long time, and I’ve looked at it often. Why not try it out in a quilt?

I admit I’m not an expert in machine piecing, or math, or seam allowances. But I used a PHI calculator to figure out the shapes and it came pretty close to working! Just at the very end (the smallest part in the center) something didn’t quite calculate. I don’t think that was supposed to be two squares.

Luckily I’m creating art and not a spaceship. So I just added a little swirly-do thing in that last square. DONE! :-)

Word to the wise: it would have been much easier to start with the smallest square and build around it, rather than making the largest one first and working smaller, hoping it will fit at the end. I may do another one in the future, so I’ll take that little lesson with me to the next one.

Play Time – Using Scrap Fabric as “Seasonal I’m Sick of It” Therapy

2011-02-02T18:51:00.001-05:00

I don’t know about you but I need a break from SNOW and ICE!

Tentative Title: “Cabin Fever”

I started this project 1. for a fun way to switch gears after the last couple months getting work done for the solo show, 2. to use some of the scrap fabric I’ve been accumulating and 3. to remind myself that the world is not black and white despite the view outside.

I needed a blast of color! So I dumped out a big bin of scrap fabrics and picked out the ones that made me think of Spring and Summer – warm greens, watery blues… ahhhh!

Next I cut them into 2.5” strips – then cut some at 6.5” for rectangles and others at 2.5” squares and put them all in a stack. My first thought was to create a traditional quilt pattern but that was boring so I just started randomly adding things together.

There isn’t much science to it – which was my intention. I just sewed them together in lines and groups. I’ve also added a couple big squares and long rectangles to break up the grid area. I didn’t care about the end result, only that I was having fun making it (a huge departure from the way I usually work).

At this point it’s about 30x30, give or take. I’m not sure what I’ll do next. Maybe it’s time to call it a day, add the batting & back and add some quilting. It could work as a lap quilt or graphic-design-inspired wall hanging – or maybe even a cute tote bag. Anyway I’ve sorta worked through my geometric fugue.

I never was much on piecing – as you can probably tell from some miss-matched corners. So I don’t think I have the passion to build this into a big bed quilt or anything. In any case, it’s something to bring to “Show & Tell” on Feb. 12th for the SAQA Regional Meeting in Windsor, CT.

It was a fun distraction and I’m feeling much happier, hanging out looking at all the colors - just what I needed this week!

“LIFE… So Far” is on Display Now at the Funky Monkey

2011-02-01T08:37:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I hung my quilted artwork at the Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery. All the new Croatia pieces are there, as well as “Onions”, my self portrait and some of framed 15x20 quilts. Overall I think they look pretty good.

I hope you’ll join me for the Opening Reception on Friday, February 11, 2011 from 7 – 9 PM

The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery

130 Elm Street/ Watch Factory Shoppes

Cheshire, CT 06410

www.thefunkymonkeycafe.com

New Work: Monastery at Kosljun, finished

2011-01-25T20:23:00.001-05:00

This week I’m finishing up all the nearly-done pieces that will go into my solo exhibition at the Funky Monkey. Literally tying loose ends… cutting loose threads…

“Kosljun” is the 3rd of the Croatia quilts. I finished the quilting today and the rest of this week will be spent sewing hanging sleeves and bindings.

So that’s it, the last piece for the “LIFE… So Far” exhibition. You’ve seen them in progress on this blog in the past few months. But please come to The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery during February 2011 to view them in person!

Hope to see you at the OPENING RECEPTION on Friday, February 11, 2011 from 7 – 9 PM

The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery

130 Elm Street/ Watch Factory Shoppes

Cheshire, CT 06410

(203) 439-9161

Open Mon 9am-4pm; Tue-Thu 9am-8pm; Fri-Sat 9am-10pm; Sun 10am-4pm

The ONIONS are back… Stick a fork in them, they’re DONE!

2011-01-24T11:42:00.001-05:00

So I waited and waited to see if my "Onions & Garlic" would start to appeal to me. But they were still bugging me!

This week I took a drastic step. No, I didn't cut the piece up, as I had been considering doing. I decided that would not solve the problem. The problem was the onions’ skin. It just was not looking right. It was too flat and everything was too orange, if such a thing is possible.

In my obsessive way, for the past week I have been studying and observing real onions, up close. Their skins are semi transparent, but brittle. So there are all these little breaks and tears in the skin, revealing a deeper color inside. I could not think of anything that would imitate the flaky brittleness of the skin, but I found silk organza that reminded me of their translucence.

In an act of desperation, I gave the onions one more go. First, I cut down the Angelina fibers – they were too shiny and distracting. Then I covered all my hard-earned layers of bright orange with sheer white organza. Then shredded and cut slices out of the organza to reveal an approximation of onion skin. The result is something I can live with, even if I’m not in love with it.

So here it is, "ONIONS". I dropped the “garlic” from the title because no one could really tell what they were anyway and the purple mostly serves as background. The organza mutes the color but that turns out to be closer to an onion's real color anyway.

At this point, I feel okay about displaying the final piece. It works as a composition and the shimmery organza adds some pizzazz while toning down the overwhelming orange. We’ll see what kind of reception it gets from the viewing public pretty soon.

Come to the Funky Monkey in February if you’d like to see it up close. :-)

(Detail)

Opening of “Identity in Fiber” – A Night of Great Food, Music and Fiber Art

2011-01-23T14:35:00.001-05:00

Last night was the Opening Reception for “Identity in Fiber” at the Windsor Art Center (WAC)

What a night! I’m always nervous before an opening; will anyone show up? what will people’s reaction be? will we get another blizzard???

But last night was just about perfect. WAC did a great job promoting the show and the opening was well attended. Lily’s Soul Food Restaurant provided some of the food – delicious homemade Mac & cheese was a big hit. And jazz music by the Trey Winston Trio, a group of young local musicians, played for about an hour. They were amazing!

(Images: upper right, guests are listening to Sam Hinckley of WAC’s opening remarks. Cindy Friedman’s “Blue Stairs” can be partially seen in the background. left, Rita Hannifin stands next to Sally Brown’s quilted art book “Forever Sisters”. Photos by Catherine Smith)

The artwork looked beautiful and was hung with great care by the WAC hanging team. I must send a BIG thank you to Diane Wright who collected artwork and brought it to WAC. Diane and her husband worked all day along with Holly and myself, arranging the quilts. This exhibition contained such a variety of color, technique and scale – it was not an easy job making sense of it all! Thank you also to Karen Loprete and Betty Warner for collecting artwork and delivering it to WAC.

(Image lower right: Diane & Dave are pictured here in front of Diane’s kimono-shaped piece “Family Ties” and Karen Loprete’s “My Secret Garden”. Photo by Catherine Smith)

Several of the “Identity” artists attended the Opening, including Carol Vinick, Sally Brown, Lisa Chipetine, Diane Wright and myself. Diane and Lisa commented that visitors asked them very thoughtful questions about the work, beyond the typical small talk.

Viewers commented on the quality of design and variety of techniques on display. Karen Loprete’s My Secret Garden and Vivika DeNegre’s I’m Sorry had people marveling at the hand embroidery and combination of materials. Some viewers were emotionally struck by Carol Vinick’s Tikun, with its stark imagery and metal wire combined with a fragile and delicate silver pendant of the Star of David. Several visitors plan to come back another day to get a second look at everything. According to Windsor Art Center Director Ina Foreman “We always get a big response when we have a fiber or textile show. It really draws people in”.

SAQA members Rita Hannifin, former CT Rep Susan Ferraro, Catherine Whall Smith, Phyllis Small and Betty Warner came to show their support, catch up with friends and see the artwork.

Recent SAQA President and media guru Lisa Chipetine created a live podcast of the event.

Click on this link to view the video: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/12182282

(Image: From left to right, Vivika DeNegre’s “I’m Sorry”, Lisa Chipetine’s “Flowers for Allah” and Debbie Bento’s “Life’s Path”. Photo by Kate Themel)

All in all it was a fantastic night. Of course I went home kicking myself for all the things I forgot to say in my welcoming remarks. Oh well, that will teach me to write things down!

As I met & talked to people I was sure to remind them to come back on Saturday, February 12th for the SAQA Regional Meeting and Gallery Talk, to find out more about the pieces in the show and the artists who made them.

The Identity in Fiber Exhibition will be on display at Windsor Art Center until March 5, 2011

Windsor Art Center

40 Mechanic Street

Windsor, CT 06095

(860) 688-2528

www.windsorartcenter.org

I’ve been invited to exhibit work in Japan!

