Martha Wolfe visits the Sisters

Former "Sisters in Cloth" member Martha Wolfe returned to town to share with us some of the techniques she's using now in her own fabulous work. Entitled "Sheer Bliss" her class certainly lived up to it's title.

About half of the group was able to meet with her at the Guilford Art Center, our go-to place for workshops. Pictured in the first photo is Carol, Yvette working one of the ironing stations and Vivika and Martha talking about sheers and fusibles in the background.

Photo 2 and 3, Janine, Robin and Ruth Anne are also at ironing stations. Okay, it was a technique class....which means we all went home inspired and charged up with new ideas....but no finished products. Yet. Stay tuned.

2011 Sisters' Extravaganza

As you may remember, the Sisters' annually host a day of all things 'art-quilty'. This year in a departure from our norm we shifted from the comfy hospitality of our Yvette Howard's home to a commercial venue. No surprise here: it was a quilt shop(!) Vivian Lazich, owner of Sew Inspired in Simsbury CT invited us to her studio-classroom space. Granted, it was a huge hardship on us all to HAVE to relocate to a quilt shop. LOL.

Vivian went further. Having just returned from Spring Quilt Market she was a fount of information about the newest techniques, books, fabric lines etc. Whetting our appetite. She also demonstrated several really interesting products and techniques...decolourant, paints, adhesives...boggling some brains I can tell you. Thank goodness for note taking, otherwise it would have been a total sensory overload by the end of the day.

Of course, none of our gatherings is complete without Show and Tell. Always a feature! This year was no exception.

The first photo, with it's maker and frequent Sisters' guest Betty Warner hiding behind it, is her piece about the Liberty Bell which is soon to be shipped to an exhibit in Philadelphia. It honors the 9 slaves of George Washington who were not recognized during their lifetime.

Second photo is Sister in Cloth member Ruth Anne Olson with her most recent piece...still under development..featuring some of her beautiful hand painted fabric.

The whole day was a happy mixture of old friends, inspiring work, interesting new ideas and techniques, tasty food from neighboring restaurant AND piles of new fabrics. AND the sun shown for the first time in days. Gosh, life is good...especially for an art quilter.

And to add icing to the cake Vivian asked us to repeat the event next year! Really makes a girl smile.

Double Take Opening

Double Take: Photo and Fiber

DOUBLE TAKE: PHOTO & FIBER

February 2 - June 24 at the Gallery @ Haskins, Haskins Labs, Yale University

Opening Reception: Thursday March, 5-7pm

The Gallery @ Haskins

300 George Street Suite 9

New Haven CT

Hours: W-F 10-5

The exhibit includes original photographs by Rosemary DeLucco-Alpert paired with the art quilts by fiber art group Sisters in Cloth. Each of the group's members created a piece 18"x24" and an 8" detail.

Participating Members:

Barbara Coleman Adams

Janine Anderson-Bays

Debra Beth Bento

Vivika Hensen DeNegre

Yvette Howard

Evelyn Judson

Gail Kotowski

Carol Ludington

Ruth Anne Olson

Marie Kadlec Shepherd

Robin Wolek

Martha Wolfe

Diane Wright

Linda Zimmerman

Picture above is Purple and White Iris, Ruth Anne Olson's interpretation of Rosemary DeLucco-Alpert's photograph of the same title.

The group is happy to announce that the exhibit has been asked to travel to The Guilford Free Library in Guilford, CT during the month of July.

Identity in Fiber

The theme of "Identity" is explored by 26 SAQA New England artists, including several of the Sisters in Cloth.  Diane Wright, Ruth Ann Olson, Vivika Hansen DeNegre, Carol Luddington, Gail Kotowski and Debbie Bento all have answered the question "Who am I?" with thoughtful interpretations in cloth.  Join us for a wonderful exhibit and an opportunity to ask the question of yourself...

IDENTITY IN FIBER

An Exhibition of Fiber Art

January 22 – March 5, 2011

Opening Reception Jan. 22nd,  5-7 PM

at the Windsor Art Center (WAC) Gallery

40 Mechanic Street

Windsor, CT 06095

(860) 688-2528

www.windsorartcenter.org

Through art quilts and fiber sculpture, artists share the memorable experiences and traditions that have shaped their identities.  Meet some of the artists and enjoy light food, music and a special drawing at the Opening Reception on Saturday, January 22nd.

Preparations for a Show

Preparations for the Sisters in Cloth show, Double Take:  Photo and Fiber, which will be hung at Yale University's Haskins Laboratory in January, are underway.  This show represents a departure from our usual presentation style... and a giant leap in making our artwork more accessible to galleries.  We are mounting our quilts, all 32 of them, then using black "float frames" for hanging.  The photographer's pieces will also be framed, adding to the overall unity of the exhibition.  The result will be an absolutely stunning display of consistency and beauty in photo and fiber.

And the preparations include ordering and storing frames, mounting quilts on stretcher bars, and finding space for lots of quilts in an overflowing studio...

To see a few lovely examples of two of the completed pieces, check out Martha Wolfe's blog posts in late November and early December, and feast your eyes on a fiber tiger lilly.

TEXTile is UP!

The Sisters in Cloth latest exhibit is up at the Guilford Free Library, 67 Park St., Guilford CT. It will be on exhibit through December 30.

Titled TEXTile, it was a challenge posed to all members and former members: create a piece 20" wide and up to 48" high inspired by "word". "Word" was meant to be translated very broadly; however, a word or character had to be contained within the piece.

Ten current members and two past members have contributed work: Barb Adams, Debbie Bento, Vivika DeNegre, Yvette Howard, Evelyn Judson, Gail Kotowski, Carol Ludington, Ruth Anne Olson, Marie Shepherd, Martha Wolfe, Diane Wright and Linda Zimmerman.

The Opening Reception will be Thursday, December 9, 5-8pm at the library. Please join us. There promises to be a party of friends and acquaintances....AND we are being joined in our celebration by two photographers, Mark Janke and Mary Ann Flick, whose exhibition will be showcased in the outer galleries.