Important Notices:

If you would like your work displayed here please send jpg to Karin

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Next SDA Alberta meeting: a collaborative project "Slofemists"

On Thursday October 17, spend an evening with visiting Vancouver artist Lois Klassen. Participate in her new project that celebrates the slow pace of traditional handwork and uses it as a metaphor for the slow progress of feminism. 

Lois Klassen, Margaret is a verb: A Tribute to Margaret Dragu (from a blind contour drawing by C. Mochizuki), 2013


When: Thursday October 17, 7 - 9:00pm
Where: John Snow House, Calgary
Cost: $5 members, $10 non-members

RSVP - (Karin Millson) 


"Slofemists" (2013) on the inception and under guidance of artists Lois Klassen and Lori Weidenhammer, is a project that enables unhurried production of feminism. Starting with found linen fragments, the project invites participants to materialize through needlework particular feminist voices and feminist moments from  their own experience. A library of supply packets that include material and relevant textual and media resources will be part of sewing events or accessed through a lending system.


This project has just started. By October 17 it will include a small collection of embroidery patterns derived from feminist inspirations, by the hosting artists.  Those patterns will be available on paper and printed onto a few 16 x 16" linen squares. The artists have amassed some "found linen" swatches from a high quality drapery supplier. Many of them already feature machine embroidery and elaborate surface prints. The hand embroidery is like/will be another layer of intervention, making them mixed media collage. Participants can make their own patterns, recommend topics and resources for the kits, or work on the squares that have already started. The materials in the kits can be looked at and discussed during the sewing event or they can be borrowed and taken home by the participants. Lois will have mailing packets for participants to send them back by project end. (Date to be announced.) Over 100 squares will eventually become an ornate patchwork cloth that will serve as a couch cover to form a mobile artwork: "Slofa". "Slofa" is expected to be a prop to enable and engage with the public in discussions and performances about the slow pace of feminism, and the tireless work required to materialize it in one's everyday life.
  
Lois Klassen is an artist and writer based in Vancouver. She is particularly interested in participatory art in the city, and the social life of crafts. Her on-going social sewing project is documented at comforterartaction.org.

Lori Weidenhammer is a performance-based eco-feminist artist and educator. She prefers to make art in “galleries without walls”, i.e. gardens. She is part of the Second Site Collective and a founding member of the Slofemists. She blogs at www.beespeakersaijiki.blogspot.ca.


Klassen and Weidenhammer are past collaborators on Means of Production Artists Raw Resource Collective (with Sharon Kallis, 2009) and CornerFarm: Repurposed Planters for Avant Gardeners (2008). Lori and Lois have collaborated on a number of projects concerning ecology and sustainable lifestyles.



Embroiderers are invited to bring a hoop, needles and any extra floss they are happy to share. Lois will have more supplies, including drawing paper for patterns, the linen and some patterns. The meeting/gathering will also be a time to talk together and share ideas about crafts and feminism.


It is important that you RSVP as soon as possible to Karin Millson (ioftheneedle@icloud.com), so that we know how much space we need for participants and for a suitable venue.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

No idle hands here

WORKSHOPS:

fibreworks gallery/studio
12887 Sunshine Coast Highway, Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0 (Box 311)
Tel: 604-883-2380         e-mail: fibreworksstudio12887@gmail.com
Visit www.fibreworksgallery.com for updates and workshop details.

see attached doc for descriptions of the classes

Colour Play:
Low Immersion Dyeing with Fibre Reactive Dyes
Teacher: Jennifer Love
Sat & Sun – Oct 26/27; 10am to 4pm
$180.00 + GST; Materials fee tba

Colour Impressions:
Procion MX Printing and Painting
Teacher: Jennifer Love

Sat & Sun – Nov 16/17; 10am to 4pm
$180.00 + GST; Materials fee tba

Links of Interest:


For those that are interested in etextiles

www.solarbotics.com/ Local electronics supply company up in NE, They carry Arduino's, LED's a a whole bunch of other cool stuff


Meet & Geek every Tuesday night


Good Reads:

The Maiwa Foundation Book   Maiwa Foundation Book


Hardcover, 10" x 12", full colour, 108 pages.

A rich visual journey through the many areas where the Maiwa Foundation works. Meet the craftspeople and learn about Maiwa's role in promoting the development of exceptional artisans. All proceeds from the sale of this book go directly to the Maiwa Foundation.


EXHIBITS:

 The last rays of the summer sun are being enjoyed by visitors to “Primitive Elegance” ­ a tribal weaving exhibition by Marilyn Foubert – the exhibition continues through to Saturday, September 29th.

 

  

    Saturday, October 5th, we are opening Elin Noble’s exhibiton – “Vox Stellarum” – silk itajime panels.   Opening Reception – 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. – all are welcome!