2011-01-21T11:30:00.001-05:00

I’m VERY excited and happy to participate in this show:

Quilt Challenge for Japan 2011

Hiroko Matsuda from The Kagoshima Quilters Association in Kagoshima, Japan has invited 15 quilters from the USA to take part in a challenge for next year’s show. Artists are asked to draw inspiration from one of Vincent Van Gogh’s many “Sunflower Series” paintings. (Example, Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers III, Munich” pictured on the right.)

Artists can use the flowers, the colors, the feeling, any fabric and any technique. This is wide open to be interpreted in whatever way the artists choose, as long as the finished quilt is 20” x 20” square. It should be interesting to see how many different ways Sunflowers are presented!

SewCraft is generously sponsoring the US artists, and will arrange to ship artwork from the USA to Japan this fall.

The exhibition will be on display in Japan in December 2011.

Stay tuned for more details and photos of my show entry, coming soon…

A Wonderful Meeting with Farmington Valley Quilters Guild

2011-01-20T20:21:00.001-05:00

I had a wonderful time last night giving a presentation and sharing my art quilts with the Farmington Valley Quilters Guild. Event planners Lisa Salvatore and Phyllis Small took me to a lovely dinner at the Iron Frog Tavern before the meeting - I recommend the Frog's chicken pot pie. Yum!

The guild meeting took place at Eno Memorial Hall in Simsbury, CT.

About 80 of the 150 guild members and non-members braved the impending bad weather to attend; some traveled from Massachusetts to be there! The crowd was bigger than I expected and I was pretty nervous at first. But it helped to see some familiar faces - fellow SAQA members Judy Ross and Diane Cadrain were there. Diane showed off her beautiful commissioned banners during the Members’ Show & Tell part of the meeting.

This month also happens to be the group’s 20th Anniversary as a guild, so the night included refreshments and a giant sheet cake to celebrate the occasion. After a little sugar rush it was time for my presentation as the guest speaker.

I shared all the finished and almost-finished work that I had on hand with the exception of "Dandelion" and "Ode to a Kiss". I also ran a short slideshow and described the typical life cycle of a quilt (I used my self portrait “Kate at 40” as the example). The slideshow began with the original photo that provided the inspiration, to the sketch I developed on my PC, progressive photos showing layers of fabric being added one at a time, and finally some close-ups of the quilting.

Once I get going talking about making art quilts I usually loosen up and have fun. The audience was friendly and interested, asking questions, sharing insights – they put me at ease quickly.

As I talked from a podium, guild members carried my quilts around the room so people could see them up close. Although many of the members may work in a traditional style, the Farmington Valley Quilters were open to new ideas and seemed to enjoy my out-of-the ordinary quilts. All in all, it was a fabulous night... and there was cake, too!

Thank you Lisa Salvatore, Phyllis Small and Guild President Carrie Bacewicz for inviting me to speak to the Guild, and all the fiber art enthusiasts who made last night so much fun. Hope to see you again soon!

“Identity in Fiber” Reception this Saturday! Windsor Art Center, Windsor CT

2011-01-20T12:14:00.001-05:00

The Windsor Art Center (WAC) exhibition team has been hard at work hanging all the artwork for “Identity in Fiber”. In the main gallery, 25 beautiful wall hangings of varying sizes and colors are on display, while the two smaller galleries showcase 30 framed postcard quilts by Fiber Revolution and a large quilted art book made by Sally Brown (image, top left).

(Other images: upper right “Fish in the Moon” by Martha Wolfe and lower right “Cosmic Mix” by Carol Ludington)

I’m excited to see all the work together at the Opening Reception this Saturday January 22nd from 5-7 PM. I hope you’ll join me!

Come see the wonderful fiber art and meet some of the artists, and enjoy other special events WAC has planned:

SPECIAL DRAWING: Fiber Artist and teacher EdJohnetta Miller is coming to Windsor Art Center in February. She will lead her popular one hour workshop making greeting cards with fabric, but space is limited to 12 students.

TO REGISTER for EdJohnetta’s workshop you must fill out a card at the “Identity in Fiber” Opening Reception on Saturday January 22, 2011 at Windsor Art Center.
Twelve cards will be pulled from a hat during the Opening Reception.
The actual workshop will take place on February 26^th, 2011.

Food by Lily’s Soul Food Restaurant

Music by The Trey Wilson Trio

In case of a weather cancellation , the Opening Reception will be Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011 from 3PM – 5PM

Feb. 1 – 28, 2011: New Work on Display at The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery (Cheshire, CT)

2011-01-17T16:36:00.001-05:00

“Life… so far”

An Exhibition of Fiber Art

by Kate Themel

On Display February 1 – 28, 2011

at The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery

The show’s title refers to my journey so far – literally and creatively. Compositions such as Safe Passage were inspired by the miles I’ve travelled and trips we’ve taken as a family. But beyond that, I feel this collection of work illustrates an artistic style that is distinctly my own and has taken many years to develop.

“Life… So Far” will include all my newest art quilts such as self-portrait Kate at 40 and Lemme See! (featured on the show postcard) and selected work from 2009 and 2010. You’ve seen them on the blog but they are much better in person!

Please come to the OPENING RECEPTION

Friday, February 11, 2011

7 – 9 PM at The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery

130 Elm Street/ Watch Factory Shoppes

Cheshire, CT 06410

(203) 439-9161

Open Mon 9am-4pm; Tue-Thu 9am-8pm; Fri-Sat 9am-10pm; Sun 10am-4pm

New Work for SAQA Trunk Show

2011-01-14T10:57:00.001-05:00

My little baby is 6 years old today!

… and the inspiration for this 9x9 quilt “Luka’s Eyes”, my submission to SAQA’s 2011/2012 Trunk Show.

Both my sons were blessed with long eyelashes and big gorgeous eyes. I’m not just saying that! :-)

But Luka’s eyes have this striking color. The right one is all blue and the left is a rare and beautiful combination of half brown/half blue.

I chose solid fabrics in shades of gray for the face, and used only colored thread for the eyes.

You can see a detail photo of the two-toned eye, below.

Work in Progress: “Kosljun”

2011-01-08T15:12:00.001-05:00

This is the 3rd in the Croatia series: inspired by the Monastery at Kosljun, a tiny island in the Adriatic Sea, near Pag Island. I'm really enjoying the precision required for this piece - using a ruler and drawing lines of perspective. It lets me use the mathematical part of my brain.

When we visited the monastery there were potted plants and flowers everywhere (photo, right). Right now I’ve blocked most of the big areas of color and gotten the general architecture in place. But I prefer the simple brown & blue color pallet. It does seem a bit stark & cold but for me the exaggerated contrast works with the piece – crisp lines, archways, marble.

The finished piece will be slightly “softened” as I add some sketchy quilting lines and texture for the weathered stones.

As I add more details in the next few days I’ll test out some greens & see whether it works or distracts from the overall composition.

Opening Reception Jan 22, 2011 - “Identity in Fiber” Windsor Art Center (Windsor, CT)

2011-01-08T14:53:00.001-05:00

Windsor Art Center Presents:

IDENTITY IN FIBER

An Exhibition of Fiber Art

January 22 – March 5, 2011

Opening Reception Jan. 22nd, 5-7 PM

at the Windsor Art Center (WAC) Gallery

40 Mechanic Street

Windsor, CT 06095

(860) 688-2528

www.windsorartcenter.org

Through art quilts and fiber sculpture, artists share the memorable experiences and traditions that have shaped their identities. Meet some of the artists and enjoy light food, music and a special drawing at the Opening Reception on Saturday, January 22nd.

SPECIAL DRAWING: Fiber Artist and teacher EdJohnetta Miller is coming to Windsor Art Center in February. She will lead her popular one hour workshop making greeting cards with fabric, but space is limited to 12 students.

TO REGISTER for EdJohnetta’s workshop you must fill out a card at the “Identity in Fiber” Opening Reception on Saturday January 22, 2011 at Windsor Art Center. Twelve cards will be pulled from a hat during the Opening Reception.

The actual workshop will take place on February 26^th, 2011 at Windsor Art Center.

Food by Lily’s Soul Food Restaurant

Music by The Trey Wilson Trio

In case of a cancellation due to weather, the Snow Date is Sunday January 23, 2011 from 3PM – 5PM.

Onions & Garlic – finished?

2010-12-15T21:43:00.002-05:00

The quilting is done on “Onions & Garlic”. At least it is for now. I’m not completely convinced this is the best it can be. After a few disastrous experiments with organza and embroidery thread, I decided to use Angelina fibers for the onions’ stringy roots. Hmmmm… just not sure. I’ll let it sit a few days and come back to it.

