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/

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

Journey's end in sight

Good morning,
I wanted to post a message about Celeste Janey, our travels, and the wonderful welcome we have received all over New England.
As many of you know I am not able to drive at the moment and Celeste has graciously driven me to the four corners of New England to speak to SAQA members in person about the upcoming Exhibition, No Holes Barred. We have traveled for a full year sharing particulars about the Exhibit.
There have been many questions about the show and as we get closer and closer to the entry deadline many of the questions have been about the guidelines. There are what they are and every show has them.
One of our committee members was bothered about some of the posts and I reminded her that every exhibit whether it is a local guild, a gallery, a traveling show, national or international, or even world class museums, each has it own particular rules and regulations.
We were very lucky to have an entire year to work on our pieces for this show. Some of us started right away and others thrive in a last minute situation that produces remarkable works. Either way we are nearing that year long journeys end.
Thank you for your enthusiasm, welcome, the great food, and the support and friendship you have shown us both. It would have been much harder if we had not been received with such open arms and hugs.
It is my hope that the remaining days are spent pulling a rabbit or a dove out of your magic hats along with ribbons, strings, holes, and amazing quilted pieces.
Thank you again for playing, for sharing, for entering, and for making this one of the best experiences both Celeste and I have had on the road.
Warmest regards, Ms. V

No Holes Barred - Comments on title...

Well now, No Holds Barred, makes you think, now where have I heard that before.
It was not selected as a theme but really "ANY THING GOES" as long as it fits the museums and SAQA's definition of a quilt. The final say on that will of course be the venue as it will be hung in their museum.

Here is the definition of a quilt from SAQA;s website:

SAQA defines an art quilt as a contemporary artwork exploring and expressing aesthetic concerns common to the whole range of visual arts: painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, assemblage and sculpture, which retains, through materials or technique, a clear relationship to the folk art quilt from which it descends.

NE Quilt Museum's definition: "The traditional quilt definition is that it has 3 layers (top, filling and backing) and has stitching that holds the layers together. That definition allows for tying or tacking, machine or hand quilting. It also would allow all of the quilts in "Masters" including the Dollar Bill which had 3 layers with sugar packets for filling. I think this definition allows quite a lot of latitude!" Laura Lane, NEQM's Acting Curator.

The hope was that advertising would be easy and fun if we used a title that was able to touch on other sports this makes one think of boxing, wrestling, and sailing if the emails I have received are anything to go by. If this title stirs your creativity and makes people take a second look or think twice than we have hit the mark, made a hole in one, knock it out of the ring or box, and are sailing in the right direction.

Regards, Ms. V
Curator
Co-Chair SAQA-NE Quilt Museum 2011 Exhibition

update! SAQA New England's Exhibition - No Holds Barred 2011

Studio Art Quilt Associates Entry Prospectus

SAQA- NEW England

Title: No HOLDS Barred
Location: New England Quilt Museum, Lowell, MA

Date: February 1 – April 23, 2011

Theme: A survey showcasing the breadth and depth of work being created by SAQA artists residing in the six New England states

Jurors: To be announced at a later date

Eligibility and Guidelines:
• Artists must be current members of Studio Art Quilt Associates and reside in one of the six New England states..
• Entry is by digital images only on CD to be mailed directly to the museum.
• You may submit up to 3 entries.
• Quilts must be new work that has not been exhibited or published prior to February 1, 2011.
• Entries must be a Minimum of 6” wide and no longer than 90”.
• Artwork must meet the basic definition of a quilt, as defined by the New England Quilt Museum, and SAQA, ( see earlier posting).
• Artwork may be published in a catalog of the exhibition if sponsorship is found.
• Artists are responsible for shipping and insurance to the New England Quilt Museum (NEQM) in Lowell, MA as well as the cost of return shipping and insurance. Shipping must by either UPS or FedEx. Quilts may be dropped off at the museum.
• NEQM has an insurance policy that covers the artworks to be displayed while they are on site.