Unfortunately, due to ill health, Elin will be unable to join us at the opening reception – so we will need to send her our best wishes and lots of pictures of the opening to provide her with the energy for a speedy recovery. With regret, we report the cancellation of the workshops, “Folds” and “Alternative Marbling” with Elin Noble.  As noted above in the Exhibition section, due to ill health, Elin is unable to travel and teach at this time.  We will stay in contact and reschedule when Elin is able to return to the Sunshine Coast.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
 United In Stitch at the Akokiniskway Gallery - Rosebud, AB
Dates: September 13 - October 19, 2013 
Location: Akokiniskway Gallery at the Rosebud Theatre, 102 Railway Ave, Rosebud, Alberta
 
United In Stitch features the work of Vickie Newington and Pam Godderis Dangerfield. Pam's work incorporates stitching on layered manipulated computer images while Vickie stitches and felts fibre and incorporates her fused glass. Each explore northern landscapes: Pam's work includes some images from her cruise to Antarctica, and Vickie's includes images from the Yukon.

For more information, please contact info@rosebudtheatre.com / (403) 677-2350 








Celebrate Alberta Culture Days with the AFA Art Collection!
The Fabric of Alberta / AFA Uncovered

This exhibition features fibre artworks from the AFA collection showcasing the diversity of media and techniques that Alberta artists have used over the past 50 years. The exhibition works reflect the development of Alberta fibre art and the evolving lives of Albertans. Join us and explore the AFA's role in sharing and preserving this legacy. Located at 10708-105 Avenue, Edmonton, AB.

Saturday, September 28, tours on the hour at: 12:00pm, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm Contact the Arts Branch to book a spot on a tour at (780) 427-0598 or afacontact@gov.ab.ca


 CALLS FOR ENTRY:

Expression of Interest for Surface Design Association exhibition Edge of the Forest: Exploring Perimeters




Deadline: November 1, 2013

Boundaries, borders and edges... To what extent is a country defined by its perimeter...by the choices and placement of edges? Whether political, historical, psychological and/or geographical, our comprehension and expression of these points of delineation represent integral parts of who we are, both as individuals and collectively. Be it selvedge to selvedge, raw edge or treated, our textiles have unavoidable beginnings and endings. How these are handled can be as varied as the makers themselves. The SDA welcomes your rich interpretation of this concept in presenting a diverse Canadian perspective on our boundaries.

Opportunities are being explored to mount this exhibition in a number of venues - at the SDA Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 2015, at the Newfoundland & Labrador Fibre Arts Conference in Gros Morne National Park, October 2015, and elsewhere. A Call for Entry will be sent out by email in 2014 when a venue has been confirmed.

  • All Canadian members of the Surface Design Association are invited to participate. Artists must be current members of the Surface Design Association as of January 2015, and resident in Canada.
  • All work is to be created within the boundaries of a two-dimensional 16x28 inch rectangle format, to be hung vertically. Specific hanging guidelines are available.
  • The work should best represent your current practice, be it experimental or signature style, and speak to the theme expressed above.
Please email your expressions of interest with your name, address, phone number and email address to Melanie Siegel thebeadofmyheart@rogers.com




 Call for Submissions American Tapestry Alliance (ATA) UNTITLED/UNJURIED exhibition

Deadline for Submissions: January 31, 2014



This call is open to all artists working with hand woven tapestry. ATA invites entries not only from artists who work within more traditional definitions of tapestry, but also those artists who work expands upon the core principles of the medium as it explores new techniques and processes.  Multi-media work is welcome as long as the primary technique is tapestry.  The size of the tapestry may not exceed 10" by 10" by 1" deep.  Artists may submit only one piece.  Group challenges and mentoring pairs are encouraged.  Work must be original, executed by the entrant, of recent completion and not shown in a prior ATA show.  UNTITLED will hang at URI Feinstein Providence Campus Gallery, July 1 - August 23, 2014.

For more information and entry forms see here. Questions?  Contact Janet Austin via email (
nitsuanaj@verizon.net) or at 401.885.5595.
 
 
Call for Instructors for Fibre Arts Conference 2015 - Newfoundland and Labrador

Deadline for Proposals: January 31, 2014


Celebrating Craft in Newfoundland and Labrador and Craft Year 2015, Fibre Arts Newfoundland and Labrador will take place from October 15 - 18, 2015 in beautiful Gros Morne National Park.
The Instructor Committee is now calling for proposals from interested designers, makers, and teachers.  We invite you to be creative, and develop sessions that will inspire our Conference participants to reach beyond the boundaries of their current studio practices, and think in new ways, explore new ideas and develop new products.  The Committee welcomes innovation in techniques and materials.

Please follow this link for more information or contact events@craftcouncil.nl.ca for answers.
 
