First SDA Alberta exhibit a great success

What a wonderful turn out and buzz there was last night at the opening reception!

Centre, top, of above photo: "From the Surface 3" by Ilse Anysas-Salkauskas
Centre, bottom:  Susan Wittrup "All That Glitters"

Above, C.Dana Bush

Above, Wendy Klotz

Below, Wendy Passmore

Above, Virginia Stephen

Below, Siri McCormick

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Below, Janet Scruggs

I apologize if your name is not on your work, in my haste to get close ups, i neglected to catch names. PLEASE let me know. I also have other photos to post here but am not sure who's work was whose :) It would be a great help, if you let me know what work was yours in the show, and i'd be thrilled to share them here in another post. (arlee dot ar at gmail dot com) (I also am not sure of all the faces put with names, especially surnames, even after having met and talked to most of you!)

Thanks to Atlantis for the venue, and Linda and Karin for their work curating, all the helpers who hung the show and all those who contributed munchies and drinkies! And a big thank you toall those who attended!

Surface Design Journal information, next meeting and more!!! Huzzah huzzah!

Membership issues were discussed at a previous meeting.  Following this, several members voiced concerns about the timely receipt of their journals. Karin has been in contact with Susannah Fedorowich who explained the matter:

Cut off date for the winter journal was at the end of January. If a member joined in February, the first journal they are eligible for would be the spring journal, as the mailing list goes to the publisher 26th March with mailing in mid-April.

US members can then expect theirs at the end of April to the beginning of May. Delivery to Canada can take 3 weeks even from close to the border. Via a new distributor with our international mailing we have seen much improved service but of course nothing is ever perfect. Anyone who hasn't gotten their winter 2014 journal yet (established members) can email me (Susan) and I will send them their copy, as they definitely should have received it by now. (srodee at hotmail dot com)

I hope this clarifies the matter and thanks to all who have brought this issue to my attention because it is good to get things out in the open to improve communication and needs, or answer any concerns.

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APRIL MEETING NEWS AND INFO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Members and non-members of SDA Alberta, and all interested and interesting fibre folks,

  Skype Speaker Series: Sian Martin

Take advantage of a marvellous opportunity to connect with this very talented British artist and teacher
in her studio, via the internet for her live presentation  "Stitching in the Air". I have arranged for Sian to speak to us directly from her studio in England!! This is the reason for the lunch-time setting and new location.

We will meet at the EMMEDIA screening room in the Beltline (details below) to ensure robust internet connection.

There is plenty of on street parking on 11th and 12th Avenues and adjacent streets, including payable lot parking. It would be lovely if you car pool as SDA:Alberta is an environmentally friendly organization. :)  You may also use the C-Train or bus as transit is accessible from this site. To learn about the location and enable clickable links please open the Eventbrite link at the end of this subject's information .

Please share this information with as many people as possible from your contacts list so that Sian reaches as many people as possible with her illuminating and most unique perspective on stitch.




The link for online ticket purchase is:-
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/skype-speaker-series-with-sian-martin-stitching-in-the-air-tickets-11078440915

For more information about Sian and her work go to  http://www.62group.org.uk/artist/sian-martin/
See you there!

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EXHIBITS and EVENTS:

This Is My City 

 This is My City Festival 2014 kicks off on April 3rd with Telling Our Stories: a musical revue and continues through April 17th with exhibits, music, panel discussions, theatre, walks and tours. This is My City (TMC) invites you and all Calgarians to participate in this local, life-affirming project.

 At the heart of this year’s Festival you will find a series of programs that explore the theme, Telling Our Stories: Flood 2013. Overnight, people who never imagined they`d be homeless were staring it in the face. The city’s most vulnerable people were suddenly even more so. Agencies were evacuated, displaced, and in some cases required rebuilding. Possessions and old ideas were swept away; leaving us with stories of compassion and courage. TMC’s artist-mentors and participants have reflected on and developed this theme over the past months.  You will witness that exploration running like a river through Festival 2014.









Alberta Craft Council Feature Gallery, FURNISH: Contemporary hand-crafted home furnishings and accessories  April 5 - July 5, 2014

The desire to furnish one’s home goes beyond the mere practical. We seek comfort, beauty, meaning and individuality along with function.  Many people reinforce who they are through their home; from a wall hanging, a handcrafted entry table, a favourite chair or a cherished ceramic serving bowl.  Designed to encourage customers to buy and collect local hand-crafted furnishings and products for their homes, this exhibition features over 50 pieces by 21 Alberta Craft Council members. Artist Reception: 2-4 pm, Saturday, April 5, 2014.



Information received via Diane Krys

Remember too that the Alberta Craft Council has ongoing calls for submissions and entries here.
 

