The "Would You Like to Know More?" Symposium held in conjunction with the Art Quilt Elements 2014 show was a great success. Many thanks to all who helped, we could not have done it without you! Attendance was wonderful, the show was great and we all now know more than before!

Peggy Hracho, Marty Ressler and Dianne Dockery all have art in shows in Reading, PA right now. This coming Wed., May 14 Marty and I are planning to visit both the "Secrets" show at Google Works and the "Me Myself and I" exhibit at Some Things Looming. It would be great if you could join us. To find out more please email me at meredithea@verizon.net.

Rhoda Taylor writes that she has been having a banner year.  One of her pieces is currently in the  41st Regional Juried exhibition at the Hoyt Center for the Arts in NewCastle, PA  she was juried into the  Associated Artists of Pittsburgh 103rd Annual Exhibition, opening June 1 at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art Temporary Annex, Greensburg, PA.  Another piece was juried into the 2014 Westmoreland Art Nationals at the Westmoreland County Community College, May 31-June 11 and one was accepted into the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival, July 3-6 in Latrobe, PA. 
She is one of two -artist exhibiting at the Red Brick Gallery in Foxburg, Pa.  Opening reception 3-5 on May 24th; exhibit runs til June 15. Later this year she will have  two solo shows at the Monroeville Library, Monroeville, PA and in Frederick, MD. as well as eight pieces in the Red Brick Gallery Artists show at The Gallery in Saxonburg, PA.




I know we have a very active region and that lots of members have work out there, if you would like to have information about it posted on the blog please send me the information. Thanks!

So, if you want to get together, compare notes, see some fiber work and share a meal together on Wed -- I know it is short notice -- let me know, it would be great to see you!

 

Want to chase away the winter doldrums and rev up your creative  juices? Come to The PA SAQA Regional Symposium, “Would You Like to Know More?” on Saturday March 22, 2014. It will give you an infusion of fiber art and lots of information to help you on your creative path.

Start your adventure with the show opening of Art Quilt Elements 2014 on Friday night from 6pm until 9pm at the beautiful Wayne Art Center in suburban Philadelphia.

Then on Saturday come back for the Symposium where you will learn  the inside story of how three successful fiber artists have blazed their own trails. Get the scoop from Dianne Koppish Hricko, Cathy Stechschulte and Betty Busby. Each has come to the world of fiber from a different background and each has carved out her own unique niche. Hearing these three approaches to a life in fiber is sure to get you thinking.

Stuck on a piece, don’t know which way to go?  Amy Orr and Cindy Friedman will share information with you about what a good critique really is and how to go about it, using it to move your work forward.

Finally, we will hear from jurors Susie Brandt and Gerhardt Knodel, two of the jurors for AQE after which we will join them and AQE 2014 artists in a Wayne Art Center Walk and Talk tour of the show.

While you’re there get energized, connect with other fiber folks, catch up with old acquaintances and make new.  Maybe make a date to go out for a bite to eat after the tour to compare notes, or perhaps form a critique group! How great would that be?

All is all, it will be a great day to stretch your horizons. You’ll have so many new ideas the rest of the winter will fly by!

For more information on registration, pricing--there is an early bird discount -- and the schedule go to saqa.com, click on members and choose SAQA conferences from the selection. You can register with a check and snail mail or pay online at the SAQA store. If you haven't been the Wayne Art Center is lovely, the AQE show is always mind blowing and the presenters for the Symposium are outstanding! 

Hope to see you there.

Also, don't forget, the deadline for the SAQA 2014 Trunk Show is January 31. 2014.

Hello all,

I trust your Thanksgiving was wonderful, I have to admit it arrived before I expected it! Which means that our next Parlor Meeting is just a week away.Would love to see you there. 

Again, for those of you who live close enough to attend, or are up for a road trip, the Parlor Meeting will take place in Lititz, PA at the General Sutter Inn on Sunday, December 8, 2013 starting at 12:30pm. Please RSVP to me (meredithea@verizon.net) by Thursday, Dec. 5, so I can make arrangements with the Inn.


We will follow the same format as before, enjoying lunch and our latest discoveries followed by a presentation of our work. Either for  sharing only or for input from the group.

Seeing a lot of art lately, I may have hit overload! So much is out there, I find it a bit of a challenge to figure out where I fit in. So I am very interested in learning what our fiberart presenters are going to share with us at PA SAQA Symposium, WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?, held on Saturday, March 22, 2014 at the Wayne Art Center in conjunction with the opening of the ART QUILT ELEMENTS Show. The presentations by fiber artists will address how they have made a life for themselves in fiber, and as all have come to it from different paths I am hoping to get some insight that will help me move forward in my fiber life. Gives me hope! Also there will be information from the jurors about how they choose pieces for a show, and a tour of the show with them, as well as a session on critiques. More information about the panels for the Symposium, pricing and signup will follow. Stay tuned.

Also a reminder,the deadline for submitting an entry for the SAQA 2014 trunk show celebrating SAQA's 25th anniversary is January 31, 2014. Just like Thanksgiving, I'm sure this deadline will be here before I expect it!
 

What's new with you? Let me know if you have something you want to share with the other members of SAQA PA. 

Speaking of new, what do you think of the new website? Having any problems? SAQA wants to know so they can be addressed.  Like it immensely?  I'm sure positive comments would be greatly appreciated by the board!  ( Board@SAQA.com )

Also, I am curious to hear what you think about the new nomenclature for members. I for one am not thrilled with it. Going from Active Member to Supporting Member seems like a step backward. There have been a lot of posts to the SAQA@yahoogroups.com. If you have comments or concerns you can email them to the board (Board@SAQA.com or me at meredithea@verizon.net )

I'm also a little confused by the new label for Professional Artist Member...now Studio Artist Member. Isn't the name of the organization STUDIO ART QUILT ASSOCIATES ??  Aren't we all by definition studio artists? What do you think?

