My star for NASA

I have made a star for the "Astronomical Quilts! Block Challenge" and here it is!

This challenge began when NASA Astronaut Karen Nyberg made her own star-themed quilt block while she was on board the International Space Station.  This special quilt block will be combined with other quilt blocks made (and submitted) by others attending the International Quilt Festival. The quilt made from all these blocks will be on display this fall as we celebrate the 40th anniversary International Quilt Festival!

You are invited to participate too!

The rules are simple:
1). Make/create a star-themed 9.5" square unfinished block (that will finish to 9" in the quilt)
2). Any and all variations on a star are welcome (traditional, modern or artsy).
3). Any color scheme and techniques are acceptable BUT do not add any embellishments!
4). Sign your unfinished block on the front with a permanent marker.  Include your name and your location.

LIMIT:  One Block per person!

Once you've created your unique star block, mail it by August 1, 2014 to

Star Block Challenge

Attn: Rhianna Griffin

7660 Woodway, Ste. #550

Houston, TX. 77063

The deadline is nearly here, so whip together a star block and mail it in now!

I can't wait to see the quilt made with all these stars.  I especially look forward to finding my block in this new quilt.  It promises to be a spectacular exhibit!

Oops, I still need to sign my block!

a new "Call for Artists"

Copper Shade Tree has featured fiber artists and their creations every February since 2007.  I was honored to be included in their first two fiber art shows featuring Beyond the Borders, my art quilt bee.

Time has come to think about entering "The Art in Fiber 2013" , a juried show.  More exciting news:  the juror for the 2013 show is the one and only Karey Bresenhan (one of the founders of the International Quilt Market and Festival, among other accolades).  

Check  http://www.coppershadetree.com/ (Copper Shade Tree's website) for details on submitting artwork.  "A View from my Window" is the theme for this year's show with a deadline of Sunday, October 13, 2012 to submit art by.

Hmmm, I wonder if I have time to create a new and impressive piece to enter this year?  Or rather, I wonder who will be juried into this show?  I can hardly wait to see (especially if it includes me) .....



P.S.  My very first blog entry talks a little about the first show.  Click here to read that long ago story of mine ....

A Texas Call ...

Craft Texas has opened it's 2012 Call for Art ... This Call culminates into a Fall Show, CraftTexas 2012, at the Houston Contemporary Craft Center (HCCC).  This is the seventh year for this special exhibit which features the best of Contemporary Craft made in Texas.  Featured artists, artisans and craftsmen hail from across our grand state and specialize in a diversity of materials including fiber, wood, glass, metal, clay, recyled/found objects and more.  Click here for more information about the exhibit and application process or go to http://www.crafthouston.org to see learn more about HCCC.

Applications are made through CaFE, CallForEntry.org, a website that specializes in Calls for Art (this is the first time I've ever heard of it -- but then I rarely apply these days ...).   Now just because I'm not applying, doesn't mean you shouldn't!  Go for it! (but you must live in Texas .... so move here, if necessary!)

A call for entries

The deadline for applying for this year's Texas Museum of Fiber Arts Exhibit is nearly here. 

Deadline for entries is September 17, 2011.

Texas by the Yard and Yarn – Texas a Fabrication
 Fiber Arts Exhibit

This state-wide fiber arts exhibit will be held October 18 – November 18, 2011 in Austin, Texas.

THEME:  The art may reflect the wondrous and varied landscapes of Texas by “the yard,” may tell the tall tales of Texas by “the yarn,” or may show “Texas a Fabrication – the People and Sites of Texas in Fabric or Yarn!”

ELIGIBILITY:  All submissions must be original in content and executed in a fiber arts technique or process. Applicant must be currently living in Texas, born in Texas, or is currently or has attended or graduated from a Texas educational institution. Once a Texan, always a Texan. (No age requirement.)

The annual event provides a social, cultural exhibit of fine artworks of Texas fiber artists. All events are free and open to the public.  For more information go to  www.texasfiberarts.org   or
 

Click here for further details.

                                        


SPONSORING ORGANIZATION:  The Texas Museum of Fiber Arts (TMFA) fosters education and creativity in fiber art expression, experience, and appreciation. TMFA exists to generate expressions in fiber arts of all kinds through its emphasis on fiber arts education, acknowledgment of established and emerging Texas fiber artists, and celebrating art made from natural and man-made fibers. In keeping with TMFA’s mission to exhibit excellence in Texas’ fiber arts, and to educate Texans about a wide range of original fiber art works, we call for entries that reflect the biggest and best Texas has to offer.

A call for bowls....

The 7th Annual Empty Bowls Houston 

will be held March 19th, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This event is in need of lovely handcrafted bowls to offer the many who turn out to support the Houston Food Bank.

