Fiberactions Reveal Today

It Ain't Over!  Apparently the Fat Lady has not sung her requiem over my Secret Series.

Closet Secrets

Closet Secrets detail

When I posed the challenge to each participants of the Fiberactions online Challenge Group, to look into her clothes closet for inspiration for this next round,  I thought that a color inventory might reveal quite a bit to oneself.

 I had thought that I would leave my series format with my 'zippers as secrets metaphor ' and charge off in another direction.  But actually when I had a look in my closet, I found that there are predictable patterns and colors in my wardrobe...as predictable as my favorites in my studio.  Many are the same, but not always.  I don't wear as much red, dark blue or mauves as I use in my work, for instance.  I guess that what I wear is more likely predicted by my own physical coloring (strawberry blond) than what my actual favorite colors are.  

At any rate, staying with the series made sense.  So, now, I'm looking at a series of seven...I had been thinking of this series in terms of grouped even numbers....which obviously means this isn't the end of the series either.  Who knew this project was going to have such 'legs'?

Of course, there's the other interesting layer of meaning to Closet Secrets that I couldn't help but think about.  Fortunately we have liberated, un-closeted friends and family who have left the darkness behind them.  I think it is very sad that anyone has the burden of being closeted.

This just in

Rose Anne with Thimble Island Abstract

We first met Rose Anne and Dave when they contacted us to host one of our Turkish guests.  They had been hosted by the very same club outside Izmir Turkey last year and had such a wonderful experience they felt moved to return the favor even though they live a fare distance from the sphere of action.  They were great day hosts...and enjoyed part of the state that they rarely, if ever, had visited, like a cruise on the Thimble Islands.

I was surprised and delighted to receive this photo from them yesterday.  They had sought out the SAQA/CT Local Color exhibit at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, not too distant from their home.  I think they thought it a very interesting coincidence that one of their favs was my Thimble Island Abstract.

Thanks, Rose Anne and Dave.

They Came. They Saw. They.....

Statue of Nathan Hale

The FFI Turkish Exchange from Urla, Turkey (near Izmir) arrived here on Monday, June 24 and departed Tuesday, July 2.  While visiting we made sure they saw as much of our small state as time allowed.

One of the favorites was a tour of the Legislative Office Building and Captiol in Hartford.  They were welcomed by our State Senator Ed Meyer in the Senate, a real treat.  A couple of days later my brave guest volunteered to return to the LOB to help hang 'Local Color', the SAQA/CT traveling exhibit.

Carol Ludington's, Carol Vinick's and Kate Themel's

'Colt' grouping: Diane Wright, Gail Kotowski, Barb Adams, Linda Zimmerman, Yvette Howard and Robin Wolek

 We also visited the Pequot Museum, had a personal tour of Yale University, cruised Long Island Sound exploring the Thimble Islands, visited the Mark Twain House, had a walking tour of historic Guilford CT along with the Henry Whitfield House (the oldest stone house in New England and the oldest house in CT) and ate our way through potluck dinners, small group dinners and intimate family dinners.  We had a wonderful time...there were more than a few damp eyes on the train platform as we bid our new friends farewell as they departed for a few days in NYC prior to returning to Turkey.

Next year they will reciprocate with a visit with them in their homes in Urla.  I can hardly wait!

Thimble Island Cruise

Viewpoints9 Reveal Day

This, Challenge #8, was a toughie for me.  Viewpoints9 member Lisa-Maire Sanders asked us to consider a preconception and depict it in landscape form.  Preconception!  Really!  Where does one begin?

In reality, I try NOT to have preconceptions.  I work at it.  Now, I was to actually think about preconceived ideas and their results...and be inspired.  Really?  Hmmm.

One of my earliest preconceived ideas that turned out to be very wrong occurred when I was five.  (I have a pretty good memory.  I remember also not liking to be wrong....even then)  My father was transferred from Andrews Air Force Base in the DC area to Carswell Air Force Base outside of Fort Worth, Texas, just after I finished kindergarden.

As we settled in, I remember thinking 1. it was really dry, 2. not many people lived there, 3. it was pretty flat and 4. there weren't many things growing there.  This, of course, is comparing a major metropolis to one that was not in those days.  There followed months without rain.

