Important Notices:

If you would like your work displayed here please send jpg to Karin

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Mid-February Newsletter

There is a lot going on... 
So here is a mid-month update. I hope this helps you not to miss out on registering for workshops, job applications or putting in a proposal for an exhibition.
Good luck to you all.


Do you know that SDA Alberta has a page on the SDA website too.  
Go to the grey menu bar on the SDA home page, put your mouse over "Get Involved" and scroll down the pop up menu to "Meet your area rep" and click it. Scroll down the page that opens till you see "Canada" and Alberta and click on Alberta or adjacent provinces/States to see what is going on in our region.
The folks who are working on the website are making progress, still things to do - and as a newbie and can see some areas of concern, but it is a great resource, so I hope you enjoy surfing it.


Oh, and don't forget  the upcoming joint SDA/SAQA conference, Identity , in Philadelphia.  I will be sending out updated information directly to SDA Members by email.


Any errors or omissions on this blog are unintentional, please help me get it right... and email me any corrections - I won't take offence, and I will post the corrections.  
I try to do a lot well, sometimes I fall short.  But it is only by making mistakes that we improve.  This is a mantra I like to live by.
Karin

==================================================================


Call for entries




Call for Submissions - FABRICated (fibre arts), Calgary
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: March 5, 2012 (DIGITAL)


DADE
DaDe ART & DESIGN LAB creates and provides innovative and unique products that enhance interior living spaces. With a distinctive product mix and presentation philosophy DaDe offers a complete product range for modern living, including original art & sculpture by local artists, and exclusive furniture from around the world.


DaDe ART & DESIGN LAB in collaboration with the Alberta Craft Council will showcase contemporary fibre artists. FABRICated will run April 20 to June 3, 2012, showcase unconventional, contemporary works (portraits, QR codes, abstract shapes & forms, ʻNOT your grandmothers quiltʼ), both 2D & 3D, using traditional techniques (quilting, needlework, felting, weaving etc). Works submitted must be show ready.


JURY
Darcy Lundgren - DaDe ART & DESIGN LAB co-owner, creative director, designer & artist
Greg Fraser - DaDe ART & DESIGN LAB co-owner, general manager, event coordinator
Margie Davidson - Margie Davidson is an awarded fibre artist, speaker & educator, based in Edmonton, Alberta.


SALES
All works will be for sale during the exhibition. For items selected to be included, artists are responsible for setting the retail price (DaDe will collect a 50% commission from all works sold),
as well as delivery to DaDe ART & DESIGN LAB.


SUBMISSIONS
submissions must include
* contact info (name, address, phone & email)
* artist cv
* artist bio
* images & image list


submit via website http://www.dadeartanddesignlab.com/submissions.html or emailinfo@dadegallery.com only those selected to be included in FABRICated will be contacted.


DaDe ART & DESIGN LAB
1327 9 AVENUE SE
Calgary AB | T2G 0T2


Call for Artists: Curiosities, Medicine Hat
Deadline: March 15, 4 pm Curiosities

===================================================================
What's going on at College?


Hey check this out: http://fibre.acadnet.ca/
Does your local college have a fibre department?  Why not let us know what they are getting up to.
And if you are in Calgary you might want to sign up to receive email updates fronm the ACAD students' blog.
===================================================================

Workshops
Jason Pollen's workshops.
Thanks to everyone - there has been a tremendous response to these workshops.  If you are still interested in attending please email me, or comment on the blog, below.
===================================================================


Information from Lyn Pleuger.




Sheep Creek Weavers Fibre Arts Guild
Millarville Race Track Hall, Alberta

Beginners 14th and 15th May, 2012     $250
         Intermediate - 16th and 17th of May, 2012   $100
Advanced and Masters - 21st and 22nd of May, 2012  $100
Please note that the Beginners is a prerequisite for the Intermediate and the Intermediate for the Advanced
and there will be approx. $10 per day student fee for the rental of the facility.
                                        
Please Contact Lyn 
E-mail: pflueger@telus.net 


 To learn more about Modern Batik Art, please go to
Modern Batik Art Workshops
www.modernbatikartworkshops.com

