AAQ Blog Archive >Weblog
3/15/2007
Winterhur Q.S.O.S. Workshop
Winterthur Quilts Conference Quilts in a Material World
Preserving Quilters’ Oral Histories: The Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories Project Model Workshop
featuring Susan McKelvey, renown quiltmaker and author
One of the best ways to learn about quilts is from quiltmakers themselves. This workshop highlights the importance of saving quiltmakers’ stories, and introduces an enjoyable and simple way to capture these personal stories and make them part of history. Using the model of the Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories (Q.S.O.S.), a project of The Alliance for American Quilts, this workshop will prepare you to go out into the material world to conduct guided recorded interviews with any quiltmaker! As an added bonus, you will witness a demonstration Q.S.O.S. interview with well-known quiltmaker and author Susan McKelvey.
Friday, March 30th 2:30-4:30 p.m. (For more details, http://www.winterthur.org/calendar/quilts_conference.asp#preserving)
Given by:
Demonstration interview: Susan McKelvey: author, quiltmaker, and teacher
Susan McKelvey is an artist, author, teacher, designer and entrepreneur, who “caught the quilting bug” in 1977. Well-known in the quilt world, Susan wrote her first quilt book, Color for Quilters, in 1984 — the book on the subject meant expressly for quiltmakers, and the only book of its kind for many years. Currently, Susan teaches and lectures on color and applique, and is the founder of Wallflower Designs, a company that manufactures and sells quilt tools, and quilt-related books and patterns. Susan received her B.A. in English from Cornell College, and her M.A. in English from the University of Chicago.
Workshop leaders Patricia J. Keller and Janneken Smucker.
Patricia J. Keller is an experienced instructor and student of American quilt history. Pat brings more than twenty years’ experience in designing and conducting recorded oral histories. She helped co-found the Quilters’ S.O.S. – Save Our Stories project for The Alliance for American Quilts in 1999, with Dr. Bernard L. Herman, and has recently completed her Ph.D. dissertation about the history of quilts and quiltmaking in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, at the University of Delaware.
Janneken Smucker’s interest in quilt history sparked with an oral history interview she conducted with her grandmother, a prolific quiltmaker. Since then, she has continued to study Amish quilts and quiltmaking by talking to quiltmakers, who always have the most insight into their own quilts. Janneken is a Ph.D. candidate in American Civilization at the University of Delaware and is currently compiling a long list of individuals to interview as part of her dissertation research.
2/12/2007
Open House
Dr. Don Carleton, Director of Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin cordially invites you to meet Ms. Mary Evelynn Sorrell the Center for American History’s new assistant director for Windale and new Alliance board member and to view “Put a Roof Over Our Head” quilt exhibit. Sunday, February 18, 2007 Reception 2-4 p.m. Meadows Foundation Education Building at Winedale For directions and to RSVP, call 979.278.3530 or e-mail esstewart@mail.utexas.edu.
2/2/2007
Put a Roof Over Our Head Note Cards
We have produced some boxes of Put a Roof Over Our Head note cards! I’m excited and hope that you are two. I have a couple of boxes left so if you’re interested, please e-mail me at karenmusgrave@sbcglobal.net. Enjoy! Karen
2/1/2007
Sharing Impressions of Put a Roof Over Our Head
Traveling with the “Put A Roof Over Our Head” quilts (www.centerforthequilt.org/contest.php) is a book for people to record their impressions and thoughts on the exhibit. I thought I would share some of them with you. We will begin with Asheville, August 2006.
“What incredible creativity and craftsmanship. The quilts look even better ‘in person’ than they did on the website. I love the roof that is capturing and holding quilter’s ideas.” Laura Jean
“I am overwhelmed. Christine
“Wow! So many different moods…such colores! Sinead
“The exhibition is a wonderful concept that stresses outreach and community.” Peace, Arturo
1/16/2007
Alliance Member Del Thomas is having a show!
“One Quiltmaker, Many Voices” Quilts by Del Thomas
Feb 4, 2007 – April 11, 2007
Back Porch Fabrics and Quilt Gallery
157 Grand Ave (at Central Ave)
Pacific Grove, CA 831-375-4453
12/2/2006
Winterthur Museum
Don’t Miss “Quilts in a Material World: Selections from the Winterthur Museum”
Exhibition: March 10 – September 16, 2007
Conference: March 31, 2007 with workshops and tours on March 30 and April 1
Winterthur’s first quilt exhibition will feature approximately 50 quilts, outstanding documents of the history of their time and their makers. They range in date from the 17th to the 19th centuries, but the exhibition is particularly rich in examples from the late 1700s and early 1800s. Quilts in a Material World is a unique opportunity to view some of the most outstanding quilts from Winterthur’s superb collection.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. will publish a book, also called Quilts in a Material World: Selections from the Winterthur Museum.