Otherwise, I enjoyed doing the quilting on this one. I used several colors of thread, scribbling and meandering on top of other colors. I still may go back and add more quilting & add more detail later.

Stay tuned… Next up: Calla Lilies!

Kate Themel Featured in Arts Section of “Cheshire Patch”

2010-12-11T19:08:00.001-05:00

I had a lovely conversation with Leslie Hutchinson, the editor of Cheshire Patch online newspaper. We talked about art, quilting and my upcoming class at Cheshire’s “ArtsPlace”.

Excerpted from article:

“Her exquisite works of quilt art are masterpieces that use hand-dyed cotton as canvas and thread as the drawing tool.”

Click here to Read the Full Article

Art Quilter Kate Themel of Cheshire is nationally recognized for her unusual technique.

By Leslie Hutchison | December 9, 2010

Work in Progress: Garlic & Onions

2010-12-08T13:34:00.001-05:00

The common beginning to all great meals!

Work in progress: “Garlic & Onions”, estimated size: 14” x 60” when finished. Here is a photo of the top, not quilted. It is the first in a planned series of “Slices”.

The composition is based on a narrow slice of one of my photos of an open air market in Croatia. And, no they don’t have purple garlic and bright orange & pink onions over there. I guess I’m in some kind of phase where I make things way more colorful than they need to be. This one borders on the abstract, but I have enough reference points in reality to keep me happy.

For me it captures the “flavor” (pardon the pun) of our times in Croatia – I don’t know why things always taste better when you’re on vacation. Or maybe there’s something in the soil over there that makes the food so incredible.

Olive oil, onions and garlic are really the foundation of almost every meal we ate there. But to really get an idea of our favorite Croatian food experiences, I will have to do a quilt along the lines of “Love Letter to Perfect Bread”.

I’m getting hungry now!

New Work (Sort of): “Fresh Magnolias”

2010-11-29T09:54:00.001-05:00

Since it was not accepted into “No Holds Barred”, I guess it’s okay to share some pictures of Fresh Magnolias. There is a story behind this one, but I’ll start from the end and show you the finished piece, actual size 17 x 27.

(full view)

(Detail)

On the weekend of October 16-17, 2010 I attended a fantastic artist retreat with 8 fellow members of Fiber Revolution. We shared stories and ideas and brainstormed about how to make our work better.

One Fiber Rev inspired me to take a new look at my “old” quilts. She had taken an old quilt from home; one that she was not happy with; and proceeded to cut the binding right off. Then she took the whole thing apart, separating the top from the batting & back. From there she CUT the top into sections, using it as sort of a printed fabric rather than a quilt top. Amazing. When I saw her doing this I blurted out something like "Oh my God WHAT are you DOING??" But she calmly explained that this quilt was never going to be displayed and never given to anyone because she did not feel it represented her best work. It needed to be re-purposed.

When I got home, I realized that I have one of those quilts (Magnolias, circa 2007). I hadn’t displayed it in my house for several years, just moved it around storage areas. I should have seen the red flag – if I don’t want it hanging on my walls, who will? It didn’t help matters that there was some kind of light brown dot in the middle of it which could be something like a coffee stain. I have no idea how that got there but apparently I have not been taking care of this quilt very well.

But I couldn’t get rid of it because it was my first photo-inspired art quilt. Plus I painted all those magnolia flowers myself, turned the edges, appliquéd them… it was a lot of work!

Unfortunately after all that labor I added a way-too-saturated magenta border. I wanted the flowers to look delicate and breezy but instead they just looked weak. Blechhh.

And the buds always reminded me of Christmas tree light bulbs. Sheeesh.

I’ll admit I was scared of “wasting” all the time, effort and fabric it took to make the first one. But in reality, if you do nothing but keep a quilt folded in a storage area, it’s already wasted work. Why not change it? It’s not going anywhere.

I knew I could make the whole thing again if I REALLY wanted to – hand painted flowers, big border and all. So in the end there was nothing to lose.

Inspired by Deb’s daring act of cutting up her quilt at the retreat, I took a rotary cutter and removed the whole border area. Better!! But it was still kind of “ehh”. There was a lot of dead weight in the composition.

So I trimmed it further, getting rid of the light bulby buds, tightening up the scene and giving those magnolias a nice place to live. Okay now we’re getting somewhere!

But still one thing remained that bothered me about the original: the lack of quilting within the flowers. I didn’t want to cover up all my hand-painting! But the truth was staring me in the face. I wanted more thread & quilting to give it some muscle. Another Fiber Rev’s voice rang in my ears “Don’t be so precious with your work that you can’t change it.”

So I merrily quilted the thing within an inch of its life... and a smaller yet much stronger piece emerged! The new one has the light, falling effect I wanted in the first place. But the flowers are not taking a back seat to the background or the border.

I liked it so much I entered it into “SAQA: No Holds Barred”. But you know how the story ends, and it didn’t make it in to that show.

No worries. It looks great hanging in my studio.

“Boatman” is going to UK

2010-11-18T11:34:00.001-05:00

I’m thrilled to announce: my art quilt Boatman Sketch has been selected to tour with “SAQA: Beyond Comfort”! Curated by Eileen Doughty, the show will premiere at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England in August 2011.

This exhibit challenges each artist to venture into uncharted territories of creative expression by turning away from the comfort zones of their established body of work. It provides a "permission slip" to experiment fearlessly with radically new conceptual and narrative agendas; to employ techniques, technologies, or materials. The artistic goal of the exhibition is to encourage reaching beyond comfort to make new and unexpected works of art.

Juror Marci Rae McDade selected 30 quilts out of 209 submitted. I’m happy to say that two friends & fellow SAQA members will be included as well: Diane Wright and Martha Wolfe.

The next step is to take catalog-quality photos, add a hanging sleeve on the back and ship it to the show organizers. Starting from Birmingham in August 2011, the show will travel for about a year.

New Work: “So How Does it Feel to Turn 40?”

2010-11-15T12:15:00.001-05:00

That was the question that started me on a tangent leading to this piece, my first real (not cartoony) self portrait. A friend asked me how it felt to be turning 40. For the life of me I couldn’t come up with a coherent answer, and I think it has been nagging at me for a while.

The best way I can describe my feelings are a mass of contradictions. I feel young and old at the same time. I’m more excited about life & possibilities than ever before and yet I’m much calmer than I was at age 20. I get tired more quickly, and yet I get much more done during a typical day.

Weird, huh?

Such a clear vision of the answer was forming in my mind, even though I could not pin it down to words. I could see the whole thing coming together piece by piece. This almost NEVER happens, so of course I had to run to the studio to get started! Scrapping all other projects (temporarily) I started this self portrait on Friday and finished it on Sunday.

I’m not going to analyze the finished piece in too great detail; except to say that it does what I wanted it to do. It’s hot & cold, calm and frantic, layered, complicated, not quite symmetrical, slightly frayed along the edges but still strong. Like me!

The style represents a distinct break from my past work, but I’m not saying I intend to go with this style from now on.
These flat, solid, saturated colors are not my normal palette. And when have I EVER used this much yellow? Maybe never before; maybe never again. But for some reason it made sense for this. My least favorite color takes up so much space it cannot be ignored. Therefore the only way I can stand it is if I see the whole thing in balance and not zoom onto the unattractive parts.
A metaphor for my life.

“Untitled” describes how I feel about being 40 years old. The good and bad. But mostly good I think.

Update: “Lemme See!” is Complete

2010-11-08T11:00:00.001-05:00

So here it was at the point where it was ready to be quilted. Lately I’m leaving more "open" space. Meaning, I don’t add as many small pieces of fabric to create all the variations of color and shading. Once I have enough broad color to work with, I typically fill in the rest with thread. It's always a question of how simple can I make it before it loses impact?

I find it helpful to take photos during the process. That way I can view them on a screen at a much smaller size (pretending I'm seeing it from far away). I can usually tell if the picture is getting across, and whether or not adding more pieces will add to the overall composition.

After viewing this photo and getting feedback from some family members, I removed a lot of the dark shadow under Luka’s chin. It looked too much like a beard – not really appropriate for a 5 year old.

So now the fun part…. I quilted it within an inch of its life as usual.

Then I used free motion quilting to “draw” in our favorite places and familiar haunts in Croatia. The detail below depicts a view from St. Mary’s belfry on Rab Island, from our most recent trip.

The background is filled with the typical geography of the Croatian coastline: smooth stones instead of sand, long horizon with hints of islands in the distance.