Sheep Creek Weavers will host ROBYN SPADY on April 2, 3, 4 2012 for the following workshop:

see spadystudios.com

Pictures, Piles, Potpourri, and Perplexing Curiosities



   This is a workshop designed for intermediate-to-advanced weavers (and adventure-seeking beginners) that want to learn new weave structures. In this round-robin workshop, participants will expand their knowledge and experience in weave structures they may have heard of but, may not have woven. A surefire weaving adventure and challenging journey of warp and weft. Structures covered include multi-block swivel and bead leno, corduroy, velvet, samitum, corkscrew twills, lampas, and Beiderwand


This workshop is only offered as a three-day workshop because of the advanced nature of the weave structures covered and the amount of time required to review and weave them.
Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Materials fee: $20.00 per person
The workshop fee will be $125 -$150 (depending on travel costs)

please email Lyn Pflueger (pflueger@telus.net) to enrol, or for further information



===================================================================


SDA Member News

And whilst we are talking about Lyn, Lyn Pflueger's fibre pieces 'feltskin' and 'ruana' are featured in Lark Craft's 500 Felt Objects: Contemporary Explorations of a Remarkable Material.   Congratulations Lyn.  Send me an image so I can show your work off!  


==============================================================

This from Jennifer at Surface Design Association : BC

Don't forget you can read the SDA page for BC on the SDA blog, or take a look at Jennifer's BC blog - linked in the right hand side menu bar ( HERE and HERE).


Below are a selection from Jennifer's recent newsletters to BC members.


Joe Lewis (Canada) invited SDA to submit a profile to his *fibreQuarterly* on-line magazine for a feature about international textile-focused organizations. Check it out here; several SDA members are profiled. A brief history is included - plus a link to the interview Patricia Malarcher did with Jack Lenor Larsen wherein they discuss how SDA got its name.

The Velvet Highway - Surface Design Association: Enduring Advocate of Textile Arts by Ann H. Brocket
www.velvethighway.com

Julia sent me this link - it's AMAZING! Love the men's jackets and pants:


SDA CALENDAR is now operational on the website (the parent organization - not our local website)! Add your events, ones that have resonance for all SDA members.  The Calendar is open to anyone to update, even non-members. Events will be moderated. (We've been asked to post our local meeting info on our state/area page instead of the calendar - which I will do). Exhibitions are encouraged on the calendar.  Check it out!   

==============================================================
Thanks for reading to the end of this post.
Now give me a buzz and post a comment! It'd be nice to answer the question...
"Is there anybody out there???"

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

JUST IN

Leesa Hubbel of SDA posted the following on the members only page on Facebook (have you joined this???)  for Surface Design Association...
March 1 Deadline to submit proposals for exhibitions, presentations, demos and workshops is fast approaching....


INTERFACE: Participate/Illuminate/Celebrate 2013 International Surface Design Association Conference.....


Check  out - www.surfacedesign.org for details.


&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
And also in my email today...


Selvedge have a 30% off sale on their online bookstore.
See the catalogue at Books.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Monday, February 6, 2012

February's News


I begin this newsletter with an invitation to support the students from ACAD in Calgarywho will be putting on their Artawearness show THIS Friday!!!


Take a look at Artawearness. Sign up for your ticket and perhaps we will meet there.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SENT ME INFORMATION FOR THIS NEWSLETTER.  IT IS GREAT TO HAVE ENTHUSIASM FOR THE BLOG.  USE IT TO PUBLICISE YOUR EVENTS AND YOUR WORK.
This month's request: -If you would like your blogs or websites to appear in a blog listing for us all to access, please send me the address.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&




The current issue of Selvedge Magazine has a bit of Canadian focus: Trade Routes to Trading Post: Beyond the Blanket - Textiles in Canada, by Joe Lewis, contains a potted history of some Canadian textile facts. We are happy to say that we received mention as one of the highlights.



The same issue contains a wonderful article by Ptolemy Mann on Jacquard weaving and what it means to revert to manual when your "dobby" (a computerized loom) fails. Carol Outram contributes a story on traditional clothing of the Arctic with remarkable photography by Karim Rholem. We've just added issue # 44 to the online store so you can pick it up here.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&



Call for Entry
Deadline approaches.

pulp paper pages

ACC Call for Entry: Pulp Paper Pages, Edmonton 
Deadline to apply: February 15
Exhibition dates: April 14 - July 7    


Click here or visit our website for more information on this call and to download the entry form
I have taken this entry from the web of the Alberta Craft Council.  Their e-Newsletter is full of information about events, shows, calls for entries, the work of the Council.  The council can help with many aspects of being an active artist.  For example, workshops on taxation, advice on selling your work and so on.  Go to Craft Council website to learn more.