With a $25.00 donation, one receives the handcrafted bowl of their choice, a yummy bowl of soup for lunch (with bread and water), and the goodwill feeling from doing something to help stave off the hunger in our hometown.

While the majority of the bowls are ceramic, all varieties of handcrafted bowls are accepted.  I know as I have made fiber art bowls the past three years and am working on new bowls for this year's event.

Click here to find out more details, or contact me as I'll gladly share what I know and encourage you to make another!

For the curious out there, click here to see the first bowl I made for Empty Bowls.

Saline, Michigan

Last year's "With One Voice" the 2008 Breaking Traditions Traveling Art Quilt exhibit is still traveling and will be debuting in a new venue, an art gallery in Saline, Michigan.
Check out the website for Two Twelve Arts Center (snippets below) or the Breaking Traditions blog ...

from Two Twelve's website: July - Breaking Traditions Traveling Art Quilt Exhibit
A traveling art quilt exhibit crafted by quilters nationwide and curated by Lynn Krawcyk, as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. The theme is: "celebrating all that is good in the world." All quilts are 12"x12".
Exhibit runs July 1 - July 30.
Artist Reception: Friday, July 17, 2009 7:00pm-9:00pm

The 2008 Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibit is currently on exhibit at the 212 Arts Center in Saline, Michigan for the month of July.

The mission of Two Twelve Arts Center is to provide a creative hub offering visual and performing artists the opportunity and working space to come together to work, create, and teach.

The Center also contributes to the cultural life of the residents of Saline by supporting a full schedule of classes, programs, performances and exhibits. We look forward to providing a framework for a vibrant and supportive arts community with varied opportunities for artists, students and audiences.

from the Breaking Traditions blog:
Breaking Traditions is very honored to exhibit in this stellar center. The exhibit hangs on both levels of the center and is accompanied by additional artwork from local Michigan artists that participated in the 2008 exhibit.

You can also see work from Jacqueline Lams, Sidney Savage Inch, Leann Meixner, Deb Kolar, Jean Canavan, Joan Potter Thomas, Kat Campau and Lynn Krawczyk.

There will be an opening reception on Friday July 17 from 7pm-9pm.
Enjoy the show!


from me: If you are able to go, be sure to send me photos! Oh, and look for my piece (honoring Henrietta Szold). In the postcard photo, it is on the bottom row, second from the right end, the dark red one with a photo of Ms. Szold.



Time to plug the upcoming 2009 Breaking Traditions Art Quilt exhibit:

Breaking Traditions has become a community effort, helping to support the fundraising projects of fellow fiber/mixed media artists. The 2009 exhibit will benefit Bernie Berlin's dog rescue, A Place to Bark. In honor of Bernie's efforts to find orphaned and abused dogs permanent loving homes, the theme for the 2009 exhibit is Home.

The exhibit features 12"x12" art quilts. Participants for the 2009 show will express those things, memories or emotions that define home to them. Deadline for entries is coming up -- August.
This is an open call exhibit, everyone is encourage to participate.

another Art Call: Blurred Boundaries - Mixed Media

Since I've posted an earlier art call, thought I'd add this one too --
the 2009 Exhibit of Blurred Boundaries, Mixed Media Fiber Art

Entry deadline WAS June 20, 2009

NOW EXTENDED to June 28, 2009

Theme: The definition of Fiber Art has evolved greatly over the past few years, opening up a new range of possibilities to artists working in various disciplines. Fiber artists are incorporating more mediums into their work, creating unique art that reaches across previously defined boundaries. Artists from other mediums are discovering the infinite possibilities that fiber can offer, also creating hybrids that are eye catching and moving. Blurred Boundaries seeks these arttworks for a week long exhibition honoring the ingenuity of mixed media fiber art.

A quick rundown on the exhibit:

Juror: Virginia Spiegel

Curator: Lynn Krawczyk

* Mixed media fiber art exhibit - work must contain a minimum of 25% fiber in order to qualify for the exhibit - otherwise anything goes!

* The exhibit will run in conjunction with the fabulous and exciting Fabrications Retreat in Kalamazoo, Michigan from August 30 - September 4, 2009. The exhibit will also be open to the public.

* Open to U.S. residents only.

* 2D and 3D work accepted.

* Work may be for sale (a very low 15% commission fee), there will be a $100 People's Choice Award and everyone who is in the exhibit will receive a small package of mixed media goodies for use in future work.

* Submission of images is done entirely online (no need to mail CDs!), the entry form is filled out online (less paper to print!) and you have the option of paying the $25 entry fee by either Paypal or personal check. Enter up to 3 pieces.