Quilts in a Material World focuses on an extraordinary whitework quilt made in 1815 by Mary Remington of Warwick, Rhode Island. The incredible survival of a cache of Mary’s letters establishes a rich cultural framework for interpreting the quilts in both exhibition and book. Some are discussed in terms of the textiles from which they were made, while others are interpreted through the stories they tell about women’s lives.
The conference on March 31, 2007 brings together quilt scholars and historians for a day of lectures. Speakers include Lynne Bassett, Amelia Peck, Kathryn Berenson, Laura Fisher, Sarah Fatherly, and Linda Eaton.
Workshops on March 30 and April 1 include topics such as conservation and restoration of quilts, dress prints of the early 19th century, differences in historic and contemporary quilting techniques, oral histories (given by Alliance board members Pat Keller and Jenneken Smucker), and women’s genealogy.
Quilts in a Material World specifically illustrates the relevance of quilts in the lives of their makers, both past and present.
For further details please call 302.888.4996 or check www.winterthur.org
11/16/2006
Tri-Cities Quilter’s Guild
The Tri-Cities Quilter’s Guild (www.tcquilter.ourwest.com/frame.html) will hold their quilt show on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31, 2007 at the TRAC facility in Pasco, Washington. The hours will be Friday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Cost is a $4.00 donation at the door, and parking is free.
Additional info about the show will be made available at www.tcquilters.ourwest.com/show.html as it becomes available.
10/14/2006
Textiles in Kyrgyzstan
I am seeing some amazing embroidery. Considering these women lived in yurts with bad lighting, I am truly humbled. I still cannot find anyone that can tell me when the switch from embroidery to patchwork occurred but I suspoect it was in the early 1900′s. Now there textiles are full of plush. Kyrgyzs love plush and the color red. I had dinner in a yurt where the walls were covered in red plush with lots of red flowers. They speak so highly of keeping there traditions alive and authentic. I have to laugh because I was eating in a plastic yurt with air conditioning and lighting and the walls were lined with plush wall hangings. I cannot wait to share photos because their work is both similar and different from ours. All the best, Karen
10/12/2006
Flight to Osh
I’m alive and well. However, I wanted to kiss the ground when I got out of the airplane in Osh. I have never been on a plane that vibrated so much that I could not understand the fligth attendant over the P.A. system. The door to the pilot kept coming open. Tray tables kept dropping down. We were offered green or black tea or water. My tea looked like it was boiling! A man in the seat next to us was so drunk that he didn’t even respond to the request to fasten his seat belt and the flight attendant just gave up and waled away. After getting into yhr flight, he might have been the wise one. What an adventure I am having! More soon, Karen
Quilt Exhibit Opening!
I am so pleased to report that the opening of the first joint exhibition of American and Kyrgyz quilts was a HUGE hit. As I predicted, it was packed with several hundred people in attendance. The museum and the Embassy was surprised and we quickly ran out of food and drink and catalogs. It didn’t matter. The exhibit is truly outstanding. The balance of old and new is wonderful. The American quilts are mixed together. The room is alive with creation and color. Definitely transforms the old Soviet building with life. Quilts once again get the recognition that they deserve. The exhibition is in the Museum of Fine Art which is housed in a Soviet building (meaning a stark cement building) that was built in the 1970s and has no work done to it since it was built. It does need help but this is a poor country. Actually Bishkek is a small city filled mostly with Soviet buildings. Remember Kyrgyz were nomadic people. Anyway, it was a great night for me and for quilts. Who could ask for anything more? I leave for Osh which is in the southern part of the country so you will not hear from me until I return in three days. I am quite excited about the trip to Osh as it was on the silk road. I will even get to visit a family that is making silk. All the best, Karen
10/9/2006
Burana Tower
The weaver I was suppose to meet came down with a cold so we left Bishkek and went to the Burana Tower. The tower is just about all that is left of an city from the 10-12 century. I climbed the tower which is only half its original size. My legs still have not recovered but I’m glad I did it. While the tower was impressive, I really loved the Balbal. This are stone sculptures with faces on them that are scattered all over Kyrgyzstan. We even found one that looked like he was drinking tea. I will try to load photos when I return. I know there is a mask in there for me. I ate at a restaurant outside of Bishkek that serves the local cuisine. It was very good. the bread here is wonderful. I’m also enjoying what they call “winter” apples.
I also thought I would share the little oddities of my hotel room. No clock. Can’t check time on the tv either because the channels are from all over –India, Russia and of course the US. The first night I was here the World Series was on. It seems so strange. My window opens which is wonderful since there are no “no smoking” rooms and my room smells strongly of cigarettes. More later.