LECTURES/Trunk Shows:
 
  Kaffe Fassett lecture
Out of Hand and Pudding Yarns are excited to present a lecture with Kaffe Fassett. This lecture is designed to inspire and motivate. The presentation highlights works from his latest projects, these include his patchwork quilts, fabrics, needlepoint, mosaic, painting and knitting designs. A tremendous amount of Kaffe’s inspiration comes from his continual travels and his lecture is designed not so much to instruct but to empower and inspire the audience to create and develop their “mind’s eye”. Audiences leave invigorated - entranced by Kaffe’s sense and use of colour, they are ready to try it themselves and are encouraged to do so. The slide show lasts approximately 45 minutes followed by a question and answer session and book signing. Lecture will be held at Christ Church Calgary located in Elbow Park at 3602 8th Street S.W. Monday October 7 7:00pm Fee:$35.00
Call the shop at (403) 217-4871 to register.
 





KUDOS:

 Congratulations to Michelle Sirois-Silver, whose new work Recovery Method 2, has been juried into the 2015 Fiber International at Sebastopol Center for the Arts in Sebastopol, CA. 

Innovations in Fiber Art VI is a juried exhibition presenting thought-provoking, unconventional and innovative fiber works in a range of materials--metals, mesh, paper, wood, natural or manmade fibers--applied to fiber techniques, Accepting two- or three-dimensional pieces including wearable art and installations.

See attached image of Michelle's work, and following is some information she sent about it. 

Recovery Method is a new series of hand hooked works inspired by waste materials created by Vancouver designer, Katherine Soucie’s clothing line titled, “Sans Soucie”.  Katherine uses hosiery seconds that she purchases from manufacturers.  She hand dyes and prints on the surface and then stitches the pieces together to create clothing.  Her process creates colourful waste that I then repurpose into my Recovery Method series.  I have always hand dyed my own textiles, so working with Katherine’s already dyed hosiery has been a new and surprisingly liberating experience that has both simplified and inspired my process.   Working in this manner challenges me as an artist to understand that I can still create signature work when working with sans soucie recycled waste hosiery and I love the continuity of repurposing it into yet another art form. Michelle

 
 

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

next meeting news

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thanks to everyone who took part n all ways, in our September meeting - a great start to the new season.  Also thanks to all who sent me their lovely comments after the meeting.

This email/blog entry introduces the next (Calgary) meeting's format - this format is another first for SDA Alberta! 
Please RSVP now if you want to attend- don't wait till next week!!

Slofemist* - First Public Engagement
with Lois Klassen

“Spend an evening embroidering with visiting Vancouver artist Lois Klassen! Participate in her new project that celebrates the slow pace of traditional handwork and uses it as a metaphor for the progress of the equality of the sexes.”

When: Thursday October 17, 7 - 9:00pm
Where: Possibly John Snow House, Calgary
Cost: A small fee will be requested to cover rental charges

Please email me (Karin) by October 1st to confirm your expression of interest in attending this evening, so that I can book and confirm our venue. 

Details: *Slofemists (Lois Klassen, Lori Weidenhammer, 2013) is a project that enables unhurried production of feminism. Starting with found linen fragments, the project invites participants to materialize through needlework particular feminist voices and feminist moments from the artists’ or their own experience. A library of supply packets that include material and relevant textual and media resources, are part of sewing events or accessed through a lending system.
This project is just getting off the ground. By October 17 it will include a small collection of embroidery patterns derived from feminist inspirations, by the hosting artists (Lori & Lois).  Those patterns will be available on paper and printed onto a few 16 x 16" linen squares. (We have amassed some lovely "found linen" swatches from a high quality drapery supplier. Many of them already feature machine embroidery and elaborate surface prints. This hand embroidery is like another layer of intervention, making them mixed media collage.) Participants can make their own patterns, recommend topics and resources for the kits, or work on the squares that have already started. The materials in the kits can be looked at and discussed during the evening or they can be borrowed and taken home by the participants. Mailing packets will be available for participants to send them back in time. Over 100 squares will eventually become an ornate patchwork cloth that will serve as a couch cover to form a mobile artwork called - Slofa. Slofa which is expected to be a prop to enable public discussions and performances about the slow pace of feminism and the tireless work required to materialize it in one's everyday life.
As this is the first public participation event, some patience would be appreciated... as would constructive feedback on the ideas and the way the participatory element works (or doesn't work)!

Artist Bios - Lois Klassen is an artist and writer based in Vancouver. She is particularly interested in participatory art in the city, and the social life of crafts. Her on-going social sewing project is documented at comforterartaction.orgLori Weidenhammer is a performance-based eco-feminist artist and educator. She prefers to make art in galleries without walls, i.e. gardens. She is part of the Second Site Collective and a founding member of the Slofemists. She blogs at www.beespeakersaijiki.blogspot.ca. Klassen and Weidenhammer are past collaborators on Means of Production Artists Raw Resource Collective (with Sharon Kallis, 2009) and CornerFarm: Repurposed Planters for Avant Gardeners (2008).
Lois and Lori have collaborated with on a number of previous projects concerning ecology and sustainable lifestyles.