Bellefonte Exhibit Report

I had a good day. I started with a quick stop at the Pennsylvania State Museum to pick up Big Root Geranium from the Art of the State exhibit which just closed, then headed up through the mountains towards Bellefonte. There was a light rain, and low clouds skirting the mountain tops that made for a scenic drive. I found the Bellefonte Museum; it's in a charming and beautiful 199 year old stone building with two large rooms serving as the main exhibit space. My Lavender in a Lightning Storm is hanging in the entry way, and there I am above with Daylilies at Dawn, which fits perfectly in a space next to a window. My three small mixed media pieces are above a fireplace, I neglected to photograph them in situ, but they are well placed.

I had the pleasure of meeting and conversing with Kimberly Davis, who I've known online. There she is above with one of her "Early Morning Club" panels comprised of small art quilts she composed daily in a series. I enjoyed learning more about her motivation and discussing working methods. Pop over to her blog to see more, and keep an eye on Kim, because she and her work are definitely going places!

Above is "Unconscious of Danger/Concealment as a Condition" by Ardeth Spence Christy. Isn't that a wonderful title for the piece? Ardeth was one of the stitchers for Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party, and it was a distinct treat to see some of her works in person.

Above is one of the flags from Benin, which is just fabulous on so many levels. Below is a detail showing how effectively the artist used the sequins. (All the pictures are clickable for larger views)

Here is another flag from Benin, an interpretation of The Tortoise and The Hare story. Look at the expressions, and the movement, and the color choices, and the tension that stems from the way it's crowded into the frame. I could live with this and never tire of it.

And then there are the molas....they are framed and under glass, so my photographs are not blog-worthy, but you can take my word for it that they are exquisite. (If you are unfamiliar with molas, a bit of background is here.) Amazingly, there were some vintage molas for sale, with some of the proceeds going to the Kuna Indians, and I can show you the ones I spent the grocery money on:

This frog makes me very happy. I'm going to get it framed, along with this one that depicts (I think, I need to do some research) a creation myth:

Many thanks and kudos to Pat House, for putting on a small gem of an exhibit, with a great concept and very diverse works that complement each other. I am really honored to be included. The exhibit is up until December 20th, so if you find yourself in the Penn State area stop by and enjoy it.

Watt & Shand #4 Update

I have been working away very diligently on Watt & Shand #4. I've designed and pieced the top, layered and basted it, and begun on the quilting. I enjoy watching the texture develop as the stitching progresses--it adds another dimension to the images, and is one of the reasons I love working in this medium so much. Here's a few quick snapshots to show you how it's progressing. The one above includes a cyanotype, and below is a digital print.

If you are new here, you can track back this work, and the series, by clicking on "Watt & Shand" under Labels in the right side bar. Numbers 5 through 9 are in various stages of planning and execution, and I'm nowhere near to running out of ideas and inspiration.

I'll be taking a break from studio work to attend the opening reception of "A World of Stitches" at the Bellefonte (PA) Museum tomorrow afternoon. (You can read my previous blog post about it here.) If you are in the area, please stop by and say hello!

PNQE--Judge's Choice

I made a quick trip to view the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza in the Philly area on Saturday, where my Fireball won a Judge's Choice ribbon, awarded by Sonya Lee Barrington. You can see I am feeling rather chuffed about it!

Also at the show was Sycamore, which always looks so much better in person--there's a lot of beading and detail that doesn't photograph easily.

I wish I had had more time to explore--there were a lot of great quilts on display, and a huge array of vendors. It seemed like a large crowd of attendees, as well, so perhaps it's a sign that the recession is easing up.

Ashley & Bailey Silk Mill - further update

I've posted previously about the beautiful ruins of the former Ashley & Bailey Silk Mill, in Columbia, PA, and the plans to turn it into a tourist attraction. Various project approvals have come through, and site work has begun. The biggest visual change is the removal of the remnants of window glass. Compare this shot, above, with the previous pictures from last November.

Above is the view from the east, looking down the length of the building; below is the front view. I liked the way it looked with the reflections from the fragments of glass earlier, but I also like with the clean sculptural lines it now presents. And just like with the Watt & Shand facade, I'm really enthralled with the way it still reads as a structure, but you can see blue sky clear through it. I also like the areas where vegetation has claimed a foothold.