Paka, Karen
I Made to Kyrgyzstan!
It took 34 hours door to door. Fortunately, the trip was pretty uneventful. The weather here is perfect in the 70′s with nice sunshine. I have been told that this will change quickly and that they will have snow by the end of the month. The mountains have snow on them all year round. I have been having lots and lots of meetings but I did leave Bishkek to see the ruins of a town from the 10th century. I found the most interesting stone sculptures with faces on them. I am told that they are all over Kyrgyzstan. I took lots of photos for I know that there is a mask of one of them in my future. Learning a lot about Kyrgyz crafts and culture. It is extremely interesting. Tomorrow morning I will hang the exhibitionat the Museum of Fine Art. I cannot wait to see all the Kyrgyz quilts. There will be many old and some new. Quiltmaking as we know it is a relately new craft. They were nomads and embroidering on fabric was what they did. However, I consider these works quilts also. I am sorry that I cannot share more at this time but I am on a tight schedule. I promise more detail tomorrow as I don’t have to hang the exhibition until 11. It is the last time I will have much free time. Paka, Karen
10/3/2006
Connecting Cultures and Colors: Kyrgyz-American Quilt Exhibit
I am honored to announce that “Connecting Cultures and Colors: First Kyrgyz-American Quilt Exhibit” will open on October 11 at the Museum of Fine Art in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The exhibit will be up for 3 weeks (I don’t have the offical day it will come down yet). The following artist will have quilts in the exhibit–Frances Holliday Alford, Patricia Autenrieth, Beth Kennedy, Geri Kinnear, Scott Murkin, Karen Musgrave, Karen Stiehl Osborn, BJ Parady, Yvonne Porcella, Sue Reno, Pamela Robson, Arturo Alonzo Sandoval, Joan Schulze, Thelma Smith, Virginia Spiegel, June Underwood, and Karen Watts.
This is the fourth former Soviet country that I have taken an American quilt exhibit and the third country where the native quilts have hung along side American quilts (the part I love the best). I leave on Thursday and cannot wait to once again be inspired and to be able to share something I am so passionate. Check back for more news on my adventure!
From the heart,
Karen Musgrave
10/1/2006
Interviews with New Zealand Quiltmakers
If you would like to listen to the wonderful New Zealand accent, tune in to the audio replay on New Zealand National Radio of a recent interview with leading quilt artists. At the Wellington (New Zealand’s capital city) Academy of Fine Arts, a quilt exhibition (Capital Quilters Exhibition) was held, which encompassed not only the traditional, but contemporary forms of quilting and textiles. Of special interest was the use of recycled fabrics. The women who were interviewed all have important places in the New Zealand textile community and their thoughts and ideas were most interesting and enlightening. I found it also of great note that the male interviewer on National Radio spoke with respect and intelligence concerning textile art within New Zealand. You have to listen to two other short interviews before the one on quilting but then it will give you a taste of what the artistic environment is like in New Zealand! Go to: http://www.radionz.co.nz/nr/programmes/afternoons/20060928 and scroll down to Arts Report With Justin Gregory and click on. I hope you will enjoy the international flavour. Karen
9/29/2006
Genesee Valley Quilt Club and PAR
Forty-seven of the “Put a Roof Over Our Head” quilts are on their way to the Genesee Valley Quilt Club quilt show. I want to thank both Ruth Santos and Beth Davis for all their support and help with this. The quilts will be at the Webster Community Field House, 800 Five Mile Line Rd., Webster, N.Y. on Oct. 7-8. The following artist will have their work in the show–Yvonne Porcella,Keti Kasrashvili, Irina Lavrinenko, Nino “Chuchuka” Chargeishvili, Karen Musgrave, Pamela Allen, Diana Ramsey, Nanette Fleischman, Terry Pottmeyer, Robin Brooks, Therese May, Karen Bennick, Andi Perejda, Dodie Weinstein, Karen Griska, Diane Davis, Jenny Williams, Jan Patterson, Susanne McCoy, Leah Day, Fran Kordek, Ann Holmes, Naomi Adams, Pamela Morris, Rebecca Barr, Marijo Young, Sheila Rauen, Janet Jones Worley, Sherry Boram, Jan Wass, Sylvia Weir, Klara Schlafer, and Del Thomas. You can view the quilts by going to http://www.centerforthequilt.org/contest.php. You can also buy a wonderful CD of the show. Enjoy! Karen
9/24/2006
Double Vision! Alliance Member Marilyn Henrion’s Exhibit
DOUBLE VISION!
at Noho Gallery
530 W. 25 St., 4th fl., New York, NY 10001 (212)367-7063
Noho Gallery is pleased to announce Fall solo exhibitions by two outstanding voices in the contemporary fiber art movement. The work of Marilyn Henrion and that of Jeanne Lyons Butler represent two very different perspectives in terms of both process and content. Yet they are linked by their choice of textiles as the primary medium for artistic expression and by the strength of their respective visions. These two exhibitions provide an opportunity to view the range and depth of each artist’s work individually, and to experience the breadth of expressive possibilities within the textile medium. Catalogs are available for both exhibitions.