Then it rained!  Oh, my!  I was stunned with the tiny flowers that began to bloom on what had previously looked like pickled grass.  A stream formed at the bottom of our property where none had been when we moved in, and shortly, it was full of crawdads!  I was so surprised that I could have been so wrong.

Okay.  This is ancient history.  Kid stuff.  Except that I took away how wrong one can be.  My first memory of a preconception and how it might be good to avoid having them.

And Then It Rained! detail

And Then It Rained!

I'm not going anywhere....but

My art quilts will be on the road this summer!

Our SAQA/CT regional traveling exhibit Local Color will be installed at The Legislative Office Building in Hartford CT July 1-31.  That includes my Thimble Island Abstract and Town Green.

Just juried into Art Quilts Lowell at the Brush Gallery in Lowell MA Aug 8-Sept 7 is Top End Archipelago

Earlier Sentinel was juried into Sacred Threads and since has also been chosen to travel to Omaha NE to the Sunderland Gallery for an 8 week exhibit Sept 15- Nov 10

Next up, one of my as yet unselected pieces, will travel to Kagoshima Japan as part of "My Favorite Season" exhibit during the 12th Annual Friendship Quilt Show in Kagoshima, Nov 22-24.  This exhibit was organized and supported by Jen O'Brien of Sew Craft.

And for reasons beyond my IT abilities, blogger doesn't want to load any more images.  And I'm too darn busy to worry about it...back to the studio!

Town Green Abstract

Top End Archipelago

Sentinel

Intersections

It really is square and true.  I took this pic with my iPhone and I think I must not have been spot on in front and it looks wonky here.

I'm taking the opportunity to  post now as it may be a miracle before I get to it again in the very near future.  Not a walking on water miracle...more a win the lottery miracle.  Mere mortals CAN, they just DON'T very often.

Under the column I had previously checked: "stop me before I volunteer again", I reneged and I volunteered to be the Exchange Director for a cultural home-host exchange from Urla Turkey's Friendship Force International's club to our club here in Southern CT.  We have never hosted in June and now I know that there are really, really good reasons for that.  No one is available to help!  We are a small group to start with and, to pull off a successful exchange, a very active critical mass of members must dedicate themselves to the various tasks.  With the school year extended until the last week in June, and the usual graduations, weddings, get off to the vacation activities...there is little interest in helping pull this off.  I have hosts, and a mostly confirmed itinerary developed.  D Day approaches.

It also happens to be time to take down SAQA/CT's Local Color from it's first installation at the Ruth Haas Library at Western CT ST University. I am to bring the entire exhibit here to my house and keep it safe until it has to be delivered to its next venue.  During the home-hosting, the exhibit has to be installed at The Legislative Office Building in Hartford.  There's that miracle thing again:  being in two places at once.  That one I CAN'T pull off.  Something has to give or someone will have to give me a hand.

As I posted last time, I have been using the odd times that I've had to be in my studio to cut and piece, trying to get back in the groove.  This piece is the latest.  It is a 'disappearing four patch' that has been layered with all sorts of colors and sizes of vintage rick rack from my sizable collection.  Makes me smile.

Sayonara for a while.

Buckle Up Baby

We have been back from our sojourn West for several weeks, but I don't seem to be able to get back into a creative groove even in my studio.  I have had many other items on my 'must do' list which took precedence over my regular duties.  Still, I missed creating.  I decided that when time was available I'd just start cutting and piecing and see what happened....keeping in mind that I do have to have inventory available for sale at November's Shoreline Arts Trail's Open Studio Weekend.

The first thing that came together was a baby quilt.  Because it has a transportation theme it might work as one of my contributions to Sisters in Cloth's next exhibit:  On the Road at the CT Department of Transportation's Office in Newington CT this July.

I haven't decided which side should be shown, if, indeed, I do decide to offer it to the exhibit.  What's your thoughts?  Obviously that will make a difference for putting on the sleeve to mount it.  And, the label, too I guess.

Or maybe I should just forget this for the exhibit...go for something all together different and more artful.  Hmmm....thinking....thinking....slowly.....

Oh, oh...there's more news!  Miyajima Nocturne was juried into Connecticut Women Artists Members Juried Exhibit!  June 1-21 at The West Hartford Art League.  The Opening Reception is this Sunday.