At Empty Spools - Asilomar 03-23-22

Sorry I have not been able to blog.  Mostly I have just been so exhausted I go to sleep by 9:30pm, but I also had to figure out how to get online and reset my laptop because I used it at Fed Ex/Kinko's to transfer my class list and that seemed to have re-set everything!   As time goes by I seem to forget how to do much on the computer.   It is 10pm and although I had a nap today I need to get to sleep.  Here are some pictures from out classroom in Sue Benner's "Abstraction" class. 

Well, change direction!  Cannot access pictures I took today, but here are two from the Tuesday evening program when Velda Newman showed her latest quilt "Roses" with the aid of 7 or 8 of her students.  I am not sure about the dimensions, but something like 52" TALL and maybe 16 feet long?  Huge, as are most of her works.

Velda is retiring and won't be teaching at Empty Spools after this year. 

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A Great Day 03-10-11

I was on the road about 9:15 this morning headed to San Diego for the current exhibit at the Visions Museum, lunch at a good fish restaurant nearby and then a stop at Oceanside for one last view of the Visions - 2010 exhibit at the Oceanside Museum of Art.  Sunday is the last day.



Yes!  It is the very blue Pacific - gorgeous, eh?   This is part of Camp Pendleton and the clearing near the water is a staging area for practice maneuvers - and the Marines were in action there today.

A little further south I-5 is slightly elevated and closer to the water, so the waves rolling onto the beach are visible.  The bare area across the middle is another staging area - if you click on the pictures you can see more details.   Way off to the left on the horizon is a warship - probably connected to the Marine maneuvers.

I took another picture of Velda Newman's "Zinnias" at the Visions Exhibit.  And I sat on the bench for about ten minutes just taking it in.  So beautiful, so amazing.  Hand appliqued and hand quilted.  The last image on today's post is the sign that accompanies the quilt. 

Because it is such a large quilt (212"W x 87"L) the details are not apparent.  There is a lot of 3 dimensional work.  Such as these petals - finished back and front and then layered on the quilt.

Here are the same petals from the side so we can see that they are raised.

This shows edges that have been purposefully frayed and we can see the the stamens go under some of the petals.

The red flower center is hollow with the petals cupped around it.  More 3-D petals.

This stem is textured with little tucks and appears to have some stuffing inside.  More 3-D petals.  The blue circles represent pollen flying from the flowers.

"The Quilts Japan Award rewards the artist whose work will encourage and inspire quilt artists internationally.  It is awarded by Japan Handi Crafts Instructors' Association and Nihon Vogue Co. Ltd.."

Quoted from the very thorough and informative catalog - great photos by Eric Nancarrow - well worth the price and available from http://www.visionsartmuseum.org/cart/listproducts.asp

By-the-Way..... 02-26-11

Would anyone like a postcard from the Visions 2010 exhibit with Velda Newman's quilt on it?  I picked up a handful last time I was there thinking that they are so lovely someone who couldn't get to the museum would enjoy having a cheerful image to pin on their wall.  If you don't have my e-mail address check on my profile.   Send your snail mail address w/Zip, please.


This is how the quilt looks in the gallery.

Visions 2010 @ Oceanside Museum of Art 10-25-10

The biennial Visions exhibit has a special place in my life - I've been attending since the very first one in 1987 which was held in Fallbrook. I still remember the thrill I felt as I walked through the quilts displayed - a feeling I experience with every Visions exhibit. The friend who accompanied me was much more of a traditionalist and she was disappointed! I was amazed that the quilt she liked the most was the most traditional one there. Yesterday I attended the special events in connection with the opening of "Quilt Visions 2010: No Boundaries", as always, I was thrilled. The Oceanside Museum of Art where the exhibit is held is adjacent to the Oceanside Civic Center - a breezy, tiled, water-filled pavilion.

I seem to discover unusual flowers there. This is a hibiscus with two-colored petals than turn down instead of flaring open. Lovely yellow - I can almost taste it.

Looking to the west the water flows gently around islands of palms toward Pacific Coast Highway. Beyond the buildings in the middle of the picture is the ocean.

There are always gulls wading and bathing in the fountain. This guy stood pat after the others took wing. He refused to spread his wings on my command!

Across the street at the Oceanside Museum of Art ( http://www.oma-online.org/exhibits.html ) art quilt fans gathered on the front terrace waiting for the doors to open for the 11am artists' tour of the new exhibit. I understand there were 25 artists (out of 39) in attendance. But there was a large crowd packing the galleries, so I saw little of the artists as they spoke, but I could hear every word over the p.a. system. It is fascinating to hear what they chose to say about their technique or inspiration or just their selection as a Visions artist. Afterward they all seemed friendly and approachable and I collected a few autographs in my exhibit catalog. Photos are not permitted.

"Before Sunset" Nelda Warkentin 14"L x 50"W

This is the quilt on the cover of the exhibit catalog and is also on the Visions website.

http://www.visionsartmuseum.org/exhibits/exhibitions.asp?pg=biennial

"Zinnia" Velda Newman 87"L x 212"W

This is the quilt that appears on the exhibit postcard. It is absolutely gorgeous and one that I would buy in a split second if #1 I had the money and #2 I had some place in my house large enough to hang it.

There are seven or eight quilts that I would love to add to the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection and at the top of the list is Judith Content's fabulous "Cataclysm" which was inspired by a book about the eruption of Krakatoa in 1883. I have always coveted Judith's quilts, but, so far, all I have managed is one of her narrow silk scarves which I hang on my wall when I am not wearing it. I have my fingers crossed that "Cataclysm" will become part of the Collection.

It was a great day and I came home to fall into bed. Although my bronchitis is almost gone, I still tire very easily. In fact, instead of joining acquaintances for lunch I went back to my car and stretched out for a little snooze - it helped me get through the afternoon. Featured then was a panel of four artists answering very interesting questions asked by moderator Judith Content and also questions from the audience. The panelists were Deidre Adams, Gloria Hansen, Jane LaFazio and Katie Pasquini Masopust. They all work in different styles, using different techniques and all were very forthcoming about how they mesh their art and their everyday life.