Terry checks in...

Terry Grant here, enjoying these updates from my 12x12 sisters!
Where am I, nine years in?—right where I was the last time you heard from me, just west of Portland, in my little studio in the woods.

We built the studio in 2011 and I spend most of my days out there. It has a small loft with a comfy futon for guests. Brenda was the first Twelve to stay here, followed by Diane and then both Kristin and her husband Art stayed with us while they house-hunted just before their move to Portland. So the studio has an additional life as the Twelve by Twelve B&B!

I continue to make art quilts. Several years ago I began using the fabrics from men's shirts purchased at thrift stores and over dyed to achieve the colors I wanted. The plaids and stripes suggested architectural elements to me and I made many works using the shirt fabrics to create memories of our travels in South America and Mexico.

This piece, "Basilica of Quito" was recently accepted for our local High Fiber Diet group exhibit. I have continued to use these fabrics in other work that is not architectural in theme as well.

"Cloth Remembers" has been traveling with the SAQA International exhibit Redirecting the Ordinary.
Recently I was intrigued by an idea to use only stripes, and made "Roses". It will be in an exhibit of art by Oregon artists in all media in October.

Travel continues to inspire most of my work. "Camas Prairie, Idaho" one of the pieces inspired by last year's USA road trip, is now part of the SAQA Concrete and Grasslands show.

My grandchildren live nearby and we spend many happy hours together. I even get them involved in a few crafty fiber projects!

My blog continues, but posts are fewer and farther between these days. I have had the pleasure of writing regularly for the beautiful online magazine, Through our Hands, the brainchild of the wonderful Laura Kemshall and amazing Annabel Rainbow. I will soon be sworn in as president of our terrific local fiber arts guild, so I have the next year laid out for me.
Though the Twelve by Twelve projects have come to an end, our very special group will always be a part of my life and brings me such joy when things like Kristin's move to Portland, and Helen's and Deborah's visits happen! We came together by way of the Internet, and by that same means we stay together and continue to share our lives. Face to face visits happen as well. My visit with Diane last winter was lovely. We made books and talked for hours. Someday I will meet Kirsten and Francoise face to face, and a beautiful circle will be complete.

It is still thrilling to me to remember how our our "little" online collaboration became so much more, including, unbelievably, a book. A couple years ago I took on the project of designing and preparing a second, smaller book of our Colorplay quilts, which will be available on Amazon. Watch for an announcement soon!
Thanks to all who have followed along on the journey. You've not heard the last from us...

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Fiber Art for a Cause

I am so happy to pass along information about an exciting new initiative raising money for the American Cancer Society. It's Virginia Spiegel's Fiberart For A Cause. This year her project is called "The 100." 

100 Artists - 100 Patrons - One Day
$10,000 To Fight Cancer
February 4, 2015
http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/FFACThe100Fundraiser.html

Six of the "twelves" are included in "The 100" along with many, many other amazing artists.

Deborah Boschert

Gerrie Congdon

Terry Grant

Kristin LaFlamme
Karen Rips

Terri Stegmiller

Want to make a donation and receive a piece of art? Mark your calendar for February 4 and check out the details are here.

Fiberart For A Cause has already raised $240,000 through the generosity of fiber artists and patrons.

Visit Terry Grant's Studio!

Alex Anderson and The Quilt Show made a surprise visit to Terry Grant in her Portland studio. You can view the show at Episode 1502: Small Pieces, Big Impact (it's free until 3 August 2014 with a basic membership).  The slideshow below also gives you a peek into Terry's studio and some of her recent work.

