Monthly Archives: August 2018

SDA-WA Grant Jury Panel: Roberta Nelson

by Gabi Nirino

SDA-WA Group Event Grant applications are due at midnight on October 1, 2018. Our jurors (Pat Herkal, Claire B. Jones, Roberta Nelson and Francesca Penchant), fiber artists with varied careers, volunteered to be on the panel to support you, SDA-WA members! To help you get to know them better, here is the third of all four bios.

Roberta Nelson has been fascinated with fabric, pattern and color all her life. Her early years were filled with creative activities, embroidery, rug hooking and later batik and sewing. “Fabric stores called my name,” she says.

A graduate of the University of Oregon, she found her love of people and communication working as a counselor and educator. Moving to Seattle with her husband Craig, they created a life together, remodeling two homes and raising two children, Julia and Eric.

Creativity morphed into sacred making and began to have deeper roots as Roberta studied design at Bellevue College, Fung Shui and immersed herself in understanding the spiritual world within and without. Creating gardens, cooking beautiful and healthy food for her family and friends and making things with and for her children further developed her creativity. During this time, she worked as an event and marketing manager and dabbled in the fiber arts, learning to dye and manipulate fabric.

In 2009, reeling from the loss of her creative muse and best friend, she enrolled in the University of Washington Fiber Arts Certificate program. This began a journey of developing and finding her creative voice. Her commitment to art flourished and grew as she took classes from teachers and mentors Jane Dunnewold, Lisa Call, Dorothy Caldwell and others.

Her intuition is her guide and nature is her inspiration. Metaphors for life in the natural world are used in her artwork to make a statement or express an idea or feeling.

Roberta’s work has been show at the University of Washington, at regional surface design shows as well as art festivals in Western Washington.

SDA-WA Member Activities September

by Gabi Nirino
Tesi-Vaara_Quilt

Quilt by Tesi Vaara

Meeting Notes for North Sound SDA Meeting

July 30, 2018 Surface Design Group meeting notes
Present: Tesi, Dorothy, Sydney, Robyn and Valerie

Tesi attended a quilt retreat in Gold Bar. A workshop was given by Anita Luvera Mayer called Mud Pies for Adults. The orange highlights in the quilt above were done with Radiance, a cotton/silk fabric.

Tesi’s Harvest Moon quilt has been accepted into the Voices of CQA show in Portland, September 27-29. More about Contemporary Quilt Art Association here.

Sydney spent 10 days in Paducah, KY. She took a Dina Wakley two-day mini retreat, where she created an amazing art journal using mixed media.

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Sydney’s mixed media journal

Robyn has been doing more work with eco-dyeing using mordants of alum, cream of tartar and soy milk. I find this process extremely interesting and I’m going to start collecting materials and try my hand at it. Thanks for sharing, Robyn.

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Robyn’s mordant dyeing

Dorothy made this Borneo hat, which was quite unique. She even modeled it for us.

 

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Dorothy McGuinness, Borneo Hat

 

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Francesca Penchant, Becalmed, digital photograph.

Francesca Penchant on Create Whimsy

Francesca Penchant was recently interviewed by Create Whimsy, Lynn Woll and Chardel Blaine’s blog that shares “the stories of makers, and what they make, inspiring creativity in our everyday lives.” Interview here.

 

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Sally Sellers, Don’t, wool, cotton and beads.

Sally Sellers at Cave Gallery

Sin?
Cave Gallery
Now through September 1

Sally Sellers has a piece at in a juried show at Cave Gallery in Vancouver, Washington. The other artists in the show are Michele Collier, Jessica Damsky, Kayla Griffin, Cynthia Heise, Anne John, Clarice Keegan, Ryan W. Kelly, Meredith Lewis, Marc M. McVey, Ruth Ross, Sally Sellers, Noah Alexander Iaac Stein, Dale Strouse and Samyak Yamauchi. The opening reception was August 3.

Cave Gallery
108 E Evergreen Blvd
Vancouver, WA 98660
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday

Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry Dinner & Gallery Talk

Dinner with the Artist: Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry
Art at the Old Alcohol Plant Gallery
August 23

You are invited to a dinner and gallery talk at the Old Alcohol Plant Inn & Restaurant in Port Hadlock, WA, where Fallert-Gentry’s show Color, Light & Motion: Fine Art Quilts by Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry continues until August 26.

