Weavers Guild of Boston 2011 Annual Sale - Weston, MA

Dear Friends, This is going to be wonderful...I went, (I am a member of the guild) last year and was thrilled with all the variety and craftswomanship I saw. Ms. V. Read on...

With 1500-2000 exquisite juried handwoven pieces to view and handle (unlike an exhibit!) you are sure to find something that will inspire you, teach you, and maybe come home with you, perhaps as a special gift. [Tell your family this is a great place to buy you a present ;-) ] Items range from bookmarks, ornaments, and cards, to heirloom linens, hundreds of delectable scarves (many handpainted), one of a kind art garments, to rugs and tapestries. This is something to suit every budget.

Dates, Times, and Location 2011 Thursday, Nov 3 5:00pm - 9:00pm Friday, Nov 4 10:00am - 9:00pm Saturday, Nov 5 10:00am - 5:00pm Sunday, Nov 6 11:00am - 4:00pm Location: Josiah Smith Barn 358 Boston Post Road Weston, MA 02493 Google Map, Directions

Josiah Smith Barn

For directions and more information visit the WGBoston website:
http://www.weaversguildofboston.org/ExhibitSale.htm
Valarie Poitier, Weavers Guild of Boston

Regional Meeting SAQA MA/RI - Guest invited...check out our new Blog

Regional Meeting of SAQA MA-RI Members & Guests at the New England Quilt Museum

In one week we will have the opportunity to come together at one of our Regional meetings at the NEQM before the current exhibit of SAQA New England.

In addition to holding our regional meeting, we will share upcoming news, in progress or completed art works, talk about what we are doing or teaching, plan our next area exhibit, meet the artists of the current exhibit, and to invite our guests to become members. 


Check out our new Blog...SAQA-MA-RI@blogspot.com we are planning to keep our newsletter going in the usual manner and to add its contents to the blog on the 15th of the month.


One important order of business Jeanne Marklin (who will be running the Western location meeting that day) will be stepping down in June 2011.  We are therefore seeking a member to work with me during the remainder of my term and who will forge ahead after my service period is up. 

Please volunteer or scout out possible members who have what you consider the necessary experience and energy to best represent you to SAQA and the art community. My email information is below so that you can forward the names on to me.  Some of the qualities we are looking for include a person who is computer savvy, can organize and write the newsletter, or help with the blog, learn the SAQA website, check email and respond on a daily basis,  and has the ability or organize meetings with speakers.  Sounds like a lot of work but it is a shared responsibility and there is so much to gain from the experience, I really have learned so much and look forward to the coming year.

 After the official meeting time, approximately 1:00 (at the latest) we will walk the museum as a group and look at the exhibit together and ask specific questions about techniques, materials used, and the types of machines used.  We should all come away from this experienced inspired to either continue what we are doing or to try something in a different way. 

If you are an instructor or have a business please bring business cards or a handout.  This will be the perfect time to talk about what you do and what you offer.

There were many lessons learned during the No Holds Barred exhibit process and we should review some of them.  We can talk about them and what we want to do in the future, what we can do differently, in addition, or not at all.  So the floor will be open to everyone to share their input. 

Also come prepared with ideas about what you would like to participate in regarding future exhibits.  We are ready to start on our next SAQA project as a region and having your input is very important.  The current plan to open the area up beyond the six states and we will discuss to whom and how many other regions to include.  Depending on the ideas we may even open it up to all of SAQA.

As you can see we have a full schedule of items to discuss and hope you will be able to join us. Your voice is important!  Our next meeting in Eastern Mass will take you through the SAQA site and talk about the call for exhibits section, and plans to help build the RI area.

Please RSVP to vprattpoitier@yahoo.com.

Valarie Poitier
Curator, Co-Chair SAQA-NEQM-2011 Project "No Holds Barred"

Guest Speaker Grand Opening January 29^th @ 1:00pm
SAQA Rep MA/RI

Ms. V's Studio #508-314-6597

http://www.saqa.com  - Studio Art Quilt Associates

http://saqane2011news.blogspot.com/ - No Holds Barred News

http://msvpoitier.blogspot.com/

Event Moved...Lecture By Celeste Janey moved to February 19, 2011 @ 1:00 pm

Snowy Greetings,

The event planned for this Saturday has been moved to Saturday February 19th at 1:00 PM.

Celeste has created a wonderful lecture filled with information about her journey.  The art work is filled with embroideries, quilting, words, images, along with her poignant story telling.

Please pass the word on to your colleagues and friends!

