"Secrets & Stories" at VAM 05-25-12

The current exhibit at Visions Art Museum is worth a visit.  Andrea Bacal, President of Quilt Visions, selected nine artists whose work includes story-telling themes were invited to show their work.  There is a nice range of clearly stated tales and images that require a some thinking.  The technical work is good, done by artists who have learned their craft.  Look from a distance and then move in close to see the details and the small surprises tucked into the overall image.
The artists include Rachel Brumer, Michael Cummings, Karen Cunagin,Wendy Huhn, Carolyn Mazloomi, Lori Lupe Pelish, Wendeane Ke'aka Stitt, Susan Shie, Anna Torma.  

http://www.visionsartmuseum.org/

"Cross the Road"  Karen Cunagin - Fallbrook, CA  2011  54"W x 55"L

Fused applique, piecing, machine quilting.  Commercial cotton fabrics.
See the last picture for the wall label for this quilt.   www.karencunagin.com

Karen has given me permission to post this quilt to my Blog.  Thanks, Karen.

  

Such an elegant, proud fellow, striding out to "cross the road". 

Great selection for a background fabric.  

 

Here is a little friend offering a snack - striped worms are extra tasty, as everyone knows.

 
This traditional block from the 1930's (shown in Brackman as 3345) done in gutsy colors goes so well with this big guy.  I'm always attracted to art quilts that include traditional blocks - a reference to the original form.

With this exhibit VAM presents more information about the quilts on the wall labels, something I hope they will continue in the future.  It is a great way to educate and promote quilts in any form.  If a viewer wants to read them, they can, if not, they can just ignore them.
 

Preparing for a Road Trip 05-24-12

In just a week I'll be on the road again en route to Montana with my Kansas friend Ruth Powers.  We plan to see all the Big Sky Country we can both before and after taking a class with Ruth McDowell at the Quilt Gallery in Kalispell.   I'll try to post a lot, depends on my energy level!  Here are some pictures from a solo trip I took in June, 2005.  
 
I don't know what to expect to see in the wide Flathead Valley.  In 2005 there were still vast acres of grain and cattle grazing land, but I understand in the last seven years there has been a great increase in population, so maybe this property is now covered with McMansions.  I'll keep you posted.

 
We hope to spend some time at the National Bison Range.  I was there most of a day and photographed this herd of wild bison taking dust baths.

 
But not all the critters are wild.  This is a herd of bison raised for their meat. 

Wordless Wednesday 05-23-12

 

 

Lunch at Sammy's in San Diego 05-22-12

The drive to Visions Art Museum in San Diego was only one hour and thirty-five minutes this morning.  Astounding.  On the way, the radio announcer was talking about how there is less traffic congestion since there are more unemployed people - who are not driving to and from work.  He also quoted a survey that says the worst traffic in the USA is in Honolulu where commuters spent 58 hours a year idling on the road.  Los Angeles is in second place - 53 hours.  San Diego is nineteenth.  Why do we live here? - the weather makes it all worthwhile, although it was quite foggy right along the coast and I could not see the ocean at all.

I enjoyed closely examining the current exhibit at VAM, "Secrets & Stories: An invitational of artists who tell a story or reveal a secret."  Nine artists have two or three quilts each and they all use different techniques, materials and imagery.  The exhibit runs until July 22 - go if you can, it is very good. 
www.visionsartmuseum.org

 
Naturally, sustenance was required and a new "Sammy's" is located in the shopping area near Starbuck's.  I have eaten at a number of different locations of this San Diego original - it is a woodfired pizza restaurant and one of these times I will have a pizza, but there are so many other offerings that I need to try.  Above is Beth's shrimp corn chowder, which I sampled and found it is just as delicious as when I have ordered it in the past. 

 
I ordered one of the small plates - "Oak Roasted Asparagus Romano, prosciutto, evoo, and  balsamic vinegar". I am a bit of a Philistine and had to ask: evoo? = extra virgin olive oil.  The asparagus was about a half an inch in diameter (which friend Mary says is the very best) and cooked "al dente".  It was good, but I still like the tender little shoots. 

  
We both ordered "Mini Duck Tacos: Feta, tomato, cabbage, tomato-cilantro sauce".  In the middle, under the cabbage and tomatoes was a scoop of soft cream cheese which I thought
added to the "mouth texture".

  

A very nice presentation of six tiny tacos and delicious!  We admired the dessert menu and were tempted by this offering:   "Yummy Honey Cheese Pizza - Mild milk cheese from Macedonia, fresh organic oregano, orange blossom".  But by the time we had finished our plates, we decided we needed to try it some other time.  Also, it would have added $12 to our bill - for one serving!  Must be the trip to Macedonia for the cheese!

 
The building is a great barn of a place, but they had added these "sail shades" to cut down the noise and they work rather well.  I did ask the wait person to turn down the music - thought it would be nice to talk and be able to hear each other!
The trip home in traffic was two and a half hours, including a pit stop in San Juan Capistrano.  

R-rated Post 05-21-12

I'm back from my Blog Break and seem to be feeling better.  I'm taking my meds and trying to get lots of rest, but my tail is still dragging a bit.  What time I have spent on the computer has not included much "browsing", maybe next week.  But I do have pictures that I have been intending to post, so that is what I will do for a few days.

When I was growing up one of my girl friends used the rest room twice a day, or so she claimed, once in the morning and once in the evening.  She would be cross with me because I had to go every few hours!  And it has been that way all my life.  Of course, she has probably missed a lot of interesting sights, such as this unusual rest room located at il vecchio restaurant in Pacific Grove, CA.    

 
When I opened the door this is the sight that "caught my eye" - it is about forty inches wide, so one cannot miss it.  I''ve never viewed a zaftig lady in the flesh, so I can't comment on the realism, but the color is nice.

 
As you can see some artistic effort was made by painting small dots on the floor.  Since the restaurant only opened last fall I doubt that the bare spots are worn away.  Maybe someone plans to come back and do some more dotting.  Or perhaps they think that certain areas will just wear away, so why do all that dotting.

 
Quite a modern urinal - almost a sculpture.  Wonder if the black tiles are a directional indicator.  The orchid is silk and the stool certainly must be from the dump.  Or maybe the artist will be back to decorate it - stripes would be nice. 
And even if you don't need to use the rest room, it is an excellent restaurant - reservations necessary.

Diane Perin Hock 12X12 quilt in TCQC 05-20-12

Here is the Poodle Prince designed by Diane from photos on my Blog.  This is another of the gift quilts made by the Twelve by 12 group to thank me for sponsoring their exhibit at the Quilt Festivals.  The Twelves will be showing their quilts at the Quilt Festival in Long Beach and some of them will be there to sign books and answer questions. 
 http://twelveby12.org   http://twelveby12.blogspot.com/



"Corky Encounters Nature"  Diane Perin Hock - Healdsburg, CA  2011  12" x 12"
Commercial cotton fabrics, batiks, tulle. Machine thread painting, quilting.
dphock@comcast.net  http://www.goingtopieces.blogspot.com/


Such a loving rendering of my favorite poodle - hard to believe that Diane has never met him face to face!  One thing she has incorrect is that Corky doesn't pay the slightest attention to Nature.  Ducks and geese have walked right past his nose and he completely ignores them.  He is, after all, the center of the world, so why should he bother with lowly creatures.   When I showed this quilt to Corky's Daddy he said, "Where should we hang it?"  Not so fast, Pops, it will hang in the Nanny's house!  I love it.

A nice cabbage back that shows all the stitching, a perfect faced edge and a generous sleeve.  

A simple, but personal label.  No contact, but at least a city where someone could start looking.