CALLS FOR ENTRY:

(Forgive the wording as it has been translated from German.)  PHOTOS ONLY, NOT ACTUAL WORK, for book projects. Sign up for their newsletter* to keep abreast of news.
 Deadlines for two international projects
TextileArt Around the World - Sign up before May 1
As you can see above, we are pleasantly surprised by the beautiful entries we received in the meantime. Were you planning to also upload photos, but have not got it from? Until May 1, 2014 you have the opportunity to do the book TextileArt around the world this.
Upload for that date photos of your best work for a chance to earn a place in this inspiring edition! TextileArt around the world will be published in the autumn of 2014.
All artists whose work is published, get this for June 15 message.
More information can be found on the website.

Worldwide Colors of Felt
For this edition you still have plenty of time to send in work. This book is published in 2015. The closing date will be announced no later than 4 weeks in advance via the website and subscribed to newsletter*. Artists working with felt, we call to create an archive and upload it for Worldwide Colors of Felt. Felt their finest work There is room for ± 200-300 felt artists from around the world.
More information can be found on the website. (see above)

Textile Link is always open for new work
The archives of Textile Link is permanently accessible to login, upload pictures or to make changes. (You must register first, an easy process.) If you're not able to upload for example to 'TextileArt around the World", by May 1, then you still have a chance at a spot in a future book projects of Textile Link. Participation is always free. Through this link, you can create an archive.


Want to get in more shows? Of course you do! We all do and here are a few tips to help.

Please send us your reviews of shows seen, art you have viewed at a friends' or art you have purchased.

Last night I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Pre-Sale at ACAD and now I can insist you go over there and take a look at all the wonderful work by the students and learn - because they are a great crowd who are very keen to talk, share their passion, and teach us about their techniques and inspirations.  Seems like there are excellent tutors in that place bringing out the character of the students and adding a little spice of technique as these, our future artists, mature.

The star of the show for me was Geoff Genge who is registered as a Jewellery Major (I believe you call it here in Canada) He told me he loves looking into the way things are constructed and he clearly has an interest in de-construction too.  He studied weaving with Mackenzie Frere from the Fibre Dept. and learnt the basics and then he told me cheekily with a grin, how he then decided to (in my words) take the kid gloves off and do something  a little more complicated.... I got him to take a mirror-wise selfie... scan down to see more details of the piece - Earthen Shroud.

Photo credit  and Artist Geoff Genge
Earthen Shroud

His piece is in predominantly wonderfully aged and rusted metal.  Check out the components...with natural fibre as warp and he has re-used things like a fire screen which he painstakingly took apart.  It supplies the tension in the work.  You weavers will understand this far better than I.
See if you can get a sense of his humorous character as you inspect the images below.
(Forgive non-editing of the images... but I think they do the job - please click to enlarge - and sorry I didn't get the right angle to view the piece in its entirety.)

Earthen Shroud

Artist Geoffrey Genge

Photo: karin millson

The top of the piece (not shown) is a large scale metal pipe - giving perfect balance to the entire work.

Earthen Shroud

Artist Geoffrey Genge

Photo: karin millson
 Look at the way the warp has been affected by the springs

Earthen Shroud

Artist Geoffrey Genge

Photo: karin millson
The lower portion is certainly dramatic

Echelman installation, Vancouver BC

Oh i do so wish i could have seen this in person!!!!
Images are kindly provided by Morgen Bardati and posted with her permission.

Studio Echelman installed its largest, most interactive sculpture installation to date at the TED Conference’s 30th anniversary, March 2014. The monumental aerial sculpture spanned 745 feet between the 24-story Fairmont Waterfront and the Vancouver Convention Center, challenging the artist to work on her most ambitious scale yet – over twice the size of her largest previous sculpture.
The sculpture was presented with an original, interactive work created in collaboration with artist Aaron Koblin, Creative Director of the Data Arts Team in Google’s Creative Lab. At night the sculpture came to life as visitors were able to choreograph the lighting in real time using physical gestures on their mobile devices. Vivid beams of light were projected across a massive scale as the result of small movements on spectators’ phones.
Janet Echelman



Ethereal by day, and dramatic by night!

There's a time lapse "video" here from the Vancouver Sun.

Morgen Bardati is textile artist and designer living in the mountainous Kootenay region of BC in Canada.

Marching out

CALL FOR ENTRY:
 

FIBER FEVER
This exhibition highlights the use of fiber arts as media and process towards artistic expression. Dyeing, stitching, surface design, weaving, embroidery, quilting, batik, felting, basketry, textile manipulation, soft sculpture, and other mixed media artworks utilizing fibers as their primary material are just some of the many ways that artwork falls under the broad umbrella of “Fiber Arts”. Traditional and contemporary techniques and materials are welcome, as well as any themes the artist explores through fiber arts. Works may be two- or three-dimensional and must be original artworks conceived of and made by the artist. Pieces may be mixed-media, but must be primarily fiber; no photography or videos will be exhibited.   Downloadable PDF here. Submission deadline June 23 2014----lots of time to enter, even to create new work!