Overall I’m very happy with the final piece.

Next Croatia Quilt

2010-10-21T15:11:00.001-04:00

Here’s the inspiration for my next quilt in the Croatia series…. tentatively named “Lemme See” and featuring my two sons.

I know I said I’d keep my family out of my blog. But this piece is more about the relationship of big & little brothers than a real family portrait. Besides, do you know how much it costs to hire child models? These guys work for free! LOL

Maybe I wanted to move onto this photo because of the bright colors – I guess all those drab grays in “Safe Passage” got me wanting some red white and blue (which are coincidentally the colors of both the US and Croatian flags).

So here are the first broad areas of color for the quilt top. I kept giggling to myself as the pieces fell into place. That spiky saw-tooth hair was a bit of a pain to cut, but it really makes the picture for me.

I decided to remove a lot of the original background and concentrate on the two figures. I’m not sure if I’ll add anything in its place; it doesn’t matter what they’re looking at.

Sorry other family members… love ya but you’re cut from the scene. Better luck next time!

“Big Dandy” is going to Quilt National!!!

2010-10-18T09:17:00.001-04:00

Oh my gosh I am SO excited, and I just can’t hold it in any longer. I have to share the joy…

My quilt “Dandelion” was chosen to be exhibited in Quilt National 2011!! This piece took me almost a year to complete, and measures 33 x 49. It is in my personal style, raw edge appliqué with lots of colors and small pieces, covered in obsessive machine quilting. As you might have guessed, the image is inspired by a dandelion plant.

You won’t find my usual work-in-progress pictures of this one. I’m sorry that I can’t share photos yet; QN rules prevent any images of selected work from being published before the show. You can bet I’m not going to do anything to get kicked out now. So you’ll have to wait until May 28, 2011 to get a glimpse! After that you can order the QN ‘11 catalog, visit the show, or wait until I get back and I’ll post it online.

Last week was a little nerve racking, because I had to ship the quilt to The Dairy Barn Arts Center in Ohio for final approval & so QN can photograph it for the catalog. I received confirmation that it arrived safely and met with approval from the organizers. (Whew!!) Wow, I still didn’t believe it until I looked on their website and saw my name listed. http://www.dairybarn.org/quilt/index.php?section=226&page=362

YEA!!!

The exhibition runs from May 28 – September 5, 2011. Some of the pieces will be selected to continue on with their traveling exhibition through 2013.

The Dairy Barn Arts Center
8000 Dairy Lane
Athens, OH 45701

New Work: “Safe Passage” is Complete

2010-10-13T13:09:00.001-04:00

"Porthole" is complete... but I’ve changed the title to "Safe Passage".

I'm very happy with the way it came out, and how quickly everything came together. Here's a photo of the finished piece.

I'll include a detail of the quilting but I'm not sure if it will be readable at this size.
I'm pretty sure I will do another piece with some kind of rust in it. For some reason, orange is appealing to me right now. Maybe it's the change of seasons.

Which might also explain my next composition "Maple Leaf". It is a very simple pattern, just 2 fabrics. But I'm choosing two pretty bold patterns to bounce off each other. One is multi-colored with a lot of purples and greens, the other is a bright orange and pink batik. Sounds nuts? Yeah, it might be. But at least it won't take long to put together. The real fun will be the quilting - that's when I'll add all those tiny leaf veins.

This weekend I'm heading to NY for an artists retreat. I'll put together the pieces for Maple Leaf so I can take that with me and work on it. If I finish that one this weekend I'll be ahead of schedule for the month. My goal is to finish 2 pieces that are 24 x 32 each. Maple Leaf will only be 24 x 24 so I'll try to get one more started by the end of the month. Stay tuned!

Sneak Peek

2010-10-06T16:03:00.001-04:00

I made a lot of progress on “Valbiska-Lopar Ferry Porthole” this week. Gotta come up with a better title!

As I was studying the photo and trying to sketch it out, I noticed that the circle is not a perfect circle and the composition is not quite symmetrical. Hmmm, it could work.

I also found there is a lot of slate blue/ steel gray/ washed-out jeans kind of colors in this picture. At first I almost put the project aside…who wants to see that much dull cloudy gray? But I found some batiks that were in the right color family and too pretty not to use. So there you go.

I also realized that the chipped & rusty paint around the porthole is my favorite part… more interesting than the view through it. And somehow the orange rust makes all that gray/blue acceptable.

So now Stage 1: "broad strokes of color” = complete. Here’s a partial look at it.

Next up: My favorite part – free motion quilting it, scribbling in more rusty details, adding ripples in the water… Fun!!

New Work: “Boatman Sketch”

2010-10-04T13:48:00.001-04:00

My entry for "SAQA: Beyond Comfort". The theme of this show is experimentation. Artists are asked to create something outside their normal style.

(I just finished the online entry process. Not bad for me... 6 days before the entry deadline!)

The back-story on this piece:
Boatman Sketch was inspired by a photo my brother took last year.

I will be teaching a class on free motion machine quilting, so I had to come up with an 8x10 example to demonstrate each lesson.

One of the lessons is on thread "drawing". I decided to see how far I could push that. What if I drew an entire picture with free hand quilting stitches? My sewing machine became a substitute for charcoal pencil. But since I can't press harder/softer on the charcoal to create dark & light lines, I used different shades of thread.

Here is the final piece. It’s on satin brocade fabric, which is shiny and a little hard to photograph. I chose satin because the original photo has a cool sense of light & I was trying to capture some of that.
I'll include a detail too. Keep in mind the whole thing is only the size of a standard sheet of paper, so these stitches are REALLY small.

It was an interesting experiment but I'm not sure if I will attempt a larger one. My eyes are bugging now. :-)

Artsplace Teachers’ Art Show: Friday, Oct. 8th (Cheshire, CT)

2010-09-29T11:03:00.001-04:00

Cheshire Performing & Fine Arts, Artsplace presents:

Teachers’ Art Show

Friday October 8th

5:00- 8:30 pm

CPFA Artsplace (upstairs)

1220 Waterbury Road

Cheshire, CT 06410

(203) 272-2787 / (203) 272-ARTS

http://cpfa-artsplace.org

I’m proud to have 2 quilts included in this special multi-media exhibition. “Weighing the Options” will be on public display for the first time and “Ode to a Kiss” is just back from the Whistler House Museum of Art (Lowell, MA).

Please join me at Artsplace on Friday, October 8th!

REMINDER: Opening Reception for “Intertwined” is FRIDAY Oct 1st, 6 – 8PM at the NAC Co-Op Gallery (Norwich, CT)

2010-09-27T19:52:00.001-04:00

Please join me at the NAC Co-operative Gallery this Friday!

Opening Reception Friday, October 1st, from 6 to 8 PM

Intertwined Fiber Arts Invitational

Fiber Art and textiles in every fantastic form! Four artists who specialize in fiber art have been invited to exhibit their work in the NAC Gallery.

Check NAC’s website for Gallery hours and directions

The NAC Cooperative Gallery

60 Broadway

Norwich, CT 06360

(860) 887-2724

www.norwicharts.org

“Poison Dart” - SOLD

2010-09-27T10:57:00.004-04:00

I’m happy to announce: Poison Dart, the art quilt I donated to SAQA was sold during part 1 of the 2010 Benefit Auction. I hope the new owners will enjoy seeing it their home or office as much as I enjoyed making it.

Part 1 of SAQA’s Auction ended on September 26th. Part 2 begins TODAY, with 96 new quilts now up for bid. Check them out on SAQA’s website: http://www.saqa.com/news.php?ID=1499

Last year's Benefit Auction raised $47,325. The funds raised through the Auction are critical to supporting SAQA's exhibitions, catalogs and outreach programs.

“How Do I Get One of These Beautiful Works of Fiber Art?”

You bid by filling out the online bid form (which is "live" now until the auction ends). You can bid on up to 7 pieces at a time. The first bid on each piece wins! SAQA will then ship the artwork to the winning bidder by insured USPS Priority Mail.

If you missed the deadline to purchase a quilt from Part 1, there is still a chance for you to grab one. Unsold pieces will be for sale at the SAQA Store through the end of October. If they are still unsold at that time, they will be returned to the artist.

Inspiration for the NEXT one…

2010-09-24T14:58:00.001-04:00

I took this photo on a ferry from Valbiska, Krk to Lopar, Rab (two Croatian islands). I clicked it on a whim while I was waiting for my cousins to stand together and pose near the railing (I took their photo a minute after this).

For some reason I just love the rusty streaks and bolts that look like they’ve been painted and repainted a million times.