Warmest Regards,

Valarie Poitier
Curator, Co-Chair SAQA-NEQM-2011 Project "No Holds Barred"

Guest Speaker Grand Opening January 29^th @ 1:00pm, It was a smashing success!!
SAQA Rep MA/RI

 http://www.saqa.com  - Studio Art Quilt Associates

http://saqane2011news.blogspot.com/ - No Holds Barred News

http://msvpoitier.blogspot.com/

No Holds Barred – at the New England Quilt Museum Grand Opening Event was held today.

Well the time came and went for the opening celebration. What an amazing experience. There was the sun shining and a clear highway to drive on on the way to Lowell, MA. We had standing room only at the Exhibition. Twelve of the artists were present hailing from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts. Five of the current SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) Representatives from the New England States and one former Rep were also in attendance. The support of the Reps, exhibiting artists, artists who answered the Call for Entry, museum staff and volunteers, the team that worked on the proposals, our distinguished jurors, and the SAQA staff and volunteers all working together in various capacities over the past three years has resulted in a wonderful collection of Contemporary Quilts.

(Detail from Ms. V's quilt 'Beyond the Obvious' 30" x 48" Whole cloth MX hand dyed work.)

When you look at the exhibit you see the latest techniques being used today across the country, in fact, by art quilters not only in SAQA here in the states but around the world. There was hand quilting, machine quilting, dyed fabrics, stenciled and silk screened marks on fabric, commercial and whole cloth works, paint acrylics and oil stick, yarn, metallic and cotton threads, shibori and other techniques used. Whatever is considered 'leading edge art quilt techniques' was found in the exhibit today. There are also two quilts that are part of the permanent collection by artists who were juried into the exhibit on display.

In two other galleries you will see two different displays of antique quilts. There is so much to see…both antique and contemporary quilts. I hope you will take an opportunity to go to the museum to see the show and on Feb. 5th, to see the lecture: My Journey by Celeste Janey; Feb 12th to see the lecture “Art Quilts by SAQA’s Exec. Director, Martha Sielman; and on come to the March 5th workshop followed by a trunk show presented by Wen Redmond. On March 19th there will be an all call SAQA meeting of the members of the six states that participated in the "call to entry" that will be open to the public. The artists have all been invited and they will be there to share one on one about their work and their SAQA experiences.

Thank you all for your contributions to this local exhibition!

Ms. V

Best Regards,
Valarie Poitier
Natick, MA

Curator, Co-Chair SAQA-NEQM-2011 Project "No Holds Barred"
Guest Speaker Grand Opening January 29th @ 1:00pm – Smashing!
SAQA Rep MA/RI
http://www.saqa.com - Studio Art Quilt Associates
http://saqane2011news.blogspot.com/ - No Holds Barred News
http://msvpoitier.blogspot.com/
Life Skills Trainer & Coach
Member: Quinobequin, Quilters Connection, Sisters in Fiber, Weavers Guild of Boston, Saxonville Workshop Instructor.

The Exhibit is Up! No Holds Barred!

I was awed as I watched and helped hang the last pieces of the exhibit. Feeling amazed and surprised that I was so inspired by the art work I was looking at. To think that each artist started with the same materials fabric, thread, and various added items from their stash, and yet, each expressed themselves so very differently.

What a wonderful selection of the contemporary art work that New Englanders are creating today. In four days the exhibit will open and you will be able to see for yourself. January 20, 2011 is opening day and January 29th is the Opening Celebration. I can hardly wait to join you and discuss the works, the artists, and their processes, and to celebrate another successful venture by the New England Quilt Museum and the Studio Art Quilt Associates of New England.

Come out and meet the artists on January 29 and March 19th. Also check out the museum website for the events occuring on Saturdays while the exhibit hangs.

Excitedly yours,
Ms. V
Guest Curator
Co-Chair No Holds Barred

No Holds Barred - Exhibition Schedule and Accompanying Events

NO HOLDS BARRED: Schedule of Events

Saturday, January 29, 1 pm

Opening reception for New England SAQA
with Guest Curator Valarie Poitier

Saturday, February 5, 1 pm
Lecture: "My Art Quilting Journey"
by Celeste P. Janey

Saturday, February 12, 1 pm
Lecture: "Art Quilts"
by Martha Sielman

Workshop
Saturday, March 5, 10 AM Workshop, 1 pm Trunk Show with Wen Redmond

Saturday, March 19, 10 am
SAQA NE Meeting & Gallery Walk
(open to the public)Hosted by SAQA MA/RI Reps Valarie Poitier and Jeanne Marklin