SAQA Benefit Auction 2014: Dream Collection

The annual benefit auction is the signature fundraising event for Studio Art Quilt Associates. Your purchases help increase the recognition for art quilts and the artists who make them while supporting SAQA’s exhibitions, publications, and education outreach. The 2014 SAQA Benefit Auction is coming up in September and Dream Collections are starting to appear online.  The dream collection set out below is comprised of works donated by six of the Twelves that are up for auction:
    Nightfall: Deborah Boschert             Sky Blue Pink: Gerrie Congdon            Undecided:  Karen Rips                   The Visitor:  Terri Stegmiller                    Eye of the Crow: Terry Grant                   Neptune's Necklace#1:Brenda Smith

Talking of SAQA, congratulations to Helen! Her work Graffiti 1 was juried into the “SAQA exhibition Wide Horizons IV that will premiere at the Carrefour Européen du Patchwork/European Patchwork Meeting  in Alsace, France:18-21 September 2014.  Don't forget, all 144 works from the Colorplay Series will also be on exhibition at this event.

Graffiti 1:  Helen Conway

Many of the Twelves enjoy the educational, networking, mentoring and exhibition opportunities offered by Studio Art Quilt Associates. If you’ve been thinking about joining SAQA, add the discount code “BGS” to the application form and you will receive a 10% discount on the membership fee.

2012 Series Exhibition: NorthWest Quilting Expo 19-21 September 2013

Mark your diaries and plan an excursion!  The 2012 Series will be on exhibition at the Northwest Quilting Expo in Portland, Oregon from 19-21 September 2013.  There will also be an opportunity to meet with Portland Twelves, Gerrie and Terry, during the show.

If you can't make it to Portland, the rest of 2013 is jammed packed with all sorts of events and exhibitions featuring work by various Twelves.  Check out the Forthcoming Exhibitions listing on the website and blog sidebar.

Three Twelves in Portland

After teaching and exhibiting in Paducah, I am spending a few days in the Pacific Northwest to celebrate my 30 year anniversary as a high school exchange student to Sunnyside, Washington State. Time constraints meant I could only wave to Nikki across Puget Sound but I was able to meet up with Terry and Gerrie in Portland.

The train ride from Seattle to Portland was very scenic and I felt like I was living Nikki's BrownSageBlue Colourplay quilt. Coming into Portland, Big Pink dominated the horizon. (Alas Mt Hood, from Terry's BlueWhiteBlack quilt, stayed hidden.)

Terry whisked me away for dinner with her husband, Gerrie and Mr C before entrusting me with her sanctuary/studio where I had the best night's sleep this week.

We met up again at Gerrie's the next day and, after much oohing and aahing over quilts, ventured downtown for the cultural experience of Portland food trucks.

I got to indulge my longing for true Mexican food and the sun appeared on cue (albeit getting into Gerrie's eyes too).

Then we made a pilgrimage to Powell's bookstore where we found our book Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge and did what any self-respecting authors would do - we pulled it out, placing it front and centre and snapped some photos.

A truly heartwarming 22 hours in Portland. Thank you Terry and Gerrie!

Forthcoming Presentations

Terry is giving a talk and slideshow presentation to two Oregon Guilds:

• Mid-valley Quilt Guild in Salem, Oregon, 9:30 am and 6:00 pm, Wedneday,  30 January; and
• Northwest Quilters in Portland, Oregon, 7pm, Monday, 11 February.

Visitors welcome at both events (guest fee $5.00).
 
Brenda is presenting a lecture Adventures and Inspiration from An International Art Quilt Challenge at 12-1pm on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 at AQS Quilt Show, Paducah, Kentucky, USA.  Registrations for this event are now open.

2012 Series by Terry

Terry looks forward to experimenting more with over-dyed shirtings in 2013  She is also giving a talk and slideshow presentation to two Guilds in Oregon early in the New Year:

• Mid-valley Quilt Guild in Salem, Oregon, 30 January 2013; and
• Northwest Quilters in Portland, Oregon, 11 February 2013.

The sugar bowl

 
Oh, that sugar bowl! Is there anyone who, as a child, did not lick their finger and, when no one was looking, stick it into the sugar bowl? Oh dear, maybe I was the only one. Sugar has always been my weakness. Sigh. It just isn't good for you, but it it calls to me. Still.

I carried home my grandmother's silver sugar bowl and creamer after she died, and I get them out so seldom I can't actually remember the last time. But when I do I am still tempted to stick my finger in for a quick rush of pure sugar.