I know by fine art standards it’s not a good idea to have the focal point, especially a circle, dead center in the composition like a bull's-eye. But I’m going to try it anyway.

“Options” is complete!

2010-09-22T16:54:00.001-04:00

As promised, I am posting my Wednesday check-in. The short & sweet news: Weighing the Options is complete – with the exception of the binding. Still debating what to do with that; I’m testing out different colors or considering folding the edges toward the back with no binding at all.

The free-motion quilting on this project was so much fun. It was almost like stream-of-consciousness journal writing. Some of the images I admit I drew on water soluble stabilizer first and then used them as a template to sew on the lines. Okay, I couldn’t sew the O’Brien Coat of Arms just freehand on the machine, so sue me! :-)

Inspired by my Celtic heritage and its mythology, I included the coiled serpent, representing transformation and untapped power. And the twin salmon representing wisdom and longevity. (detail photos below). Other symbols are straight forward like the scissors and thread and the clock.

But most of the writing within the meandering stitches were random thoughts that occurred to me in the moment. It was so therapeutic – like meditation. Some of my ‘note to self’ messages include stuff like “be kind” and “get more sleep” and “roll with the punches”. The more I stitched, the calmer I became. Too bad I ran out of room…. maybe I’ll have to start another journal quilt. But that is another topic for another day.

Hidden Messages

2010-09-20T11:30:00.001-04:00

Weighing the Options is coming along nicely. Working on the final quilting now. I’ll probably just finish it in time for the deadline, but what else is new?

Here’s something that has emerged while I’ve been sewing… I realized that I don’t believe in the term “Reinvent Yourself”. Reinvent? What am I, the bionic woman? Stronger, Faster, Better! Yeah, I wish.

IF I could reinvent myself, I’d definitely make me out of some kind of non-wrinkle, fat resistant, indestructible material with UV protection. I’d add cool features too, like X-ray Vision, Mind Reading and Time Travel. Maybe I’d even make myself taller! But the truth is, I’ve got to work with what’s already here.

What I do believe in is “Recognizing the truth about yourself”. I don’t think people change who they are. Not really, not their true selves. But there are many facets to each person. Some character traits shine all the time; others nervously shuffle around the back of our minds forever, others burst out during a crisis and surprise everyone.

So all is not lost. I can only be who I am… BUT maybe I don’t know everything about myself yet.

Trying to define my identity has put me into a maze of self reflection. So as I stitch the quilting lines, I’m writing a few “messages” to myself with thread. Some things that I want to remember as I go through the process (Details, right) Trying to decide ‘who to be’ – maybe it would be better to find out what I like about the person who’s already here… nurture those traits.

I guess I’ve matured past the fantasy of being someone else, or inventing a new Me. Besides, what would I do with the old me?

Weighing Options

2010-09-16T10:44:00.001-04:00

So here I am. Asking myself “Who am I now?” and “What do I want?” not to mention “Is it true that life begins at 40?”

Sometimes there are so many possibilities you can become frozen. I would call it a classic identity crisis – but crisis is not the right word. I don’t feel worried or lost, in fact I feel quite peaceful here in my own personal limbo. Maybe rather than a Crisis, I’ll call it an “Identity Pause Button”? Not sure where I’m going with this obviously, but I’m enjoying the process.

Now I’m attempting to interpret this strange time in a quilt for the “Identity” exhibition of fiber art at Windsor Art Center.

One thing I know is that I am an artist at heart and I want to make it a career. But how do I translate that into a practical plan? Earning a living as an artist: should I concentrate on teaching? get an agent to sell my work, try to market myself with a signature style? Sell how-to books, update my website into a full fledged online store? See – too many possibilities!

That’s why my Identity quilt is a bit of a jumble – it has a rough order to it but pieces are overlapping and not quite structured. Things are kind of floating out there. The working title is Weighing the Options. Here’s a sneak peak (photos are work in progress). In the quilting lines are words and pictures that have meaning to me – they represent my perception of myself now, and who I could be. I have more to add; will post a final photo when it’s done. Just trying to sort my thoughts for now. Hopefully I can get my life’s vision or at least my quilt vision in focus before the entry deadline!

Starting a New THREAD

2010-09-15T15:34:00.001-04:00

This year my older son started High School and the younger one started Kindergarten. As I watched the school bus drive away I had this weird feeling… like my mommy job has been downgraded from full-time to part-time. Something has definitely shifted – the baby days are over. One part of me feels old and nostalgic; the other part feels like a kid graduating from college, full of ideas and setting out to find a job.

But since kindergarten is only 3 hours a day, I still feel tied to the stay at home role for one more year. This is like a ‘pass’ year. It’s an in-between. I’m here for the kids when they’re home. But I also have a bit of freedom in the day to be alone. Next year when they’re both in school all day, I will be faced with the new weekday reality. I can’t justify the title Stay at Home Mom when there’s no one home with me for 6 – 7 hours. There will be enough space in my day for a full time job. So what should that job be?

This year is a blessing. It’s like a time-out so I can think and plan the next move. I fully realize that not everyone has the luxury of choice, especially in this economy. For some people, choosing to pursue a career as a professional artist may seem selfish or even stupid. But I believe in that old expression, something like Do what you love and the money will follow…

So I’ve decided to make a career in art. Full Time. Part of that means I’ll have to pay more attention to the practical business of making art… treat it like a “real job”.

First step is to use my 3 hours a day as my regular working hours. That means studio time EVERY day! (I’m yelling at myself here, not you innocent readers).

At least once a week I’ll update the blog. Why have a blog if it’s going to just sit there unchanged? That’s what a website is for! And I already have one of those. http://www.katethemel.com. :-) Okay, so I’ve decided to chronicle the year via blog. Writing helps me clarify my thoughts anyway. Hopefully as time goes on I’ll zero in on a solid plan for the future.

Realization 1: My life is a complicated balance of individual and family priorities. However, this blog is dedicated to my own artistic journey. Other than being the catalyst for artistic expression, I’ll keep my family stuff out of my posts.

Realization 2: It’s time to go to the bus stop, so my studio time is up. Man, these days are shorter than I thought! Note to self: Work on Efficiency.

“Intertwined” Fiber Arts Invitational

2010-09-14T14:31:00.001-04:00

The Norwich Arts Council (NAC) Cooperative Gallery Presents:

INTERTWINED Fiber Arts Invitational

Fiber Art and textiles in every fantastic form! Four artists who specialize in fiber art have been invited to exhibit their work in the NAC Gallery.

Come to the Opening Reception on Friday, October 1st, from 6 to 8 PM

Enjoy this beautiful and varied collection of work by Connecticut fiber artists:

Hooked Rugs by Liz Alpert Fay

Art Quilts by Kate Themel

Felt Work by Roz Spier

Hand-Printed Textiles by Lauren Cotton

“Intertwined” will be on display at NAC Cooperative Gallery October 1 – 30, 2010

Check NAC’s website for Gallery hours and directions

The NAC Cooperative Gallery

60 Broadway

Norwich, CT 06360

(860) 887-2724

www.norwicharts.org

Nope, guess I haven’t learned…

2010-07-14T20:42:00.001-04:00

Well I managed to get “Ode to a Kiss” on its way to the Whistler House Museum of Art just under the wire. Once again I had to pay for rush shipping, but it should be there tomorrow (the deadline for deliveries is July 15).

Since I finished this quilt in 2008 it’s hard to believe I couldn’t get it to Lowell much earlier!

In my defense, it did take a long time to figure out how to ship a wooden dowel along with it – the quilt is 46” wide and a hanging dowel needed to be 44” long. Kind of an awkward box to mail. Mailing tubes were just a little too narrow. The quilt is like 5 feet long so I couldn’t roll it tight enough to fit the tube. By July 12th I was starting to panic.

But then my engineer husband came up with a brilliant plan! We used wooden dowel extenders (see photo, left). We used 3 extension handles; sawed off the end to get the correct length & smoothed it out with sandpaper. Then we just added eye screws to the 2 ends. When they are all assembled, it makes a perfect wooden dowel rod all the way across and meets the Whistler’s requirements for hanging. Yea!

Then I unscrewed them so the pieces fit into a 6 x 12 x 18 box. I think it’s a great solution – hopefully it won’t cause any issues for the hangers at the Whistler.

Just in Time – Got my auction quilt to SAQA

2010-07-07T22:05:00.001-04:00

Whew! Talk about last minute! The deadline for donations was July 1st and I got it there ON the day, by Overnight FedEx. I was sewing the hanging sleeve on the back of it 20 minutes before the FedEx guy was supposed to come and pick it up! I have GOT to get more organized. :-)

In any case, here he is Mr. Frog “Poison Dart” himself… ready to do his part for Studio Art Quilt Associates.