Here is the invitation and link for reservations

Experience an intimate tour, dinner and slide presentation with artist Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry. See her incredible quilt and textile art, on display now in the gallery, and learn more about her work and process, while enjoying an incredible meal.

6:00PM Gallery Tour
6:30PM Dinner/Slide Lecture to follow
$39 per person
Three-course meal included in ticket price. Non-alcoholic beverages included. Alcohol sold separately (full bar available).

Questions? Contact Gary Nisbet at the gallery:
Gary Nisbet gnisbet@oldalcoholplant.com

 

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Cameron Anne Mason, silk panels from Sky Bound art installation (detail)

Cameron Anne Mason Burning Man Art Installation Banners

A special message from Cameron Anne Mason:

Hello friends—
As many of you know, I have been working on an art installation for this year’s Burning Man Festival called “Sky Bound.” I have been dyeing large-scale silk panels in shades of blue using shibori bound-resist techniques. The panels are striking, and it has been a learning experience for me. You may have seen images on my Facebook or Instagram account.

Two concentric circles of silk banners surround six comfortable benches and a central, kinetic metal sculpture. Dyed in shades from the lightest blue of a summer morning to the inky violet of the horizon at sunset, the banner designs are made using shibori bound-resist methods. Animated by the wind, the banners create an immersive landscape and soundscape.

The project is produced by Dusty Nation, a collective of Seattle-based artists and makers including me, sculptor Ulrich Pakker, builders Peter Weston and Charlee McClellan, and film-maker and lighting guru Dan Thornton. Other amazingly talented crew members are Alan Wenokur, Teri Fox, Pamela Pakker-Kozicki, Gary Mula and Linda Greenway.

Seen from across the Playa, this moving mass of silk will blend with the sky before resolving into its separate elements. Participants may be drawn by the sound of fabrics snapping in a strong wind before it emerges from the dust like a mirage. Designs of circles, squares and triangles overlap and reference ancient geometry. Benches provide respite and a chance to meet and share stories. The mirror-like surface of the sculpture reflects and echoes these patterns and movement.

I have been approached by several people about purchasing silk banners once we have returned from Burning Man. Dusty Nation is self-funding this project as our gift to the citizens of Black Rock City, for an event built on tenets of radical self-expression and gifting. Nevertheless, the costs of producing add up. Offering the banners for sale would provide a way for us to help fund the project.

Please let me know if you have an interest in owning one of these one-of-a-kind artworks imbued with the energy of Burning Man and a little bit of playa dust. We can talk about sizes and price, and a commitment to purchase isn’t necessary right now. We can figure out the details once I return in September.

And if a banner isn’t in your budget, you can still support the project. Any donation is appreciated and all donors will receive a gift in return: One of the beautiful laser-cut medallions designed by Teri Fox which we will be giving as gifts in support of the project.

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Laser-cut medallions by Teri Fox

Donation can be made through PayPal using my email address:
cameronannemason [at] gmail.com.

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Cameron Anne Mason’s Burning Man Sky Bound art installation banners in progress in the studio.

 

 

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Sample from Barbara de Pirro’s Image Transfers & Acrylic Skins class.

Barbara de Pirro Art News

As a member of the Golden Artist Colors Education team, Barbara de Pirro was given an August residency to work on her own art at the Golden Foundation for the Arts.

Below is a list of Barbara’s upcoming classes. All products provided by Golden Artist Colors for all her workshops. Supply list provided upon registration.

Pour, Stream & Marble
Discover a full range of acrylic products and techniques that allow you to develop succulent, rich surfaces. We will explore fluid & high-flow paints combined with various gels and mediums, transforming each into luminous pours, streams and marble effects. All of these products have their own distinctive characteristics, each responds in surprisingly unique ways. Leave with samples to inspire future artwork.

Daniel Smith
SEPT 15, 10-4
4150 1st Ave. S, Seattle, WA
Contact for Registration: (206) 223-9599 or ONLINE
$115

Dakota Art Store
SEPT 29, 10-4
1322 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham, WA
Contact for registration: depirroart@gmail.com or ONLINE
$100

………

Collage & Layering
We will explore techniques combining paper, found materials and acrylic to create inspirational artworks! Learn how to develop pattern, imagery & texture, combining methods using paint, mediums, gels, pastes & collage. Experiment by building up the surface with both smooth & textural layers, revealing & concealing imagery, enriching the surface by developing depth. Your time will alternate between group demonstrations & self exploration, creating your own personal sample boards, a reference that will prove to be an invaluable resource for all future projects.