I have been overdying shirting fabrics and some of the greys reminded me of the color of sterling silver, with a slightly purple tint to it and I wondered if I could actually make those plaids and stripes represent the reflective surface of the two pieces. The lemon is there for compositional purposes and because sweet and tart together is even better than just sweet. Here is a closeup:

This is very much the same technique I used for my portrait of the original Maverick. Like Mr. Maverick, this piece works better when viewed from across the room!

I'm not really satisfied with this piece. I had hoped to end this phase of our challenges with something really great and I feel like it is just OK. But, "sweet!" is how I feel about this whole Twelve by Twelve experience. Everything about it from the first challenge, to writing the book, to meeting other "twelves" (I still have three more to meet!), to seeing our work exhibited to the world and right up to today, it has been a truly sweet experience. One I would not trade for anything!

Headed home

I have had all 144 of the Theme Series quilts in my studio for a little more than a month now. It has been a busy time and I am finally ready to return these beauties to their owner/makers. What a journey they have been on! Back in 2010 they traveled to Lark Publishing to be photographed for our book, then headed to Australia and New Zealand where they were exhibited together for the first time. Then they went to Great Britain and finally to the US where they met up with their younger siblings, The Colorplay Series, for exhibits in Houston, Cincinnati, Long Beach and Portland. The Colorplay quilts are off to Australia soon, but the Theme Series are headed home, at last.

After I removed each quilt from the black panels we used for hanging them, I separated them into stacks of each artist's work. Then I packed them into their traveling bags.

Over the next week I will be boxing them up and shipping them to their respective homes. For all the places they have been and all the travel they have experienced, they look great. No damage. No loss. I will hate to see them go, but will enjoy having my twelve here again. They are filled with such great memories.

The Original Maverick

Does this guy look like a maverick? He is the original Maverick!

I had such a hard time wrapping my head around the Maverick theme! Even after a great discussion with Karen and Ted Rips and my husband Ray, where we talked about what makes a person a maverick and who are and are not mavericks, I was still at a loss. Always good to do a little research at that point.

I discovered that the origin of the word was this man—Samuel Maverick, a Texas cattleman in the mid 1800's. Mr. Maverick refused to brand his cattle. The shrewdness of his decision became evident at round-up time, when he declared that all unbranded cattle belonged to him! As a result of the ensuing uproar, ever after, unbranded cattle were referred to as mavericks. The meaning evolved to include people who refuse to be branded with stereotypes and live their lives on their own terms.

When I found several old photos of Samuel Maverick online I decided I wanted to try to create the look of an old sepia-toned photo using black, tan and white fabrics. I was especially intrigued by the idea of using prints for this. I think you get the idea if you stand back and squint your eyes!

Twelve by Twelve on TV

Gerrie and Terry are such indefatigable troupers and Twelve by Twelve ambassadors.  They were up in the very early morn to do a star turn on Portland TV.  Click on the image below to link through to the fun video clip.  The quilts also look great at the Northwest Quilting Expo in Portland.

Getting ready for the Quilt Expo

This week Gerrie and I met at my studio and opened up the two big boxes containing all of the Twelve by Twelve quilts sent to us from IQF Long Beach. We decided we needed to inspect each quilt and make sure they are in good condition and properly attached to the felt panels for exhibit at the Quilt Expo later this month. (See the details below) They are like old friends now and we were so happy to see each one again. We made a couple of tiny repairs and reattached some corners. Overall, they look great for all the traveling they have done. I can't wait to see them hanging again and to share them with our local friends. Gerrie and I will be there to greet visitors and answer questions. Be sure to find us if you will be there too!

Twelve by Twelve @ NW Quilting Expo 20-22 September

Are you going to be in the Portland area later in the month? In just two weeks, the Northwest Quilting Expo opens in Portland, Oregon and runs from 20-22 September 2012.

Don't miss the last opportunity to view both the Theme Series and the Colorplay Series of the Twelve by Twelve International Art Quilt Challenge all together, in the cloth. Bring your partner, bring your parents, bring your children. With 288 art quilts on display, there's something for everyone! You might get to meet Gerrie or Terry (and maybe Nikki) too.