Check SAQA’s website to see all the donated artwork: http://www.saqa.com/news.php?ID=1423 My quilt is on page 1b

How the Auction Works

There are over 200 Benefit Auction quilts donated by our members. The SAQA 2010 Benefit Auction will begin on Monday, September 20th at 2:00 Eastern Time and conclude on Saturday, October 9 at 2:00 Eastern.

Last year's Benefit Auction raised $47,325. The funds raised through the Auction are critical to supporting SAQA's exhibitions, catalogs and outreach programs.

Fiber Art Exhibition at Windsor Art Center – Registration is Open for “Identity”

2010-07-01T09:58:00.001-04:00

SAQA Artists in CT, RI and MA are invited to participate in an upcoming Fiber Art Exhibition at the Windsor Art Center (Windsor, CT)

Identity

Through fiber art and sculpture, artists share the memorable experiences and traditions that have shaped their personal identity.

Registration is Open NOW

No Entry Fee

Deadline for Entries October 1, 2010

Identity is a non-juried show, open to all current SAQA members who live in Connecticut, Massachusetts or Rhode Island.

Exhibition Dates: January 22 - March 5, 2011

Contact Kate Themel for a copy of the prospectus

The Windsor Art Center is located at the Freight House:

40 Mechanic Street
Windsor, CT 06095-2522
(860) 688-2528

www.windsorartcenter.org

From Fine Art to Fiber – Reinterpreting the Masters at the Whistler

2010-06-02T17:02:00.001-04:00

I’m pleased to announce:

My quilt Ode to a Kiss will be on display at the Whistler House Museum of Art as part of their upcoming exhibition “From Fine Art to Fiber”. The show will run from August 4 to September 4, 2010.

Whistler House

243 Worthen Street

Lowell, MA

www.whistlerhouse.org

The exhibit will consist of quilts inspired by famous works of art including paintings, murals, and sculpture — from Michelangelo to Warhol and beyond.

Ode to a Kiss (see image, upper left) was inspired by the painting “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt.

Reception TONIGHT at the Funky Monkey Cafe

2010-03-20T12:38:00.001-04:00

Fiber Art by Kate Themel at

The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery

Artist Reception

Saturday, March 20th

7 to 9 pm

“Fiber Art by Kate Themel” will run March 1 - 29, 2010

The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery

130 Elm Street

The Watch Factory Shoppes

Cheshire, CT 06410

Check for gallery hours: www.thefunkymonkeycafe.com

4 Hour Art Quilt

2010-03-05T15:01:00.001-05:00

This 12x12 art quilt took less than 4 hours to make – start to finish, including the binding. I actually set a time limit for myself when I made it. Why would someone do that, you ask? One reason: Just to see if I could do it.

More important reason: Today I led the first day of a two-day workshop and I wanted to see if my patterns and instructions were going to work – so I followed them myself. My goal is for the students to take home a completed art quilt. No UFOs (Unfinished Fabric Objects) from my class!

We will have a total of 6 hours for the workshop so I estimated if I can do a complete quilt, not rushing, in 4 hours then the class can get it done in 6 (allowing for instructions, questions, discussion etc). Even though the composition is pretty simple – two pears on a whole cloth background – there is a lot of room for creativity.

The students came up with color combinations that were entirely different from one another. Each one reflected the student’s personality and taste. The quilting will distinguish each one even further. As i told my class, a fiber artist’s quilting line is like handwriting – unique to each person, revealing a little bit about the quilter.

The background on “Still Life, Pears” is a solid light-purple fabric. So when I first put the top together, it looked a little cold and boring. I added the flowers and tile shapes using free motion stitching and a variegated purple thread. The brown binding edge gave it a little more warmth as well.

I love to “quilt the heck out of” my compositions. I fill them with dense stitching, close lines and swirls, until the quilt itself is practically flat. What does this reveal about my personality, I wonder? Maybe that I’m an obsessive control freak…. maybe it’s saying I’m “dense”...? I guess it’s for others to interpret. In any case, I find the process itself so enjoyable that I end up losing myself in it… Until I get to the point where there’s no room left for any more thread.

(Detail images of stitching, right)

Putting together the top took about 90 minutes and the rest of the time I spent on quilting. It was so fun to see this piece come together in just a few hours!

I’m thinking I might try to challenge myself to do more of these quick-timed quilts more often. As I looked at my students’ work today, I marveled at the possible color combinations & use of stitching. Using the same exact cutting pattern, I wonder what kinds of designs I could come up with. A photo-negative? Psychedelic? Black & white or monochromatic? Maybe something in a Matisse fauve style…

Why not?

Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery, Artist Reception March 20

2010-03-03T15:44:00.001-05:00

Fiber Art by Kate Themel at

The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery

Artist Reception

Saturday, March 20th

7 to 9 pm

“Fiber Art by Kate Themel” will run March 1 - 29, 2010

The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery

130 Elm Street

The Watch Factory Shoppes

Cheshire, CT 06410

Check for gallery hours: www.thefunkymonkeycafe.com

Frogs find a home at the Monkey

2010-03-03T15:26:00.001-05:00

So now The Funky Monkey Cafe & Gallery show is hung up and I think the frog portraits look good as a group. I received a lot of positive feedback from viewers as I was putting them together. I love being back at the Funky Monkey! The gallery space is so pretty and nicely lit; it makes anything you hang there look great.

I made a few changes to the frog portraits right before hanging them. I sewed each one to fabric and wrapped it over 14" stretcher bars, using a grey and black batik with a subtle leaf pattern on it.
Keeping the stretched fabric consistent added a bit of cohesion to the group. Also, as a way of adding interest to the three "weaker" frogs, I hung them on a diagonal. Those guys are growing on me now. I wasn't ready to ditch any of them and glad I gave them a chance.

Also, the green striped frog was bothering me before, so I added an extra toe on his front foot. Don't ask me why, it just made me feel better.
Anyway, here's how they look on the wall together. (image right)
I'll continue to do a few more of these because I haven't exhausted my stash of possible frog personalities yet.

But just as a change of pace, I’m now working on a still life of 2 pears. It’s a very simple 12x12 composition & I’m timing myself to have it finished within 4 hours. So far I finished the top and had it ready to quilt in about 90 minutes. Why have it done in under 4 hours? I’ll be using it as the demonstration project for the ArtsPlace workshop. We have 6 hours for the workshop so I’m estimating if it takes me 3-4 hrs, the class will be able to get it done in 6, then they can go home with a finished quilt.

“Sentinel”

2010-02-26T12:15:00.001-05:00

Sentinel came together pretty quickly. I didn’t spend a lot of time picking the colors; this blue/green batik was lying next to the hot pink and I just really liked the combination. The only time spent on colors was finding a lighter pink for the frog’s belly.

I decided not to distract from the combo by adding another color for the tree branch. Instead, I used quilt stitching to create the branch’s dimension (see detail).

I did keep Sentinel’s eye his natural color, unlike the rest of the composition. It just seemed unnecessary to mess with it.

Next up? …with only 2 days left before the Funky Monkey show, I guess the next Frog Portrait may be the last of this batch. Stay tuned for the closer. :-)

“Empress”

2010-02-25T14:48:00.001-05:00

"Empress" is finished - this chubby little frog looked so bored and pampered the name came easily. I decided to go with a regal color to match her name & personality.

In fact I was SO industrious today that I almost finished the 3rd portrait (or 6th in the series overall). "Sentinel" might just become my new favorite. I'll admit, I'm having much more fun with the latest ones. And I do love those weird frog toes, can’t help it.

I'm finding that even though I am not as fond of the first 3 in this series, they seem to look better within the whole group. As I add more, I'll decide who will "make the cut" for my solo show. But they might be okay all together, some looking out and others off to the side. We'll see how it all shakes out March 1st.

Too bad for my family - they barely see me except at meal times - and I think my husband is wondering what the heck this obsession with frogs is all about. Well, these manic days won't last much longer. Thursday 2/25 I'm setting up the Fiber Revolution show at NVCC and then Monday 3/1 is the Funky Monkey solo show. After that, I may go back to normal business hours. Maybe….