Artist & Craftsman
SEPT 23, 11-4
4350 8th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA
Contact for registration: depirroart@gmail.com or ONLINE
$100

………

GOLDEN LECTURE: Mixed Media
A lecture for all levels and backgrounds; from painters, mixed media, fiber to sculptural artists… ideas for all! This presentation covers a wide variety of techniques for use in a wide range of media. Learn about GOLDEN Acrylic Paints, Mediums, Gels, Pastes and Grounds plus QoR Watercolors. Gain an understanding of each product and their different attributes. Learn how to make the right choices in grounds and paints for the best intended application. Learn what to put under paint, and how to create washes, stains, and collage. We also cover the use of stencils, paint markers, pastels, and pencils, as well as the creation of encaustic-like effects. This is a great place for beginners and experienced artists alike to learn new techniques and be inspired by innovative applications. Attendees will receive Information packets & free samples.

Art on the Columbia
OCT 7, 1-3
830 N Columbia Center Blvd. Suite B2, Kennewick, WA
Contact for registration: depirroart@gmail.com or ONLINE
FREE

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Painted Papers, Sculpture & Acrylic
There’s so much to be discovered simply by manipulating paper! Learn how paper & acrylics can be combined to create 3D sculptural forms or simply add more dimension within your flat work. It all begins with the creation of color, pattern and texture on paper, using methods combining acrylic paints, mediums and gels. We’ll then explore a series of techniques including the manipulation of paper, building up surfaces, glueing, stitching, weaving & how to stabilize structures for display & presentation. Acrylic offers a multitude of options that will create incredible effects no matter how you work as an artist!

Schack Art Center
OCT 13-14, 10-4
2921 Hoyt Ave, Everett, WA
Contact for Registration: 425-259-5050 or ONLINE
$220

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Printmaking with Acrylics
Learn the basics of creating monotype, collagraph and relief printed images. All of these methods create unique results; the pressure of printing creates texture and pattern not possible when painting directly on paper. You will explore techniques of transferring imagery without a press, using water based media, acrylic paints and slow drying mediums. The actual process of creating each print encourages spontaneity and openness to fresh unexpected results. Create art that can stand on its own or a supply of prints, ideal for mixed media compositions.

Artist & Craftsman
OCT 21, 11-4
4350 8th Avenue NE, Seattle, WA
Contact for registration: depirroart@gmail.com or ONLINE
$100

………

Image Transfers & Acrylic Skins

Discover the range of acrylic gels and mediums that can be used to create image transfers. Explore how to transfer laser copies of your own artwork, drawings or photographs onto the surface of your paintings or collages. Learn how to create Image Transfer Skins and Paint Skins. Gain a broad understanding of product, material, method, tips & tricks. These techniques are an excellent way to develop transparent & translucent imagery, text and texture, incorporating layers into your paintings, collages or mixed media works.

ArtEAST Art Center
OCT 27, 10-4
95 Front St. N, Issaquah, WA
Contact for Registration: (425)392-3191 or ONLINE

See Barbara’s full workshop schedule here.

SDA-WA Grant Jury Panel: Claire B. Jones

by Gabi Nirino
SDA-WA Group Event Grant applications are due at midnight on October 1, 2018. Our jurors (Pat Herkal, Claire B. Jones, Roberta Nelson and Francesca Penchant), fiber artists with varied careers, volunteered to be on the panel to support you, SDA-WA members! To help you get to know them better, here is the second of all four bios.

Claire B. Jones

Claire B. Jones creates colorful, whimsical, free-standing sculptures by painting with thread on cotton canvas. The fabric evolves by layering and blending a myriad of machine stitched thread until the underlying canvas is completely covered.

Claire grew up in Scotland, playing in the streets under the watchful eye of the dormant textile mills which dominate the Paisley landscape to this day. Although later in life she would study Art and Design along with Experimental Stitch at the Gail Harker Creative Studies Center, she initially studied Software Engineering in Edinburgh. This propelled her into a world of technology, pulling her from one technological hub to the next, through to her current home in Seattle.

It is from the convergence of these worlds that her art emerges. Engineering and the time-honored traditions of stitch collide as she transgresses the boundaries of what can be created with a sewing machine. Claire hopes her sculptures – and the innovative processes out of which they emerge – generate a sense of possibility, a belief in our capacity to conceive and realize new forms.