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.