Ah HA! More frog toes, that’s the ticket

2010-02-23T11:29:00.001-05:00

I’ve been asking myself why my recent series of frog mini-quilts was not working. Then I realized that the reason I didn’t like the results is because the process was flawed. I wasn’t being true to myself, to my own artistic approach. I had to admit to myself that I was just using them as convenient shapes, filling them in with vibrant colors. But that’s a lazy shortcut. After all, why revisit a series if not to make them better? Something new should be revealed.

I decided I need to approach these as I would any larger scale composition. That meant finding something about the subject that I find beautiful and intriguing. What is that thing here?…

Then it came to me. Those freaky little frog toes! It’s their toes, along with a frog’s big buggy eyes that I love about them. My first 3 attempts were not highlighting those features at all. In some cases, their little feet were completely cropped out. They seemed more like scientific illustrations only with weird colors. I should have been treating them as intimate portraits, using the quilting stitches to enhance the image rather than just fill in space.

That was why I had trouble naming them before! They had no personality. At this revelation, I gained a new energy and purpose. This little guy is reaching out with a webbed-fingered foot (or hand?) and looking right out from the frame. When it was finished, I had the feeling he was casting some kind of spell, which led me to the title “Hypnotist”.

I have nearly completed the next one too (stay tuned for “Empress”).

Frog 3 Complete

2010-02-21T15:50:00.001-05:00

It’s the last Sunday of the Challenge, so I’m happy to say I met my goal. However, now that these 3 are complete, I’m re-thinking if I want to put them in NVCC. One reason is that I’m not 100% convinced these are working as a group. There’s not much of a story behind them at this point; I had thought the colors would give them some kind of “life” but I’m not feelin’ it. Maybe it’s the larger format – the little 5x7s seemed to be more interesting, or maybe I just have color fatigue or something.

I’d rather continue with this series on my own, to see if something emerges as more frogs come together. If I can get to that point, I’ll exhibit all of them in my solo show at Funky Monkey. I have in mind at least one more with the frog facing out, toward the viewer, which might be a good addition to this group & keep the compositions interesting.

I do have 3 alternates in mind for NVCC which are ready to go (Leaf Series 1, 2, 3). In any case, the Funky Monkey show begins March 1, so that doesn't allow much time to get the series in working order. Back to the STUDIO!

Frog 2 Complete

2010-02-15T12:03:00.001-05:00

It’s hard to see the quilting thread in a photo, but I used a bright orange to stitch leaves in the background and also for the red part of the frog’s body. The other part is a darker copper color thread.

Frog 1 Complete

2010-02-07T15:49:00.001-05:00

I just finished the quilting and binding on this little guy. This series is going to be a lot of fun. I chose a bright green for the quilting thread in the background (see detail lower right). Adding some green to the eye brings the background & frog more in synch and completes that tertiary color scheme (purple, orange, green). Anyway, I like it.

February’s Quilt-per-Week Challenge: First Update

2010-02-06T13:22:00.001-05:00

You may have noticed by the lack of posts that I’ve been in creative slacker-mode for a few months. In order to kick start my production in the studio, I’ve given myself a new challenge. (Seems I need to be under a strict deadline in order to stay motivated). This February, I commit to creating one small art quilt every week. By small, I mean 12”x12”, ready to frame. It coincides nicely with the NVCC exhibition “Think Outside the Blocks” opening February 25th. I should have 3 brand new finished quilts to debut at NVCC.

Tomorrow marks the deadline for Quilt #1, so this week’s installment is FROG SERIES II: Purple/Orange. If you are not completely dazzled by the name, it’s just a working title. Suggestions for names are welcome.

I’ll be finishing the quilting and edges today and starting on the next one tomorrow.

I had worked in a series of frogs last year - a total of 6 small 5x7 framed quilts - but they have all been sold now. I realized that those frogs were really fun to make as well as look at. It seemed like a perfect place to start the challenge. They are free and colorful with an energy of their own, which I’m hoping to draw from.

For this version of “Frogs”, I'm still going to limit the color pallet but plan to add more detail & quilting and explore a more accurate sense of the frog's markings. When I say accurate, I mean the spots and shapes, not the colors. In fact I'm going to make a conscious effort NOT to represent these frogs' natural color.

Stay tuned for next week’s amphibious portrait.

“Muscle Memory” Highlighted in the Sentinel newspaper (Spotswood, NJ)

2010-01-28T09:48:00.001-05:00

My quilt “Muscle Memory” was featured in the Sentinel newspaper on January 7, 2010 along with an article about Fiber Revolution’s exhibition at the Academy of Music. The show, entitled Significant Stitches, will run until March 6th, 2010.

Here’s a link to the online article and more info about the show:

http://ebs.gmnews.com/news/2010-01-05/Front_Page/Fiber_Revolution_returns_to_Spotswood_art_gallery.html

Academy of Music
508 Main St.
Spotswood, NJ 08884

Gallery Hours:
Saturday: 10 am-9 pm
Monday-Thursday: 10 am-8 pm
Friday: 9 am-4 pm Saturday

Curated by Kevan Rupp Lunney

The exhibit includes art quilts by: Virginia Abrams, Benedicte Caneill, Melissa Craven Fowler, Cindy Friedman, Antoinette Hall, Eileen Lauterborn, Barbara McKie, Deborah Schwartzman and Kate Themel. There will also be a selection of smaller works presented in deep frames.

www.AcademyOfMusicOnMain.com
732-251-3050

“Think Outside the Blocks” – Exhibition of Fine Art Quilts by Fiber Revolution

2010-01-27T12:57:00.005-05:00

This February, Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) will host an exhibition of art quilts by Fiber Revolution.

Think Outside the Blocks

Feb 25 – April 23, 2010

NVCC Fine Arts Building

Theater Entrance, 3rd Floor

750 Chase Parkway

Waterbury, CT 06708

http://www.nvcc.commnet.edu

Gallery hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-3pm.

(Postcard image: Blushing Triangles by Gloria Hansen)

Opening Reception: Saturday, February 27 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Fiber Revolution is made up of professional textile artists from the Northeast region of SAQA, combining their knowledge and experience in marketing to exhibit and sell their artwork.

Think Outside the Blocks participating artists include: Natalya Aikens (NY), Benedicte Caneill (NY), Melissa Fowler (NY), Cindy Friedman (PA), Gloria Hansen (NJ), Kevan Lunney (NJ), Barbara Barrick McKie (CT), Kris Moss (NY), Norma Schlager (CT) and Kate Themel (CT).

About Fiber Revolution

Fiber Revolution is a group of 30 artists from NJ, PA, DE, NY, MA, and CT who meet primarily online to support each other by marketing, and securing venues to show and sell their fiber art. Each artist has a unique vision and style but they all have a love for fabric, texture and color in common. The fabric compositions are like paintings meant for the wall but they have more interest and relief due to the techniques used to change the surface, such as machine and hand stitching, including quilting and embroidery, paint, dye, beads, computer generated imagery, stamping and printing.

The Fiber Revolution members are: Virginia Abrams, Natalya Aikens, Benedicte Caneil, Lisa Chipetine, Rachel B. Cochran, Nike Cutsumpas, Susan Ferraro, Melissa Craven Fowler, Ed-Johnetta Fowler-Miller, Cindy Friedman, Antoinette Hall, Jutta Halpin, Gloria Hansen, Eileen Lauterborn, Katherina Litchman, Kevan Lunney, Barbara Barrick McKie, Kris Moss, Elizabeth Poole, Jeri Riggs, Linda Rogers, Carol Schepps, Norma Schlager, Deborah Schwartzman, Melanie Testa, Kate Themel, Gwyned Trefethen, and Carolyn Lee Vehslage.

Botswana Show

2009-12-09T23:40:00.001-05:00

Here are a few photos of the Botswanacraft Gallery in Gaborone, Botswana. Cindy Friedman of Fiber Revolution organized the event and transported all the quilts to and from Africa. The show ran from November 12th – 20th, 2009.

This is the second time Fiber Rev has teamed up with Kalahari Quilts in Gaborone.

(images: a glimpse of the beautiful open-air gallery where the Fiber Revolution exhibition was displayed, along with ethnic dolls made by local artist Puni Mosinyi)

By now most of the exhibition pieces have been returned to the artists. The exceptions were: one of Cindy’s own work, which was gifted to the Museum, and 2 that were sold: a gorgeous composition entitled “Hibiscus” by Jutta Halpin and my very own “Elephant”.

Something Inspiring

2009-11-02T13:49:00.001-05:00

I took this photo two weeks ago, during a very nice walk in North Easton, Massachusetts. These are the days when I feel lucky to live in New England.