Below is the view from the west, where some of the post and beam framing still stands. You can read an article about the progress of the project in the local paper here; they've hit a snag upon finding ground water contamination but are moving ahead.

And finally, a view of the water tower at the back of the site, with migrating hawks circling overhead:As soon as I can free up some time, I plan to start a new series of works using these photos. Stay tuned!

Fox Grapes

I am very busy right now with working on the Watt & Shand series, but I was seduced and temporarily waylaid by a huge fox grape vine I encountered while out and about. Fox grapes, Vitis labrusca, grow wild here in Pennsylvania, and the vines can ramble rather extensively. They cling with delicate looking but strong tendrils, which can be seen in the cyanotype print I made, above.

That print joins one I made several years ago, seen above during exposure. They will both join the queue of work I am passionate about producing but lack the time to address right now....I will pick out colors and fabrics to go with them, and the latent design will simmer in the back of my mind. It's good to have things like this to think about in the middle of the night or as a welcome distraction from the news of the world. I'd like to have some of the actual grapes to photograph--they are much smaller than a cultivated grape, but they are hard to find, as the birds and other wildlife make short work of them. They are similar in color to these concords, below, with a similar whitish bloom.

San Francisco - Coit Tower

On our trip to San Francisco earlier this year, one day we took the ferry: Across the bay to the city: Where we took a cable car, made our way to Telegraph Hill and found the stairs to Coit Tower:

We climbed up, up, up, past pocket gardens and funky houses, and were suddenly startled by the raucous calls of the feral parrots in the trees:

Until at last we reached Coit Tower:

We took the elevator to the top, where we enjoyed the views of the city:

And the bay:

But best of all were the PWAP murals from the 1930's that were very controversial in their time, as they were thought to invoke socialist ideas and celebrate workers like these

fruit pickers: And flower pickers:

A street scene:

Canning industry workers:

And the huddled masses, yearning to break free of the Great Depression:

Bellefonte--Images from Benin and Panama

Wow--I've just received some images representing the applique work that will be in the exhibit at the Bellefonte Museum (see yesterday's post). Above is an Mola from Panama, and below is a flag by Y. Brice from Benin. What fabulous work--now I really can't wait to go see the show!

Here's an updated press release with more information about the work done in Benin and Panama:

Bellefonte Museum for Centre County
133 N Allegheny, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Museum hours are 1 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday
and Sunday and by appointment

Announces the next exhibition:
“A World of Stitches”
September 27th to December 20th, 2009
Opening reception- September 27th, from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
(Free and open to the public)

“A World of Stitches: appliqué art from Benin, Panama and Pennsylvania” is a show of the particular craft of appliqué with examples from three very different cultures. The variety of design, motif and theme afford contrast while the basic craft demonstrates the universality of appliqué. The works in the exhibition are original creations by the artists and include images from the natural world, cultural themes and symbols from holidays and celebrations.

Appliqué needlework is an international craft; from American homes to tribal ceremonies, appliqué has been around a long time and continues to be popular. Remnants of clothing decorated with pieces of fabric to form designs have been found in the tombs of persons from ancient cultures. The technique has been used to create colorful flags for royalty throughout Europe and Africa. Appliqué designs on quilts and dance costumes were very popular in the Americas during the 18th and 19th Centuries. It is assumed that appliqué owes part of its origin to supply. When fabrics were all made by hand on simple looms or imported at great expense every scrap of material was valuable.

This exhibition includes examples of appliqué used to create decorative pieces and useful objects including coverlets, wall hangings, patches for quilt making, flags and clothing. Appliqué', which is a French term, is a type of decorative needlework that involves cutting pieces of one fabric and sewing or otherwise applying them to the surface of another. An image or design is obtained by superposing patches of colored material on a basic cloth.

In our country, women have been the appliqué artists and quilters but in other cultures men created the textiles and made the textile crafts. This continues to be true in Benin (West Africa), one of the three countries featured in this exhibition. In the Kuna culture of Panama women are the textile artists. Their designs are made using many layers of fabric.

The Kuna people live on the San Blas Islands off the northern coast of Panama. Kuna women make a unique kind of appliqué work called Molas. Images in the Molas are very detailed and depict every aspect of their lives. The fabric designs are done in bright colors on dark (usually red) background. Molas range in sizes but are usually made to fit on a shirt or dress bodice.

