CREATIVITY...
So what is happening in YOUR corner of the world???
Spring 2015 has arrived and with it the "busy calendar' comes as well... QUILTS KINGSTON 2015 Show and Sale is just two months away. My entries have been submitted, and I am awaiting the "sure your quilts will be hung" message from the Quilt Show Design Committee...
Working away on the Quilts Kingston 2015 Publicity Committee, and partnered with the very talented community supporter, Heather Buchan, means that as a team we will move through the myriad of duties that will ensure that the door opens with a long line of visitors to the Show. Plan to find many terrific Vendors booths, our ever popular Members' Boutique, The "Sir John A/Sir John, Eh?" and Childrens Quilts special exhibits. AND most importantly, you will be able to walk through the aisles on the Show Floor, filled with more than 200 beautiful quilts.
The Kingston Fibre Artists will be opening their spring Exhibition "HANGING BY A THREAD" at the WINDOW ART GALLERY at the Kingston School of Art, at the corner of Victoria St. and Princess St., Kingston, ON with the Opening Reception on May 7th...
I am laser focused as I add final stitches to my own new work for the show. The members work I saw last week at our group's planning meeting is just amazing. The KFA always delivers an exhibition 'not to be missed', as this group of very talented artist friends never fails to pull together a most exciting new collection of fibre focused work in multiple mediums, all with stitch and outstanding design explorations!
All of the news and information about both the KINGSTON FIBRE ARTISTS and their work and coming events can be found at their website.
Everyone welcome, May 6-31, 2015. (and the Opening Reception always promises great treats)
As the
STUDIO ART QUILT ASSOCIATES (
SAQA) Co-Representative for Central Canada, I was invited by Executive Director Martha Sielman to participate in the planning for two terrific new SAQA sponsored exhibitions for 2016. The process was exciting, with much to learn about preparing the Call For Entry details for the first ever ALL CANADIAN SAQA ARTISTS Exhibition:
My Corner Of The World - CANADA
This exciting Canadian exhibition will open in May of 2016, partnered with the SAQA International Exhibition, My Corner of the World, with entries open to all 3000+ SAQA members from around the world.
I will be working closely with the organizers over the next few months as Exhibition Curator, and hoping that our many SAQA artists across Canada will participate by beginning now to design and execute their beautiful work in fibre for either or BOTH of these exhibitions.
The two exhibitions are scheduled for first visits at
STRATFORD PERTH MUSEUM in Stratford, Ontario at the Opening Reception on May 21, 2016 and travel across Canada and beyond for two years.
Micaela Fitzsimmons, Exhibition Juror, will work with Galleries and Museums across Canada to plan a travel itinerary that will see these amazing quilts being available for viewing by Canadians across all of our Provinces and Territories.
CQA/ACC Quilt Canada 2016 will be held in Toronto and I have sent off my submission to contribute as a Workshops Instructor. The submission deadline has now passed and I wish all of the Instructors waiting to secure the coveted teaching contracts the very best as Liz Thompson, Quilt Canada 2016 Coordinator and her team select the teaching staff for this exciting conference.
As a CQA/ACC Past President, I strive to support the organization any way I can and always encourage area members here in Ontario to attend the Annual Conferences. I had the honor of receiving the
CQA/ACC Canadian TEACHER OF THE YEAR Award at the annual gathering of quilters in London, ON in 2011.
I am so very excited to have the opportunity in 2015 to apply to share my favourite Mixed Media and Art Quilt workshops, techniques and lots of FUN with the 2016 Conference participants. CQA/ACC is very dear to my heart and I encourage each of you to consider
membership in our national Quilting Association and make plans to attend our Ontario 2016 CQA/ACC Conference.
Other terrific opportunities for members include the chance to study and be certified as a CQA/ACC
Certified Quilt Judge. The courses are held annually at the National Conferences... this year in Lethbridge, Alberta.
The TETT Centre for Creativity and Learning
King Street West, Kingston, ON Canada
photo by Bearnard Clark
I have recently joined the TETT Board of Directors, appointed as the
Kingston Handloom Weavers and Spinners Guild tenant group representative. This will be an exciting opportunity to share in the growth and development planning at the Tett. The board is comprised of members representing each of the eight tenant arts groups including the Kingston Handloom Weavers and Spinners, the Kingston Potters Guild, Kingston Lapidary and Mineral Club, the Kingston Arts Council, Modern Fuel Gallery, the Kingston School of Dance, Theatre Kingston and the Joe Chithalen Memorial Musical Instrument Lending Library.
The J.K. Tett Centre is a City of
Kingston-owned heritage building on the Lake Ontario waterfront. It is
operated by the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning, a
not-for-profit arts organization made up of tenant groups and community
members. It originally formed part of the Morton Brewery and Distillery
Company, which was built in the mid-19th century.
Learn more the history of The Tett Centre site.
This
wonderful building is home to eight arts organizations, artists’
studios, and a variety of rental spaces, including the Malting Tower,
rehearsal and multipurpose studios, and a community gallery.
The
Tett is part of an arts hub on the waterfront that also includes the
Queen’s University world class performing arts facility, the Isabel
Bader Centre for the Performing Arts.
The
Tett Center offers lots of opportunity to enrich yourself in the
Canadian arts, such as plays, concerts, and dance. We have many visitors
and members who join us from nearby places like Inverary, Verona,
Seeley's Bay, Mallorytown, Belleville and Odessa.
The Tett
contributes to a vibrant arts community in Kingston, fosters
collaboration among the tenant groups and with Queen's University, and
engages and supports new artists.
Learn more about the mission of The Tett Centre.
The Kingston Handloom Weavers & Spinners
The Kingston Handloom Weavers and Spinners (KHWS) guild has been in existence since 1948
KHWS
is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes the teaching of weaving,
spinning and other related crafts in both their historic, contemporary
and technical context to interested community members of all ages.
The
guild is the only one of its kind in the Kingston area and currently has
80 members drawn from over a 100 Km. radius. The learn to weave and
spin organization is run entirely by volunteers. In addition to monthly
meetings (7:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month from September
through June), the KHWS gives numerous workshops throughout the year to
both members and non-members (including children) from the community.
An “open studio” is available on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to
members and non-members. Each November we present a Weaving and Spinning
Sale, featuring unique, quality items created by KHWS.
From 1973
onwards the guild had a meeting room and studio in the J.K. Tett Centre
which was closed for renovation in 2010 by the
City of Kingston. We moved back to the Tett Centre in 2013 once the renovations are completed.
I am blessed to have all of the new friends I have met since last summer while taking classes to learn to weave in the Studio at KHWS... and for all of the help and encouragement of the members all throughout the learning curve I have undertaken this past year.
If you would like to join us, please visit the Studio on Open Studio Days, every Thursday at the Tett Centre, 10 am - 2 p or at our monthly meetings held in the studio on the second Wednesday evening each month September - June.
Kingston Handloom Weavers & Spinners
Location: 370 King St. West, Unit 205