&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Linda McBain Cuyler's work is featured in the members E-news of the Craft Council.
Images (L-R) Carved TEapot, Mindy Andrews, detail of Alpine Meadow, Linda McBain Cuyler, Paper and Pearl Brooch, Gillian Hillerud

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&




    
Alberta Craft Council News   


In the Discovery Gallery...
What is a girl to do
WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO?
Felted hats by Virginia Stephen that explore life's issues.
February 18 - March 24
Opening reception: Saturday, February 18, 2-4 pm
 


Edmonton fibre artist, Virginia Stephen, explores a variety of life issues she faces through hand felted hats in her exhibition What's a Girl to Do. The inspiration for Virginia's exhibition began with a felted hat, "What's a Girl to Do?? - less is less" created for the 2011 Alberta Craft Council In the Red group exhibition. Virginia's felted hats are designed not to be worn on the head but to explore many of those life issues that affect the headspace of this artist. Individual themes include issues of balance, work stress, keeping the magic, dealing with weather, keeping up appearances, and the relationships between 'less' and 'more'. Underlying the work is the notion that it is 'ok' to laugh at ourselves and our circumstances, and it is also 'ok' to laugh in a gallery, with or at the art.


Virginia Stephen holds an MA in Visual and Performing Arts Education and undergraduate degrees in both art history and arts education. Currently Executive Director of Liberal Studies, Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta, Virginia brings to her practice over 25 years of experience as a painter, arts and museum educator, senior arts administrator and consultant.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&


Web Trawl

I subscribe to this site : It is a nice way to see lots of art during a coffee break from the loom, screen or sewing machine.... just a scroll away. 

Here is what they say on the website about the site and the opportunity is there to subscribe.  And below a couple of items that I selected... because I thought they were interesting, informative or just fun.textiles.
Quote
"Our art news magazine is updated DAILY with new articles, and is published FREE to subscribers worldwide. We are sponsored by the Art Appreciation Foundation. AKN brings to its readers unbiased art information and news about art, the art world, museums, artists, exhibitions, articles reprinted from renowned art publications, art resources, special features, photos, commentary, and a vast array of art images found nowhere else in one source. Subscribe today!"
&&&&&&&
And here are some examples of things textile, that I saw in one week... Firstly notification of the exhibition in Toronto from Feb. 8th till May!
pic


Dare to Wear Love February 8 - May 6, 2012 Textile Museum of Canada


Dare to Wear Love is the first exhibition devoted to the celebrated work of top Canadian fashion designers who have created original pieces to raise awareness and funds for grassroots organizations who are turning the tide of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Speaking to the potency and poignancy of artistic expression within a global context, this installation showcases designs created from African cloth by Canada's top fashion designers including Brian Bailey, David Dixon, Fashion Crimes and Linda Lundström as part of Dare to Wear Love, an innovative creative platform initiated by Jim Searle and Chris Tyrell, founders of Hoax Couture.Launched in 2009, Dare to Wear Love challenged 24 designers to create unique couture using 6 yards of African cloth, designs that were then showcased on the runways of Toronto Fashion Week. As a successful design showcase and celebrity fundraiser, the annual event has built awareness and resources for the Stephen Lewis Foundation and their support of community-level organizations that provide care and support to women, orphans, grandmothers and people living with HIV and AIDS.Part of the TMC's ongoing interdisciplinary and cross-cultural initiatives, the one-of-a-kind collection of original designs will be on view in its entirety. Celebrating the powerful association of creativity and social responsibility, the exhibition not only speaks to the vibrancy of contemporary Canadian design, but to the long-standing connection between the fashion community and grass roots activism.Presented by the Textile Museum of Canada in collaboration with Hoax Couture, the Stephen Lewis Foundation, and the Fashion Design Council of Canada, with the generous support of the Bank of Montreal and Seven Continents.Textile Museum of Canada55 Centre AvenueToronto ON M5G 2H5t. 416-599-5321e. info@textilemuseum.caw. www.textilemuseum.caPhotos: Brian Summers.
&&&&&&&

Pets are always popular....
I thought you would like these dogs. (the image was downloadable and copiable… so I hope it is OK to reproduce it here for educational purposes.  If not please let me know and I will remove it.  (Ed.)