Calendar:
February, 2010 Call for entries

September 1, 2010 Entries can be submitted to the NEQM.
November 1, 2010 DEADLINE...You may submit up to 3 entries. Entries must be
RECEIVED at the NEQM in CD format guidelines for submissions
are provided below. This is not a postmark date, Nov.1 is the last day.
November 2-30, 2010 Jury Process
November 30, 2010 Notification of acceptance
(All notifications will be forwarded via email)
December 30, 2010 Selected Artwork must be RECEIVED at New England
Quilt Museum by close of day. Please note the Museum will
be closed during the month of January.

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION – by mail, or in person

During the registration process (which open September 1, 2009) you will be asked to provide artist information, a description of each piece and to upload digital images: here is a checklist of what you will need to provide:

Artist Information:
Artist’s First Name:
Artist’s Last Name:
Address (street):
City/Postal Code/Country:
Phone (include country code):
Email:

Digital Images:
• Submit one overall DIGITAL image and one detail DIGITAL image for each piece of artwork and a written description of each piece submitted.
HOW TO SUBMIT DIGITAL IMAGES.
• Save your digital images as a high quality JPEG file (No TIFF files).
Finished image should be 1800 pixels on the longest side.
• Label each digital image with the first 2-3 words of your artwork title, no
spaces and no punctuation and indicate if detail or full. Examples:
Scarabbbeetle.full.jpg or Whylsky.detail.jpg

Information about each piece:
Materials and Techniques (25 words or less)

You will be asked to agree with these Terms and Conditions:
I agree to loan my artwork to The New England Quilt Museum. I understand that the costs of insuring and shipping my artwork are my responsibility: I further agree to permit the images of details image and/or all or part of my artist’s statement to be used in the exhibit catalog, articles, ads, promotions, books, websites, blogs, CD’s, current event news coverage, television productions, and/or multi-media productions for and about exhibit or for and about the shows at which the exhibit may be seen.

Fee: US$30 for entry of up to 3 pieces. Members must pay their fees using a personal check, or Money Order made out to the New England Quilt Museum.

Address for submitting entries: SAQA 2011
New England Quilt Museum
18 Shattuck St.
Lowell, MA 01852

PLEASE NOTE...DO NOT PUT THE WORD QUILT ANY WHERE ON YOUR PACKAGE.
This will help prevent theft.

updated ! SAQA New England's Exhibition - No Holds Barred 2011

Here are some of the basic specs...more to follow:

A collaboration of work between SAQA NEW ENGLAND and the New England Quilt Museum

Presenting: A Call for Entry..."No Holds Barred"

Show Dates: February 1-April 23, 2011

1. The Show will be up for approx. 8-10 weeks.
2. The States included for this Exhibition are MA, RI, CT, VT, RH, and Maine.
3 New work only...for the show, this means, never been previously exhibited or published in a magazine or seen on the Internet, or entered in another exhibit before November 31, 2010.
4. A 4" sleeve with pleat made of muslin to be used with a slat board system will be necessary. Directions to follow.
5. Directions, the how what when and where, of sending in your cd's will follow.
6. Participants will receive acceptance notification by November 30.
7. First reception will be held Saturday Feb 5th.

Please note: whether or not you participate in the Call for Entry we are making a SAQA and especially a six state request to support our efforts on behalf of the museum and the Artists and Quilters whose works will be exhibited...

8. We are asking each member of the six states to donate a 8 x 10 framed quilt. The item is to be framed in a store purchased cardboard matte/dull frame and the 8 x 10 quilted work should fit neatly inside the frame. ( It would be a boon if all edges were neatly finished). There will be more info on this Blog and the Yahoo Group as time goes by. This quilted item will be donated to the museum as a fund raiser primarily to assist us with the funding of this event. The quilts will belong to the museum once donated. The museum has given me notice that all items sold will receive a letter. Please note all items donated will receive a letter from the SAQA MA/RI Region.

Regards,
Ms. V

Valarie Poitier
Co-Chair SAQA-New England Quilt Museum Exhibition 2011
Any mistakes or misprints are my own and will be updated asap.