 MISCELLANEOUS:
 
This Is My City Festival 2014     Some of our own SDA members are instrumental in creating art with and for this venture that helps the homeless and the disenfranchised. “We recognize the creative voice of every citizen and believe that we are all richer for having listened.”

Ujamaa Grandmas' annual fundraiser sale of fabrics and yarns is April 25th and 26th--stock up on stash and contribute to a very worthy cause!

Want to write something for the SDA Journal? Guidelines are here.  Future issues are (as always) themed:

Spring 2014	Nature Unbound
Summer 2014	Korea
Fall 2014	Designing Minds

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And don't forget, the opening reception for our own local SDA show is April 11th at Atlantis Fine Framing and Arts Studio! Latest "press" at ArtRubicon.

First Alberta SDA exhibit!

See you at the opening reception on April 11th!!!

Marching in like a lion

Next meeting is on the 5th at Atlantis!!! 

All textile and mixed media artists and friends, members of SDA and non-members, you are invited to join us for the presentation by visiting artist Judith Dios. She will be telling us about "An Unexpected Journey" at the March Meeting of SDA: Alberta in Calgary.

Please RSVP :  wendwilliams@gmail.com if you will be coming to the talk. Cost is $20 and all are welcome.

If you are able, please bring a small snack to add to the pot luck refreshments table.

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If you haven't received the news in your inbox:
(And just giving you a heads up: submission deadline is Oct 1 2014 and is blind juried, so if you blog, please don't post your work, even in progress, anywhere on line.)

From Edge of the Forest Committee

 EDGE OF THE FOREST NEWS

 Dear Canadian SDA members,

Click Here for the call for EDGE OF THE FOREST, a traveling exhibit scheduled for 2015. All Canadian SDA members are invited to submit images of their work for jurying. This is an opportunity to participate in an art event that expresses the unique Canadian perspective.

The Edge of the Forest Team
edgeoftheforest15@gmail.com
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WORKSHOPS:

It is with great excitement that I can release the following information.

Lisa Klakulak will be teaching a 3-Day workshop in Calgary in September 2014.

Patterning Felt: Partial Felt Gradations.

Please go here to see all the details.

http://i-sew.blogspot.ca/2014/02/lisa-klakulak-3-day-workshop-in-calgary.html

email me back to check on space availability.

Your space will be confirmed on payment of a non-refundable $200 deposit paid by PayPal.... see the blog for all the details.

Karin Millson

Kreative Momentum

Miscellaneous interest:

1. Felters list is an email felting list run by Pat Spark info at: http://members.peak.org/~spark/joiningfeltmakerslist.html and more general page is http://members.peak.org/~spark/feltlistFAQ.html#INDEX

2. For the past six years, Contextural: a fibre arts cooperative has held a hugely successful summer residency program within the studios of the Alberta College of Art + Design, Fibre Department. We are now getting ready for our seventh residency and are currently inviting expressions of interest from fibre artists and students who are interested in working within a co-operative studio setting and are seeking affordable studio space with specialized dye and print equipment.

We are seeking individuals who:

•  Are interested in working within a co-operative studio setting
•  Will be actively involved in, and contribute to, our community
•  Seek access to affordable studio space and specialized equipment
•  Are interested in sharing their knowledge and skills through teaching and collaboration
•  Appreciate and practice the diversity of textile arts and craft
•  Embrace an environmental approach to studio production
•  Are ready to commit a fee of $250 for a three-month, or $150 for one-month summer studio rental and access to equipment.
•   Will contribute to the end of summer residency exhibition.

Please visit  www.contextural.ca for more information on our vision statement, goals and values. Interested parties should send an application (as attached) to: residency@contextural.ca with the subject ‘2014 Summer Residency Application’

 Deadline for submissions is Sunday, March 30th @ midnight. If accepted, residency fees are due with the acceptance form and supply order form by May 1st.

Dates for the one-month residencies are May 25 - June 29, and July 20 - August 24 with mandatory attendance for orientation & move-in Sunday, May 25 at 1:00pm or Sunday, July 20th at 1:00pm

Dates for the three-month residency are May 25 - August 24 with mandatory attendance for orientation/move-in Sunday, May 25 at 1:00pm.

Again this year, Contextural is offering the Contextural Summer Residency Scholarship to individuals applying for the three-month residency. The scholarship includes studio fees for the three-month summer residency ($250 value) and $250 for supplies. The scholarship will be awarded based on the quality and completeness of the application.

 Sites of interest:  

Paper Sculptures by Peter Gentenaar

Thomas Vailly and Laura Lynn’s 20 minute dress technique

Thanks to Terri for passing these along.

The written word:

New books for your delectation :)

(Sorry, Blogger is not co-operating this morning, so here are the links to sites that pertain to these books.)

D4Daisy (Maggie Grey)
Jenny Dean
Nick Bantok