The full guidelines can be downloaded as a PDF at the exhibit's website here:
http://www.fabricationsretreat.com/exhibit.html

Call for Texas Fiber Art

Here is this year's information for the annual Fiber in February show at the Copper Shade Tree gallery in Round Top, Texas. I invite any and all Texas fiber artists to apply! Read on for further details ....

"The Art in Fiber"

February 5 - March 7, 2010

Copper Shade Tree - Fine Craft Gallery
206 E. Mill St.
Round Top, Texas
info@coppershadetree.com
www.coppershadetree.com

Copper Shade Tree is a fine craft gallery located in Round Top, Texas. Our small town is a tourist attraction for visitors from around the world. The gallery focus is the Texas artist. Currently, there are nearly 80 artists represented in the gallery, with two-thirds of them live within 150 miles of Round Top, of which we consider to be local art.

Once again, it's time to prepare for our February Fiber Show. This will be the fourth year to host this popular event. Each year we've expanded the show to include more areas of Texas. The 2009 show included 18 fiber artists with a total of 102 art quilts displayed in the gallery and 114 art quilts displayed on our website. For 2010, our intent is to include a smaller quantity of pieces, but not necessarily the number of artists.

As some of you know, we continuously change the look of the gallery. We want our customers to feel as though they are walking into a different gallery each time they visit. This also helps them get a different perspective of each piece of art. Our gallery is a tool that helps educate the public about fine craft in Texas.

The new approach for 2010 is to exhibit Fiber Wall Art. Our definition of Fiber Wall Art is: art quilt, thread painting, weaving, etc. that is framed (without glass), or applied to painted canvas, or fabric covered canvas, etc. Art quilts may use the traditional hanging method with sleeve and stick.

The requirements for the 2010 show include a total of four (4) Fiber Wall Art pieces:
* One (1) 10" x 10" fiber art on 12" x 12" x 1-1/2" painted canvas (your choice of color) with the theme - "American Landscape".
* Three (3) Fiber Wall Art pieces: Maximum size 4' wide x 5' long and the Minimum size is 8" x 10". (Size is limited due to space restrictions; however, you are encouraged to submit different sizes to show your diverse creativity)
* Either mail or hand-deliver one (1) finished piece of artwork for the jury process.
* Each piece of artwork will be your original design.
* Each piece of artwork will be created exclusively for "The Art in Fiber" exhibit (Work cannot have been exhibited in any other show or competition)
* $20 application fee (non-refundable) Payable to: Copper Shade Tree
* Must be a Texas resident
* Consignment fee of any sold work. (65/35% ...the gallery retains 35% of sell price.

Copper Shade Tree reserves the right to reject any piece of art at the time of delivery.

Marketing and food for the Opening Reception will be provided by Copper Shade Tree.

Important Dates and Timeline:

September 1, 2009 Deadline for submitting your Artist resume that includes your personal information, accomplishments, awards, etc. and one (1) finished artwork for the jury process.

September 9, 2009 Copper Shade Tree will notify the individual artists of the jury results. These artists will then have their individual pieces selected in January for the show. Once selected, further detailed information will be distributed.

December 1, 2009 Deadline to deliver the "American Landscape" artwork. A hardcover book is being planned for this series.

January 19 - 22, 2010 The artists who have been selected for the show will bring their finished pieces to the Copper Shade Tree for selection. An appointment will be set with each artist during these dates.

A Place to Bark

"Home" is the theme for the 2009 Breaking Traditions Art Quilt Exhibit, supporting Bernie Berlin's "A Place to Bark". This is an annual exhibit curated by Lynn Krawczyk. Below are Lynn's words describing the exhibit with links to further details and entry information. Read on:

Breaking Traditions has become a community effort, helping to support the fundraising projects of fellow fiber/mixed media artists.

The 2009 exhibit will benefit Bernie Berlin's dog rescure, A Place to Bark. In honor of Bernie's efforts to find orphaned and abused dogs permanent loving homes, the theme for the 2009 exhibit is "Home."

The exhibit features 12"x12" art quilts. Participants for the 2009 show will express those things, memories or emotions that define home to them. This is an open call exhibit, everyone is encourage to participate. Prizes are donated for those in the exhibit and an Exhibit Favorite is chosen.

Guidelines and entry form can be found here.

Prize information can be found here.

Would you like to help? Find out ways you can here.

=================

This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone -- as it is an Open Call exhibit, with prizes handed out as well! What have you got to lose? Along with 92 other artists, I participated in last year's exhibit "With One Voice" which raised over $1,000 for the American Cancer Society, last year's designated charity.

I will join this annual fun again this year as I plan to make a new quilt for the new show. Won't you join me?