Marilyn Henrion: September 26- October 14, 2006
Jeanne Lyons Butler: November 7- 25, 2006
9/7/2006
GoodSearch
One of our members, Tracey Stone, recently e-mailed to tell us about GoodSearch (www.goodsearch.com/), a search engine powered by Yahoo that donates $.01 to a designated charity every time someone does a websearch via their search engine with that charity selected as the beneficiary (drop down list right below search field). How? In a nutshell GoodSearch diverts 50% of the fees paid by companies who advertise on the search result pages to 501(c)(3) nonprofits who register on their site. To start searching via GoodSearch now click here (The Alliance will be preselected for you as the charity beneficiary): www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=815851.
To find out more about Good Search: http://www.goodsearch.com/About.aspx#faq.
Below is a boilerplate message offered by Good Search for sending to your contact list. Please spread the word to friends, family and colleagues!
What if The Alliance for American Quilts earned a penny every time you searched the Internet? Now it can!
GoodSearch.com is a new Yahoo-powered search engine, with a unique socialmission–every time you use GoodSearch, money is generated for The Alliance. GoodSearch donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities selected by its users. The pennies quickly add up. For example, if 1,000 Alliance supporters searched just twice a day, we would receive an estimated $7,300 per year to help fund our program.
What’s great is that you use GoodSearch just as you would any search engine. Again, it’s powered by Yahoo!, so you get proven, high-quality results.
Just go to www.goodsearch.com and be sure to enter The Alliance for American Quilts as the charity you want to support or use this link to have The Alliance preselected for you: http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=815851.
The more people who use this site, the more money we’ll earn so please spread the word!
8/30/2006
Opening Stamp Ceremony for Gee’s Bend
On Thursday, August 24 in Rosemont, IL the opening ceremony for the 39-cent stamps for Gee’s Bend happened at The American Philatelic Society’s annual convention. While waiting in line to get in, I eavesdropped on a conversation by some of the Society’s members as they talked about the “strange world of quiltmakers” which made me chuckle. The place was packed and it was exciting to watch history being made. There was introductions and short a short film about Gee’s Bend. But what happened next, I will take with me to the grave, the minute the stamps were unveiled, Mary Lee Bendolph (one of the quiltmakers) broke into a gospel song and we all joined in. The happiness and pride that exudes from her can be felt across the room. She shared that her biggest joy is now she can help poor people. I also thought Matt Arnett of Tinwood did a particularly wonderful presentation. The women love Matt and Matt loves those women. There is just to faking that. The 30 minute ceremony ended up being 50. Everyone (US Postal people, the women and the Arnetts) was still happily signing autographs when I left 1-1/2 hours after the ceremony ended. I’m so happy to have quilt stamps for my letters. It’s been five years since the Amish quilt stamps were issued. I think it is good for all of us in the quilt community because it creates awareness for what we all love. Karen
8/11/2006
A Great Loss for the Quilt World
It is with great sadness that I must let you know that Hilary Fletcher died this morning about 2 a.m. Hilary has been the heartand soul of Quilt National. She had decided earlier this year to retire next year after the 2007 Quilt National. The funeral will be held in Athens, Ohio on Sunday at 1 pm; however, Hilary herself had asked that no flowers be sent. Instead, an endowment fund for Quilt National has been started in her name, and it was her wish that any remembrances be sent to that fund. The cause of death was a recurrence of a melanoma she had originally eight years ago; it came back as an extremely fast-growing tumor several months ago, and despite every effort, she lost her battle. Hilary was a truly wonderful person, completely dedicated to art quilts, the moving force behind Quilt National, an active collector of art quilts herself, a board member of SAQA, a wife, mother, and grandmother. What a huge loss for her family and for all of us who love the world of art quilts. With great sadness, Karen
8/10/2006
Put A Roof Over Our Heads at Artemisia
These are some of the quilts from our Put A Roof Over Our Head contest/traveling exhibition in Asheville, North Carolina at Artemisia. Yvonne Porcellla couldn’t quite fit all the quilts in so hopefully someone else has a picture and if they do I will post it. I’d like to thank Kim Dills who donated her gallery for the opening and made a quilt. Her quilt is in the thrid row, the third one from the left. Kim does work with fiber but this is her first attempt at a quilt. It is so great to see these wonderful works of art hanging in a gallery. Enjoy! Karen
