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 - Event planned for weekends during the Exhibit

Opening Reception with Guest Curator Valarie Poitier: 1 PM, Jan. 29, 2011
Dinner with the artists RSVP will be needed (Watch for the email from your Regional Rep)

Lecture ("My Art Quilting Journey" by Celeste P. Janey): 1 PM, Feb. 5, 2011

Lecture ("Art Quilts" by Martha Sielman): 1 PM, Feb. 12, 2011

Workshop with Wen Redmond: 10 AM, March 5, 2011

Artist Talk: 12:00, March 5, 2011 (Invite to all exhibiting to share about their entry and or journey as an artist)

Trunk Show by Wen Redmond: 1 PM, March 5, 2011

/SAQA NE Meeting & Gallery Walk with the Artists: 10 AM, March 19, 2011

Submissions to No Holds Barred Exhibition Guidelines Update

Studio Art Quilt Associates Entry Form - Update -

SAQA- NEW England

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

Date: January 20, 2011– April 09, 2011
Theme: A survey showcasing the breadth and depth of work being created by SAQA artists residing in the six New England states

Jurors: Three NE Quilt Museum Jurors, and Juanita Yeager, SAQA member final Juror to be posted on the Blog as soon as written acceptance has been received.

Eligibility and Guidelines:
• Artists must be current members of Studio Art Quilt Associates and reside in one of the six New England states of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut
• Entry is by digital images only on CD to be mailed directly to the museum.
• Checks should be made out to NEQM
• Members may submit up to 3 entries.
• Quilts must be new work that has not been exhibited or published prior to January 20, 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 by SAQA. The NEQM definition follows: "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.

And by SAQA, (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).

• 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. The museum closes at 4:00 pm, no one will be available for late delivery.
• NEQM has an insurance policy that covers the artworks to be displayed while they are on site.

Calendar

November 1, 2010 DEADLINE...Last Date you may submit entries.
Entries must be RECEIVED at the NEQM.

November 2-10, 2010 Jury Process

November 20, 2010 Notification of acceptance.
All notifications will be forwarded via email - once acceptance has been received please send quilts to the NEQM during the week of November 29 - December 4, 2010

Juried Artwork must be RECEIVED at New England Quilt Museum by 4:00 pm close of day 12/4. Please note the Museum will be closed from mid December until January 20, 2010.

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION – by mail, or in person

You will be asked to provide artist information, a description of each piece and digital images: here is a checklist of what you will need to provide and will be on the Application Form:

Artist Information:
Artist’s First Name:
Artist’s Last Name:
Address (street):
City/State/Zip
Phone:
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 first initial, last name, art work title, period the word full, period and jpg see two examples below.

Examples:
JDoe.sunrise.full.jpg or JDoe.sunrise.detail.jpg

Information about each piece:
Artist Statement including Materials and Techniques (up to 75 words)

You will be asked to agree with these Terms and Conditions on the Entry Form:
If my work has been accepted for this Exhibition 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. Please submit fee with entry form and CD.

Address for submitting entries:

No Holds Barred
NEQM
18 Shattuck St.
Lowell, MA 01852

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

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

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.