Works in this show by Brice Abraham Yemadie are done in rich colors using fabrics and sequins. These pieces demonstrate the appliqué tradition as it has evolved in Benin, West Africa. Y. Brice was born in Benin to a family of textile artisans whose roots go back to the Fon Kingdom of Dahomey (now Benin). The French artist Matisse admired this appliqué tradition and the influence can be seen in some of his works. Fon artists sold into slavery brought the appliqué tradition to the Americas.

By exhibiting examples from Benin (West Africa), Panama and our own community, we display contrasts and similarities and suggest possible origins of craftwork. Most importantly, the show demonstrates shared creativity of people from a wide variety of cultures and traditions. The exhibition curator is Patricia House.

Works in the exhibition:

Pennsylvania and environs appliqué artists,
Bonnie Buckwalter, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania
Aldeth Spence Christy, 1939- 2001, Maryland
Kimberly Davis, State College, Pennsylvania
Sue Reno, Columbia, (Lancaster), Pennsylvania
(Biographies of the American artists will be available at the exhibition)

Panama, Kuna Indians appliqué work by several Kuna community members

Benin (West Africa), Brice Abraham Yemadje, textile artist, Fon Community

Special appreciation is extended to Peggy Sloves and Maya Spence for lending art to the show and to the artists who loaned their works.

The exhibition is partially funded by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Borough of Bellefonte.

Accompanying programs will include craft classes for children and adults and on site activities for families visiting the show.

Bellefonte Museum Exhibit

I am very pleased to announce that 5 of my works will be featured in an upcoming exhibit at the Bellefonte Museum for Centre County in Bellefonte, PA. Included will be Daylilies at Dawn, above, with a detail below:

The exhibit is entitled “A World of Stitches: appliqué art from Benin, Panama and Pennsylvania”and it is partially funded by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the Borough of Bellefonte. It will also feature my "Lavender in a Lightning Storm", below:

I think this is a really brilliant concept for a show, and am looking forward to attending the opening on Sunday, September 27th from 1 to 4:30 pm, so I can see the other work that has been selected by curator Patricia House. The exhibit will run until December 20th, so there will be plenty of opportunity to visit if you are in the area.

Also included will be three of my mixed media pieces, "Suddenly Spring #1":

" Suddenly Spring #2":

And "Suddenly Spring #4":

Here's the press release with more details:

“A World of Stitches: appliqué art from Benin, Panama and Pennsylvania” is a show of the particular craft of appliqué and related needlework from three very different cultures. The variety of design, motif and theme will afford contrast while the basic craft will demonstrate the universality of appliqué as a way to decorate personal or useful objects. “A World of Stitches” will open on Sunday, September 27th from 1 to 4:30 pm. The show will be at the museum until December 20th

Appliqué Stitchery is an international craft; from early American homes to tribal ceremonies, appliqués have been around a long time and they are still very popular. The exhibition will include examples of appliqué work on decorative pieces and useful objects including coverlets, wall hangings, patches for quilt making and clothing. Appliqué', which is a French term, is a type of decorative needlework that involves cutting pieces of one fabric and sewing or otherwise applying them to the surface of another fabric. It is a technique by which the decoration is obtained by superposing patches of colored fabrics on a basic fabric, the edges of the patches being sewn in some form of stitchery specially prepared appliqué may have embroidery work, additional decorations like ribbons, sequins or even mirror work.

By exhibiting examples from Benin (Africa), Panama and our own community, we demonstrate a common style of craft and suggest possible origins of craftwork and the shared creativity of people from a wide variety of cultures and traditions. The exhibition curator is Patricia House.

The exhibition is partially funded by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Borough of Bellefonte. Accompanying programs will include related craft classes for children and adults and on site activities for families visiting the show.

Pennsylvania and environs appliqué artists:
Sue Reno, Lancaster, PA
Bonnie Buckwalter, Bellefonte, PA.
Aldeth Spence Christy, (1939- 2001), Maryland
Kimberly Davis, State College, PA

Kuna Indians appliqué work - Panama (North America)

Fon Tribal Community appliqué work - Benin (Africa)