Brand new work: Elephant, Botswana

2009-10-29T00:29:00.001-04:00

“Elephant” was inspired by a photo of a bull elephant, captured on film by Chuck Babbitt, in the Savuti Camp, Botswana (used with his permission). Chuck has generously shared his work with me and allowed me to visit beautiful & exotic locations through his photography.

This quilt will be traveling along with Fiber Revolution to an exhibition in Gaborone, Botswana. This is the second time the artists from Fiber Rev have teamed up with Kalahari Quilts and the Botswanacraft Gallery.

See the original inspiration for this quilt, and other
examples of Chuck Babbitt's photos here: Chuck
Babbitt Photography

Seventh & Final in the Yale/Af-Am series: Friendship

2009-10-28T09:40:00.001-04:00

The final installment of the 7-quilt Yale Af-Am project is “Friendship & Support”. This piece illustrates the different fraternities & sororities in the House, professional/career guidance such as Black Graduate Network (BGN), and support organizations like Prism and Students of Mixed Heritage and Culture.

Quilt 6: Community

2009-10-27T10:44:00.001-04:00

The second is “Community”, representing the House’s dedication to social issues, inside and outside the University campus. Some of these resident groups include Visions of Virtue, Black Church at Yale and Campus against Racial Violence.

Quilt 5: The Arts

2009-10-25T20:12:00.001-04:00

These next three compositions celebrate the different resident groups that have a home at the Afro-American Cultural Center. The first one is entitled “The Arts”, representing creative pursuits: music, dance, choir and literature.

Some of the groups represented here are The Yale Gospel Choir, Heritage Theatre Ensemble, Sphere Magazine and Nzinga Dancers.

Quilt 4: Anniversary

2009-10-22T11:10:00.001-04:00

The fourth chronological quilt represents only the year 2009, marking the 40th Anniversary of the founding of the House.

(see image, upper left)

A quote by Kurt Schmoke (class of 1971) in the upper section reads “You are older than we are, and more experienced. We want guidance from you, moral leadership. On behalf of my fellow students, I beg you to give it to us.” Kurt said these words to school administrators nearly 30 years ago, but students today want the same things from their role models.

You may notice a lot of “empty” space in this quilt. This was intentionally done in order to offer a special opportunity to alumni. The blank areas are quilted using a coordinating colored thread. Organizers of the event asked me if there was a way for students and alumni to be part of the timeline in some way. We worked out an idea for people to sign the last quilt with permanent marking pens. During Alumni Weekend, students and alumni will sign the quilt and write personal messages or quotes right onto the fabric.

It’s definitely a first for me, to encouraging people to take a Sharpie marker to my artwork! But in the end it will be a keepsake for the House and a nice way to mark this special anniversary. Hopefully I will be able to get a photo of this panel after it has been signed.

The left sections list House Directors, and the phrase “Beneficiaries to Benefactors”. Graduates are encouraged to give back to the community and to upcoming students.

(Detail image: close up on one of the graduates)

(Detail image, lower left: Two African masks, the de facto House Logo. This image, drawn here with quilt stitching, is prevalent on the House’s website and on many event programs, flyers, etc.).

Quilt #3 - “A Larger Community”

2009-10-20T22:18:00.001-04:00

Third installment, Quilt 3: “Forming a Larger Community”

This period in AFAM's history was marked by the increasing opposition to Apartheid and a new focus on artistic expression. The largest square depicts the South African flag using silhouettes of people marching in protest. During this time the House was experiencing a period of increased Social Awareness, Global Identity, Empowerment and inclusion of different ethnicities within the resident groups. Other important traditions were started during this time as well, such as the Ogilvie, Robinson, DeChabert Leadership Forum – named for 3 of the 4 original founders of the House and Cabaret Weekend – AFAM’s collaboration with Yale’s School of Drama, playwright August Wilson and Director Lloyd Richards.

Next up: the 4th panel in the chronological timeline (Anniversary/ Celebration of Students and Alumni)

Timeline- Quilt #2 “Founding”

2009-10-19T16:36:00.001-04:00

Here is the 2nd installment of the AfAm timeline. It's called "Founding", and represents roughly the 1960’s and 70’s. Technically, AFAM was founded in 1969 at another location but moved to 211 Park Street (shown here) a year later. But this is the address that everyone associates with the House. Over the years students and alumni have grown to love the place, working hard to raise funds to renovate it, restoring the facade and improving the interior facilities. So I could not have created a panel for this time period without a portrait of the House as its main feature.

Other important events during this time were: the establishment of the Black Church at Yale (BCAY), and the Black Student Alliance at Yale (BSAY), as well as the creation of an African American Studies degree program, the first one of its kind in the Ivy League.

…Not to complain but it's not easy to create a building out of fabric!!! That was a first for me. A detail of the building is shown below.

In 1964, Yale admitted fourteen African American students into its degree programs, a record number at the time. Quilted within the house’s roof walls are the names of these men from the class of 1968, as well as upperclassmen Craig Foster ‘69 and Glenn DeChabert ‘70 (who along with Armstead Robinson ‘68 and Donald Ogilvie ‘68 are considered the House Founders).

I stitched them into the architecture of this fabric House because they provided the foundation for the Black Student Alliance at Yale and the Afro American Cultural Center.

Stay tuned… next up is Quilt 3: A Larger Community

New Work: Fiber Art Timeline

2009-10-18T09:53:00.001-04:00

Alumni Weekend at Yale is a busy one – especially at 211 Park Street. The Afro American Cultural Center is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of its founding. Events for students and alumni include speeches, table discussions, movie screenings, performances by singing and dancing troupes… as well as an exhibition of 7 art quilts by yours truly.

I was so proud to be able to work on this project. It taught me a lot about the history of Connecticut and Yale University and gave me an insight into the incredible contributions of African American students in the Ivy League school. The Afro American Cultural Center is more than a building. The students, faculty and alumni call it “The House” and it is more like a home than an institution. This building has represented at different times in history, a sanctuary for students who sometimes feel ostracized, a friendly gathering place for holiday parties and performance art, a safe environment for students to relax and be themselves, and a center for social and political action.

Of course the history of Black Life at Yale cannot be illustrated in just 7 panels. But students David Lindsey, Chelsea Allen and Diana Ofosu provided me with an extensive amount of factual information, and worked with me to highlight key events. I cannot thank them enough for all their help. Assistant Dean Pamela George, Director of the Af-Am Cultural Center, hired me to create this fabric timeline and gave me complete artistic freedom to work on it. I was honored that Dean George saw my work and invited me to play a small role in the House’s Anniversary celebration.

It is my sincere hope that each student and alumnus viewing these quilts will see a bit of themselves in the artwork. Whatever their graduation year, I hope they will find inspiration, pride and fond memories within these fabric images.

I’m excited that I can now share photos of the 7 piece collection. Quilt 1, entitled “Pre-History: Opening of the Gates”, represents the first Black students to attend Yale. This was long before the establishment of the Afro American Cultural Center, but a timeline of the House cannot overlook the contributions of these individual pioneers. For example: 1834-1839 James Pennington (left side of quilt, middle) was not allowed to officially enroll at Yale, but he audited classes and went on to become a minister and successful author. 1874 Edward Bouchet (top left corner) enrolled & graduated with a degree in Physics, then continued on to become the first African American to earn a PhD. This piece includes quotes & dates, and stitched into the quilting are words that reflect the attributes of these men (Achievement, integrity, hero, courage, vision) etc.

Diana mentioned she walks through these very gates going to campus every day (detail left). It’s amazing to think that the first African American students walked through the same gates over a century ago.

Check back soon to see the next quilt in the House’s timeline: “Founding: 211 Park Street”.

NVCC Show

2009-10-13T20:36:00.001-04:00

I took my mom over to the Leever Atrium during off hours, just to give her a look at the Fiber Snapshots exhibit. It’s a very nice room although a little spooky with no people walking through. But the lonely environment was great for taking pictures. :-)

(upper left)

My mom walking through the exhibition.

(lower left)

Here’s the long view of the Atrium Gallery. The wall on the left is slightly curved, so it’s hard to see the artwork in this shot. Over on the right are stairs to the Fine Arts Center, as well as wall-length windows for natural, indirect light. Back toward the far wall you’ll see chairs & a podium. That’s where we’ll have the gallery talk.

If you are not on the mailing list for a postcard, here are the details:

NVCC/ Ruth Leever Atrium Gallery will host Kate Themel for a Gallery Talk about her quilted artwork on November 19th from 11:00am – 1:30pm followed by a light reception and refreshments.

For directions to NVCC (Waterbury Campus), visit http://www.nvcc.commnet.edu/welcome/maps.shtml