Portland, ME.- The Art Gallery on the Portland Campus of the University of New England in Portland, Maine presents "Critters", a mammoth show that fills all three floors of the gallery, the foyer and the grounds. It includes about 300 works by almost 100 artists. “Critters” represents three groups of work – wildlife, farm animals, and pets – in situations that may be heartwarming, entertaining, or even poignant for the viewer. The exhibition is on view through 20 July.
&&&&&&&
And this....




What it says below the image incase you can't read it (too small)... Studio Armadillo: Hadas Kruk (Israeli, b. 1970) and Anat Stein (Israeli, b. 1972), Hevruta-Mituta, 2007, Plastic chess board with thirty-two knitted skull caps.


NEW YORK, NY.- Artists and designers’ rising interest in ritual since the 1990s inspires Reinventing Ritual: Contemporary Art and Design for Jewish Life, the first international exhibition to survey this phenomenon. On view at The Jewish Museum from September 13, 2009 through February 7, 2010. Reinventing Ritual features nearly sixty innovative works, created between 1999 and 2009 by leading artists in diverse media. Visitors will see outstanding examples of industrial design, architecture, installation art, video, drawing, metalwork, jewelry, ceramics, comics, sculpture, and textiles, revealing the intersections of creative freedom and Jewish life. A mix of emerging artists and accomplished leaders in the field, most of whom are American and Israeli, with a smaller number of Europeans and South Americans, are represented. 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
WEB-TRAWL

Check out Julia Ramsey and her mega-knits



&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
A different sort of Quilting 
Click this


&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Suppliers and Services
If you want your designs printed try here

http://www.spoonflower.com/welcome

Would you like to have a suppliers page linkable from this blog, let me know  your thoughts....

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&




Fibre Arts Week in Pincher Creek   
Dates: July 16 – 22, 2012
With classes, demonstrations and lectures... see the website Fibreartsweek.com



&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&



Notes from Surface Design BC - with huge thanks to Jennifer Love for her input.

Exquisite Corpse Lives Again! 
Helena Scheffer just sent me this link so we can see pics of the Exquisite Corpse show on at her gallery, Galerie Ouest, in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec. She got the idea from our show (and based her Call for Entry on ours). BC SDA member Wendy Browne contributed.
_____________________________________________________________________

I continue to be impressed by the quality of the artists being featured by the World of Threads people. Here's the latest:
_____________________________________________________________________

There is new information about Sue Hiley Harris's visit to Vancouver (organized by Julia Manitius of Urbanity) at: http://www.urbanity.ca/SueHileyHarris.htm. There will probably be a second workshop on Saltspring Island on the weekend of March 3/4, 2012. 
An article "The Bare Bones of the Bags" about Sue's recent work appeared in the Journal for Weavers, Spinners and Dyers239, Autumn 2011 pp 16 - 19.
If you are interested in either of the workshops or the lecture, please contact Julia at julia.manitius@gmail.com
______________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Anyone interested in learning encaustic techniques? Here's an all-inclusive encaustic retreat just outside of Portland: http://www.encausticamp.com/ 
_________________________________________________________
Thought you might be interested in this brochure by a felting artisthttp://issuu.com/feltingfibres/docs/feltingfibres_brochure. Pretty impressive marketing!
_________________________________________________________


CHAIN OF LIFE: DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AND DIRECTOR’S TALK
The Japanese movie Chain of Life (Meguru) will be shown for one night only at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, February 7 at the Chan Centre’s Royal Bank Theatre (6265 Crescent Road, Vancouver). See attached poster.
Chain of Life examines an artisan’s effort to renew the craft of kimono design using a cherry woodblock printing technique called mokuhanzome..
Since admission is limited, reservations are recommended by calling the Consulate General of Japan at 604-684-5868 ext. 370 or e-mailing kimono@consuljpnvan.com.
For more information on the movie, see http://www.gulicreates.com/meguru/.
_________________________________________________________

Info from Susan Purney-Mark:
Some members (...of SDA) might be interested in the interview I did with Diane Shink – a collector from Quebec. Check the blog post: http://susanpm.blogspot.com/2012/01/meet-diane-shink-collector-and.html
________

Sad to report the death of  Walter Nottingham
here is an oral history - scroll down to read the transcript.


&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&



Please DO send me any info you would like to share with your fellow Surface Design enthusiasts. Send pics too, if appropriate. We all love to see what everyone else is doing.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&





Jennifer