Where Are They Now? Brenda

right here, right now
Greetings from the Serendipity Studio at Copacabana.  This was the outlook this morning:

On the design wall, I have some studies and samples for my Lines of Beauty workshop as I work on refining some teaching notes.  I am really looking forward to teaching an expanded, 4-day version of this class at Grampian Textures retreat in March 2017:

On the workbench, I have fabrics sorted for my next project.  I feel a dyeing day coming on. More purples are required!

On the studio floor is a half-packed suitcase for my trip to Adelaide next week.  A selection of my works will be on display at the Festival of Quilts Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide from 30 September - 2 October 2016 (open 10am-4pm daily).

On the spare bed, two large new works are rolled up, ready and waiting for an appropriate time to be revealed to the world (note the pink Diane!):

And next to my TV chair, is a project made from luscious wool felt.  Stitching has such transformative power:

the bigger picture
When we wound up our final cycle of group challenges on 12/12/12, I embarked upon a personal challenge to deeply explore certain themes and motifs first arising in my Twelve by Twelve works.  In particular, I was keen to concentrate on working in a larger format.

This graphic shows the development of my lupin-inspired works since the PurpleYellow challenge in 2010:

 

High Country Lupins #3 (80x143cm) was juried into Art Quilt Elements 2016

 

 

 

Other examples include:

From Bush Tucker Tracks (12x12in) to Desert Tracks: Not Terra Nullius (57x109cm 2013) which was juried into  Art Quilt Australia 2013: People, Place & Nation and also Quilts=Art=Quilts 2014.

From Binary Code #2 (12x12in) to Dreamlines#7: Dreaming in Colour (131x72cm 2014):

From Sweet (20x12in) to Kelp Pods (106x84 cm 2016):

I look back to the Twelve by Twelve years and marvel at the number of works that I produced - not just the official contributions but the scores of other small studies I made along the way. No doubt our collaborative project was a great stimulus along with regular deadlines and group accountability. Moving to working in a larger format brings new challenges: physical - handling large works is taxing; engineering - corralling all those small pieces on the design wall; and, of course, time - especially when you stitch works as intensively I do.

a matter of time

The notion of time is intriguing and sometimes paradoxical. It is at once rigid and fluid, fleeting and interminable, tangible but elusive, and abundant yet scarce.  How the ‘fourth dimension’ of time is observed, manifested and experienced is at the heart of my latest curatorial project - a matter of time. This is a travelling exhibition of 32 works each measuring 100x40cm.  Deborah Boschert's work Rising and Setting is pictured below second from the left:
 

The exhibit is currently on tour in South Australia.  My next curator floor talk is at the Craft & Quilt Fair, Adelaide at 12.30pm on Thursday, 3 November only.  If you can't join me in person, check out the online gallery.  A catalogue is available for purchase too.

The exhibition continues on tour until late 2017 (see tour program).  It is booked into New Zealand National Quilt Symposium: 5-10 October 2017 where I will be teaching and judging (AND catching up with Kirsty!) and further international venues are under negotiation.  I'll keep you posted!

Being a Twelve has had an enduring impact on my creative practice.  I am so grateful to Diane for inviting me to play and for the support, encouragement and enthusiasm of the other Twelves. The internet is a wonderful thing! You can follow my current projects on Facebook, Instagram and my blog.

call for entries - a matter of time

Time is a fascinating concept and it's the theme for my next curatorial project.  Explore the fourth dimension in cloth and submit your work for a travelling exhibition on tour in 2016/2017.  Entries close 15 January 2016.  See a matter of time for more information.

2+ Twelves in New Zealand

Happy New Year!  There's a little Twelve by Twelve action coming up in New Zealand this month.

Both Brenda and Kirsty are teaching at Quilt Symposium Manawatu from 15-21 January 2015.  All their classes, including Kirsty's two day workshop Working to a Theme, are booked out but it's not too late to sign up for the lunchtime lecture on Saturday 17 January 2015  (12.15 – 1.00pm):

See:  Adventures & Inspiration from the Twelve by Twelve International Art Quilt Challenge

In addition, you are invited to the Living Colour! exhibition at:

• Te Manawa, Palmerston North, New Zealand in conjunction with Quilt Symposium Manawatu, 15-21 January 2015; Curator floor talk 12.30-1pm Tuesday, 20 January 2015;and
• Northart Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand: Wednesday 28 January (opening 6pm) – 11 February 2015.  Gallery hours: 10am – 4pm daily (closed Friday 6 February).

Living Colour! is travelling textile art exhibition curated by Brenda Gael Smith comprised of 32 vibrant works celebrating life across the spectrum.  The exhibition features Indigo Garden by Twelve, Deborah Boschert.

Report from the European Patchwork Meeting

There was a lot of buzz around the Colourplay exhibition at Carrefour Européen du Patchwork 2014.   Here are extracts from the official program and the Catalogue Prestige 2014: 

And our exhibition formed the backdrop for a news item on Alsace Matin television:

We were fortunate that Colourplay was displayed at Espace des Tisserands, the premier exhibition space in the village of Sainte Marie aux Mines with gallery-style white walls, high ceilings and excellent lighting:  

This is the view from outside.  Doesn't even quilt show have a saucisson stand near by?!
 
And here are some overall shots of the valley:

Inside our exhibit formed a colourful display:

On Thursday and Friday, school groups visited Espace des Tisserands and completed detailed assignments on their favourite quilts.  Several student chose pieces from the Colourplay exhibit:

THANK YOU to the many people who let us know how much they enjoyed our book and how our collaborative project had inspired them to start their own group challenge.  This is a selfie of Brenda with Anita Fors (left) and Gunnel Wright from Göteborg, Sweden who are part of  the Fria Tyglar/ Free Reins challenge group:

If you missed the European Patchwork Meeting and live near Belgium, you can catch the final Colourplay exhibition at Association Belge du Patchwork, Enghien, Belgium: 2-5 October 2014.

Bonjour!

La Cerise Sur Le Gâteau

It is wonderful to be here in France for the Twelve by Twelve Colourplay exhibition and Australia Quilts. However, "la cerise sur le gâteau" is to finally meet Françoise after 8 years of internet exchanges and seven years of collaboration with Twelve by Twelve projects.  Here we are together at a SAQA function.

For me, I have now met all the other Twelves.  And Françoise has met six.  Each time is a complete confirmation of the special bond of being a "Twelve" and I am turely grateful

Colourplay Installation at European Patchwork Meeting

Today was installation day at the European Patchwork Meeting.  Here is our blank canvas:

Here is hanging in progress:

The installation technicians were superb.  Very thoughtful and seeking to show our work to its best advantage;

The black background panels were designed to be placed on black drapes and carpet walls but they also work satisfactorily on the white walls.  These photos are from before final adjustments:

And in this photo, you get a glimpse of Helen's work in the adjoining SAQA exhibition - Wide Horizons:

I (Brenda) will be at the exhibition all of Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and Françoise will be around on Friday and other times.  Please stop by and say Bonjour!