In September, I was fortunate to visit the Philadelphia Expo show with Elizabeth Bennett and Cindy Friedman. Viewing and discussing the work with them was very informative! One question that was raised during our visit was if other art groups use themes for their calls for entry, and if so, how do they compare to the type of themes SAQA uses? Any thoughts? I haven't researched it yet, but it's on my list!

A reminder for those of you who live near enough to attend, the next Parlor Meeting will take place in Lititz, PA at the General Sutter Inn on Sunday, December 8, 2013 starting at 12:30pm. Would love to have you join in. We will enjoy lunch ordered from the menu while we visit and share tips, then move on to showing our work, either for show only or for critique/discussion. As I've said before, I found the information, from comments about my work as well as those shared about others work, very helpful.  Please RSVP to me (meredithea@verizon.net) by Monday, December 2, so I can make arrangements with the Inn.

 
If you are traveling through the Atlanta airport in the near future, you will be pleasantly surprised to see a new piece CINDY FRIEDMAN created specifically for a fiber installation there. I was fortunate to get to see it in her studio, newly finished and ready to go.  WOW!!!  Congratulations Cindy.

Interested in celebrating SAQA's 25th anniversary by submitting an entry for the  SAQA 2014 trunk show? The deadline for the 10"x7" entry is January 31, 2014. More information is on the SAQA website.
 
Also mark your calendars! In conjunction with the ART QUILT ELEMENTS 2014 SHOW held at the Wayne Art Center  SAQA  PA is presenting a symposium, "DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?" Save the date and keep you eyes open for more information.

Hope you are all enjoying the fall colors and being productive in your studios!

Well, I don't know how it happened but the summer has been here and gone!  I hope you all were able to get a lot of good work done.

 The August Parlor Meeting in Lititz, where we visited, shared ideas and hints, showed and critiqued work was a success. I found the discussion very helpful, and am looking forward to the next Parlor Meeting which will be held Sunday December 8, from 12:30 to 5pm at the General Sutter Inn, Lititz, PA. Please RSVP to me at meredithea@verizon.net if you would like to come. It would be great to see you there.

Dianne Vottero Dockery has two pieces, WHEN PURSUED and KIND WORDS in the "Food for Thought" exhibition at SomeThing's Looming ( http//www.somethingslooming.com for more information).

Kind Words

When Pursued

Congratulations Dianne!

I know there are other PA SAQA members with work out there, it would be great to hear about it - If you would like, send me the information and I'll share it here.

The PA National Quilt Extravaganza XX is next week, ThursdaySept 19-Sunday 22 in Oakes, PA. I am currently planning on being there on Friday would love to "see" the show with others if anyone plans to be there then as well. Let me know.

The next Pennsylvania Parlor Meeting is set for Sunday, August 4, 2013 from 12:30 until 4:30PM. We will  meet in Lititz, Pa, at the General Sutter Inn.  Check their website; "http/generalsutterinn.com" for information and directions.

Please RSVP to meredithea@verizon.net by Wednesday July 24, 2013.

We will gather for visiting and lunch followed by a critique session of works in progress. You can choose to have a critique or if you prefer you can present your work for show only, or you can just come and enjoy the socializing! The time for each critique will be determined once we know how many members plan to attend. Guildelines will be emailed to attendees later so we are all on the same page as far as critiquing goes.

Check your email for more information.

Summer is flying by. In case you are looking for an art quilt adventure, here's a reminder of where to see PA SAQA members work.  Dianne Vottero Dockery's "Cerebral Commotion I" is still showing at the Small Works Salon until July 14, 2013. And Emily Richardson's show at the La Salle University Art Museum runs until August 16, 2013. Paula Swett, Susan Leonard, Diane Dockery and I have pieces in  Sacred Threads, which opens July 10th and runs until the 28th. And at Quilt National you can see works by Cynthia Friedman, Patrica Kennedy-Zafred and Jan Myers-Newbury until Sept 2, 2013. 

Quilt National opened this past Friday night at the Dairy Barn in Athens, Ohio. It was a very crowded, exciting event. Three SAQA Pennsylvania members were among the select group of artists chosen to exhibit their work. Cynthia Friedman showed  A MAN AMONG GIANTS. Patrica Kennedy-Zafred won the Heartland Award for her DESCENT INTO DARKNESS: THE BOYS OF THE MINES, and Jan Myers-Newbury showed  TILT-A-WHIRL. It was amazing to be at the opening and enjoy all the excitement.  I am very glad though that I had the opportunity to return on Saturday to hear the artists talk about their work and to view the pieces more closely. They are outstanding. Congratulations to you all!

I also had the opportunity to see the FIBERART INTERNATIONAL show in Pittsburgh, the previous Saturday. The show is in two venues and Patty Kennedy-Zafred graciously offered to host me through both. A fantastic show. We were joined by PA SAQA members Marty Ressler, Camilla Pearce, and Jay van Wagenen, Co-Director of FIBERART INTERNATIONAL,  who was our docent for the tour. A great group, to see the show with. I was especially fascinated to hear  stories about the shows set up, as well as some background stories about the artists. So, it was a day of seeing new and wonderful fiber work, and meeting new friends. All in all a wonderful experience.

Both shows were wonderful and both are up for a while. Quilt National is open select dates until Sept 2, 2013 check website for specifics: www.dairybarn.org.  Fiberart International is open until August 18, 2013. If you are in the area of either I highly recommend that you go, they were both thought provoking and beautiful.