Friday, May 30, 2014

SAQA Benefit Auction Art work readied for submission...

Forest Floor, Bethany Garner
Participating in the donation of Forest Floor to the Benefit Auction for 2014 at Studio Art Quilt Associates. The call went out for 12 x 12 inch quilts early this spring, and I have always been on the "purchaser" side of the Annual Auction. This year, the importance of the donation is heightened, as fewer members are finding that they can donate a piece of art for the auction. My piece was ready and the deadline for submission was extended, so after lots of busy days over the past several weeks with FIBREWORKS commitments, I am sending off my piece to meet the deadline.
 
Each fall during the month of September, SAQA offers the donation quilts in an online Auction format. Some of the quilts (and mine does not qualify as it is mounted on a frame for hanging) are designated to travel to the International Quilt Festival in Houston to be shared during a live Auction. Some are chosen for inclusion in a permanent collection at the International Quilt Studies Centre at the University of Nebraska.
 
It is indeed a pleasure to see this small piece of art, with elements intended to deteriorate over time just as a forest floor in real time, travel to the SAQA Benefit Auction to support the important educational programs offered through the Association's Exhibition program. I encourage all members to consider the donation of a 12 x 12 piece of art before the June 15th deadline. The entry form is HERE .

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

CONNECTIONS FIBRE ARTISTS Group Exhibition Continues at Wellington County Museum and Archives in Fergus, ON through June 5th.....


The Wellington County Museum Gallery website offers all of the details about the dates and hours their upstairs Gallery is open to share this beautiful Exhibition. It is receiving wonderful reviews from arts enthusiast across Ontario and beyond. If you have the chance to get to the Guelph/Fergus area between now and June 5th, please do make your way to this amazing Museum. Everyone is welcome and do plan to take friends and family. The Museum offers something for everyone, including a great Exhibit of the Quilts of Renske Helsmuth running concurrently with our Exhibition.
 
 
 
Creating new work for Exhibitions in 2014 has been both challenging and really enjoyable, and adds some excitement to the days as spring is evolving. The two pieces below were worked during January and February 2014 specially for the CONNECTIONS FIBRE ARTISTS Exhibition.
 
My work shown below is part of my contribution to the show, and both were created with dyed fabrics and paints, using the inspiration of the Group of Seven artists as a guide for creating new and original work. The process was fun and the results, as always, surprising. You just never know until the fabric reveals itself after the process work is complete.
 
Working with thickened Procion MX dyes as the application medium for "Into The Bog" went amazingly well. I used Potato Dextrin and Soy Wax Batik techniques for laying in the base "roots" and added the background overcoat of full strength India Ink over the layered batik design with a foam paint roller for "Darkness, Pine Rack". Both processes were experiments that could ultimately result in my delight or leave me with fabrics that may or may not work in an art quilt application at all...I was lucky with these pieces.
 


 
INTO THE BOG, Bethany Garner 2014

 
DARKNESS, PINE RACK, Ontario Woodland, Bethany Garner 2014

I am so pleased to be able to share space in the exhibition with the 27 talented and well known artists of the CONNECTIONS FIBRE ARTISTS Group, and am humbled by the beauty and expertise demonstrated in their many varying individual works of art. As a new member of CONNECTIONS, I certainly am excited to have the opportunity to learn and grow through future meeting/workshop days, and under the tutelage and with the commitment of the members of the group to share skills and techniques. Each member is renowned for his/her art, and I have much to learn.
 
Plans are currently underway for exploring more opportunities to offer this exhibition to Galleries in Ontario that welcome fibre, and be able to share the work with residents across the province. We also hope to be able to develop our plans for another new Exhibition that could be ready to share in the next year. Each member brings his/her own perspective and talent to the exhibition floor, and it is so exciting to see the new work as it is revealed.
 
Please consider a visit to the Museum Gallery before June 5th, and if you are a collector, many of the pieces are available for sale and would be a dynamic addition to your art collection. For purchase details, contact the Exhibition Curator, Susan Duncan at the Museum www.wellington.ca/museum

Thursday, May 1, 2014

SUMMER COURSES at St. Lawrence College are in the calendar and awaiting YOU to join me for some great fun!

Please plan to join me as we launch the 2014 Sessions of the
SUMMER SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS at St. Lawrence College, Kingston Campus.
 Hope to see you there!

SURFACE DESIGN AND STITCH, Bethany Garner, Instructor
July 21-26, 2014, Kingston Campus, St. Lawrence College
Credit Course in the Textile Design Program
 

1000 Islands Summer School of the Arts

Hi Bethany,

For more than 45 years, St. Lawrence College has offered 1000 Islands Summer School of the Arts, a series of art courses that allow you to explore your creative spirit in the heart of a spectacular, world-renowned tourist region. Courses range from two to five days in length and are specially designed to develop your creativity in a variety of artistic mediums. More than 30 exciting courses are available on our campuses in Brockville, Cornwall and Kingston in June, July and August.

Registration is now available for 1000 Islands Summer School of the Arts 2014 classes. It’s easy – online, by phone, or in-person at one of our campuses.

http://www.stlawrencecollege.ca/programs-and-courses/oce/ssoa-main/

Some classes will fill up fast, so register early!

Sincerely,

Lynn Walker
Associate Dean
School of Online and Continuing Education
St. Lawrence College

COLOUR THE QUILT ARTIST'S WAY, Bethany Garner, Instructor
July 28-August 1, 2014, Kingston Campus
Credit Course in our Textile Design Program