More Photos from Long Beach

It took most of the day, but we finally got the 3 twelves with Del for a photo in front of our exhibit. We look quite happy and with good reason. Our exhibit was one of the most popular at the show, once again.

We drove out to the harbor and met Del's friends, Sherry and Jim, who took us on a lovely boat ride in the harbor on their Duffy boat. Here is the boat. It was a very comfy ride and was very quiet as it is electric. 

This is the view over the bow of the Duffy boat.

After cruising the harbor and the canals of Naples, we stopped at the Yacht Club for dinner. Del's birthday is Sept 1, but since she is always out of town, Sherry and Jim had a cake to celebrate tonight. I love this photo of her and it is much more Del than the photo I posted last night. 

Pachamama, the Earth Mother

From earliest times different cultures have revered a mother figure as representing the spirit of the earth, creativity, fertility and earth itself. Several years ago on a visit to Mexico City I visited the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe and learned that Guadalupe, a vision of the Virgin Mary, was perceived by the indigenous people of Mexico to be the embodiment of the Aztec Earth Mother, Coatlaxopeuh. This gave her acceptance among the population and made possible the acceptance of Catholicism in Mexico. The earth mother figure of the Andean cultures of South America is Pachamama. During the Spanish occupation of South America and the resulting forced conversion to Catholicism, the Virgin Mary was similarly accepted as a representation of the Pachamam by the indigneous people.


In researching Earth Mother figures I found that many times the Earth mother is depicted as young and  vital. In my mind I see the Earth Mother as ancient, wise, patient and benevolent, gently cradling the earth in her strong hands.


When I started thinking about this piece I pictured something more colorful and joyful, with a lot of flowers and greenery around a smiling mother figure. As it developed it seemed to want to be more somber. She has concerns for her children, I suppose.

The inner map

No one knows exactly how migrating birds find their routes and return to the same destinations year after year. Theories include the use of celestial navigation, magnetic influences and other visual cues. Other theories suppose that a kind of inner map is programmed into their genetic code or that baby birds follow their parents and that first migration imprints a map in a particular part of their brains that they carry for the rest of their lives. Perhaps there is a time in the early development of all living things where one incorporates the map of their surroundings. I sometimes dream about the house I lived in as a small child and all the little details of our street and neighborhood. I remember the sidewalk we roller skated on as children and I knew exactly, without looking, where to lift my skate to avoid a hole in the pavement or a uneven seam. I think I could do it today without missing a beat. I see it all in my mind's eye, as if from above, like a map. I love the idea of inner maps.

For this piece I printed a map of Oregon (where I live) on fabric and as I began to trace my bird onto the fabric I was surprised to see that the Oregon coastline defined the edge of the wing, which in turn became part of the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River, which is Oregon's northern border, defined the change in the feathers at the bird's neckline.

I knew early what I would do for this challenge and thought my piece was finished more than a month ago. A couple weeks ago I looked at it and saw that it needed a third layer— something between the bird and the vast sky. I think the addition of the branches added the sense of space that was missing. Here is how it looked before.

Maps on fabric

Today I printed maps on fabric. Do you wonder what I will do with them? I wonder too.

 I had a great idea, but it would only work as a horizontal. I'm sure these maps will speak to me soon!

Talavera maps

In doing some research on maps, I came across this beautiful celestial map made from Talavera tiles. (Click for a bigger view.) My friends know that I have a special love for Mexican Talavera pottery, so this seemed like a fortuitous collision of something I needed and something I already love. More Talavera maps here.

Metamorphosis in my studio

"One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in his bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug."

 When I read that our first challenge theme for our new series was "Metamorphosis" my first thought was the book by Franz Kafka—required reading in a literature class in college. It opens with the sentence above. Though I loved the book, I wanted to think further about the theme. It struck me that what we do with fabric and a few simple tools is also a metamorphosis. Fabric scraps become something else—art. And just as Kafka's Gregor could morph into a monstrous bug, so could my fabric.