The art quilt is a creative visual work that is layered and stitched or that references this form of stitched layered structure.

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Introducing Christine Hager-Braun Ph.D.


Good Morning.  Well, we have a brave volunteer who is willing to go first in our new getting to know you blog segment.  So, I'd like to introduce Christine Hager-Braun.  (who, by the way, is SAQA's translation liason in charge of coordinating SAQA's calls for entry and membership information).
To start off, I asked her to tell us a little something about herself and then asked a few other questions so we could get to know something about her.  Here is what she said:


Christine Hagar-Braun 
Back in 1999, I moved to the US from Germany to work as a scientist in HIV research. I began art quilting as a hobby. Seven years later when my son started kindergarten I decided to give up my job in the laboratory and to start a career as a full time textile artist. I fulfilled my dream: my hobby became my profession.
Question:   Do you have your own studio or do you work  wherever you can find a spot?  What is your favorite feature of your work space and what is your least favorite feature?  (We would love it if you could provide a photo of your work space.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be cleaned up!)

Answer:


Like many hobby artists I started out at a small corner of the dining table but soon I took over the flat surface and we ate at a small corner of the table. As it became clear that I needed a dedicated larger workspace we built a small addition to our house with the studio on the first floor. What I love about the space is the natural light. I have a total of six windows on three sides of the studio! 




Question:  Do you offer a professional service such as long arm quilting, teaching, commission work, fabric dyeing and selling, coaching, repair and restoration, etc.  Tell us a little about it and be sure to include your web page address and/or blog page info and whatever else you use to get the word out.

Answer:  I teach quilting with a walking foot and free-motion quilting for beginners as well as project-based classes. In addition, I give presentations to quilt guilds, providing them with an overview of my art work and telling the story of my the life as a textile artist. I accept commissions for art quilts which are similar to my existing work but need different colors or sizes. My biggest commission so far is a series of three art quilts for the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.
More info is available on my website www.soularpowerfabricart.com or via email at christine@soularpowerfabricart.com.

Question:  What is the funniest or most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you at an exhibit or quilt show or gallery opening for your work.

Answer:One of my early solo show was at a community building. I went back a few days after the opening to photograph the exhibition. A viewer, who apparently did not know who I was looked at my piece “Storm of Life” and commented: “I guess the artist had an egg sunny-side up for breakfast!”

Question:  In addition to art quilting, do you engage in any other artistic endeavors?

Answer:  The only other creative adventure I pursue is raising a teenage son (who I adore)!

Here are more of Christine's fabulous art quilts.........enjoy!


















Monday, February 2, 2015

Regional Member News

Good Monday Morning!
Wow, we have gotten such a terrific response from our members about the "Getting to Know You" blog segment and next week will be the first of what I hope will be many more to come!  We have a brave volunteer who is willing to be first but you'll have to wait until next week to find out who it is!
Meanwhile, I have a couple of announcements to share with you.

First, Cheryl Gerhart from Chruchill VA, sent this in:      

  SQUARE

An exhibition of works by 82 members of the Textile Study Group of New York
January 16 through March 8, 2015
Narthes Gallery of St. Peter's Church, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th Street) in the Citisorp Complex

A full color 92 page catalog is available at amazon.com



Also, this is recently in for those of you who might be interested:

I  wanted to share with you an upcoming regional textile exhibition opportunity, deadline 3/13/15.  

Stitch: A Regional Contemporary Art Textile Exhibition

June 8 – August 26, 2015


Claypool-Young Art Gallery
Morehead State University
Morehead, KY

Stitch: A Regional Contemporary Art Textile Exhibition is an exhibition featuring works of all textile and fiber media created by artists living in Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia and Illinois.   Work for consideration must be created, in sum or part, of textile/fiber techniques including but not limited to, two and three dimensional artwork consisting of stitching, knitting, weaving, crochet, quilting, felting, surface design on fabric, stitched paper, and art to wear.  All works must have been completed since 2012 and not previously shown in the Claypool-Young Art Gallery.

 

Calendar

March 13, 2015                                    Final postmark deadline to receive entries

Mid-Late April, 2015                                           Exhibition jurying

Early May, 2015                                                    Email notification sent to artists

May 22, 2015                                                        Deadline for delivery of artwork          


June 8 – August 26, 2015                                         Exhibition dates


August 26, 2015                                                    Closing reception, 5 – 7 p.m.
Artist/Juror’s Talk by Susan Shie, 7 – 8 p.m.

August 26 (after reception) – September 2, 2015     Pick-up or shipping of artwork

Juror                                            

Susan Shie is a painter who works on unstretched, stitched cloth. Born in 1950, she has been an artist all her life, living mostly in Ohio. Her degrees in painting are a BA from The College of Wooster, 1981, and an MFA from The School of Art, Kent State University, 1986. Widely published, exhibited, and collected, she continues her recognizable style of pictorial imagery with a flowing, hand written text of everything from personal diary to world events’ commentary on her large, time-capsule-like narrative soft paintings. Her main interests remain women and family, along with peace, social justice, healing, and the environment. Her website is www.turtlemoon.com 

 

Entry Fee and Procedure

$15 for up to three artworks. Checks should be made out to: Claypool-Young Art Gallery, Morehead State University.

Jennifer A. Reis

Gallery Director & Coordinator/Instructor,
Arts Entrepreneurship Minor

Exhibiting/Teaching Artist & Curator

Morehead State University
108 Claypool-Young Art Bldg.
Morehead KY 40351
606.783.5446

So, until next week.............stay warm, snuggle up and keep creating!