Agnes Martin Exhibition: Tate Modern London

I was fortunate to arrive in London just before the Agnes Martin Exhibiition closed at Tate Modern London last month. It was a brilliant experience to see so many pieces of her work together. Agnes’ work covered examples of her six decades of paintings and drawings. These works were varied, subtle and soothing. The work featured much of her systematic use of grids, symmetry and stripes but the subtlety of the work was entrancing. Agnes is considered one of the pre-eminent painters of abstract art of the twentieth century. Agnes was born in 1912 and lived in the United States she died in 2004. My favourite works were those made in the last few years of her life when she began to work less systematically, her brushwork was more freer and there was a little more colour added. These works reminded me in some ways of modern quiltmaking and I have noticed a number of USA quiltmakers have mentioned the influence Agnes has had on some pieces of their work. I could see that weavers also could be influenced.
The straight lines of work like “Gratitude” 2001, “I love the Whole World” 2000, “Untitled” 2002 are so inspirational. Similarly her triangle piece “untitled#1” 2003 and floating squares and bar in “Untitled”2004 were just amazing. These works were  152.4cm by 152.4cm so quite large works.

To see the photographs of her work I would refer you to the Tate publication”Agnes Martin” 2015, edited by Frances Morris and Tiffany Bell.  See photograph of cover below.

Hawaii inspired Postcards

For the latest round of Fabric Postcards I used Hawaiian serviettes torn and and glued to fabric(inspired by Dale Rollerson of Thread Studio) and used my own drawing to make a Gocco screen print and added some hand and machine stitching.

cheers Rebecca

Knitting and Stitching Show part 2

Further highlights from the Knitting and Stitching Show.  I loved listening to the Lecture by Jean Littlejohn and Jan Beaney and was lucky to see them later and they showed me through their beautiful samples and some new pieces. They have a lovely new book "Memory Cloths" which of course I bought!!

I was really keen to see the New Zealand Exhibition "Art Textiles from Aotearoa 2015.  I spoke with the curator Alysn Midgelow-Marsden which was a treat because I have followed her work for a long time.  Some pieces from the Exhibition which caught my eye are shown below.

Marine Parade by Katherine Bertram from Wellington

 Karaka Bay by Katherine Bertram of Wellington - I just loved her pieces

Stitched Birds piece also by Katherine Bertram

On the Cross by Alysn Midgelow-Marsden.  I liked the collage and stitching on this piece.

On the Fly also by Alysn.

cheers Rebecca

Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London October 2015

I have always wanted to attend the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, London.  So I was very excited to have the opportunity to travel from Australia at the right time (I organised that!!)to make the event.  This is Alexandra Palace I always wondered what it would look like!

I saw lots of vendors I have only read about and some fabulous exhibitions.

One Exhibition I really enjoyed was by Michala Gyetvai who is a fine art artist who paints and sculpts with threads, stitching and layering and uses a variety of materials and uses both hand and machine techniques.  I took a couple of pictures of her work but I also bought her book "Enchanted Landscapes" which shows beautiful photographs of her work.

I will do a second blog entry on some other Exhibitions I saw.   

cheers Rebecca

Fabric Postcards- leaves

Just a quick post to show photograph of the latest Fabric Postcards I completed for New Zealand friends.  Based on a leaf stencil I drew and painted with textile paint onto my hand dyed and printed background and hand embroidered.

cheers Rebecca

Visit to Jessie Chorley's Shop

I had the most wonderful experience whilst visiting London recently I went to Jessie Chorley's shop in Columbia Street East London. It was so inspirational like an Aladin's Cave. There was a workshop happening in the middle of the wee shop but I was lucky to be able to talk with Jessie. She was lovely and her artwork beautiful . Some photos of her shop she also sells online.

Just loved visiting.  cheers Rebecca

More Postcards - landscape

Photos of some landscape postcards sent in NZ swap earlier in year!!

Inspired by the Australian Outback.

Rebecca :)

Improvisational Quilt - an experiment

I made another improvisational quilt top 80 in by 80 inches inspired by the rings in a piece of wood.  It was so hard to make but I learnt from the exercise about piecing large pieces of fabric and colour choices in particular.

Rebecca :)

Improvisational Circles

I have sewed another Improvisational Circles Quilt inspired by class held with Nancy Crow in NZ.

Now for the quilting!!
Rebecca:)

Quilts - Nature inspiration

Here are some close up of a couple of art quilts I made for a NZ challenge.  I designed and carved the pink

flower stamp and used textile ink for the printing.

Rebecca:)

POSTCARD SWAP

The latest Postcards I made for the swap with the Postcard Swap Group in New Zealand - Barbara, Marg, Janet, Pam and Merilyn.  Just finished my next round ones!! Here is a selection:

Rebecca :)

New Zealand Parliament Exhibition Gallery

I have been so behind this year with lots of travel and other events.  I am finally doing a blog post and will do some catchup.  The first post is about the 8 by 8 Group's Exhibition at the New Zealand Parliament Exhibition Gallery.  8 by 8 is made up with some lovely quilters from the Hutt Valley; Pat Ashcroft, Dianna Carroll, Marg Davidson, Brenda McPartlin, Gael O'Donnell, Margaret Rodgerson and myself ( who now resides back in Australia).  Here is a photo of my eight quilts hanging in the Gallery.

And a close up.

the rest!

Rebecca :)

New Studio Assistant

I have a new Studio Assistant a naughty one called Bobby Rose.  He is looking at me defiantly!!
Busy working on a big quilt but I cannot share photos at this stage.

Have a great day!!  Rebecca

Quilt Symposium Manawatu 2015 part

I have some more photographs of the Quilt Symposium of quilts I particularly liked.

"Exuberance" by Jean McLean

Raffle Quilt - Group Quilt quilted by Paula Shailer

Detail from "Circle the Wagon" by Gael O'Donnell

 "Gradation" by Kathleen Burford

For more photographs of quilts and an interview with the winner go and look at Charlotte's blog The Slightly Mad Quilt Lady

I am linking to Lily's Quilts  Small blog Meet.

cheers Rebecca

Quilt Symposium Manawatu 2015

I had just the best time at the Quilt Symposium Manawatu at Palmerston North in New Zealand.  It was five days of total immersion in the world of quilts.

My first workshop was with Sheena Norquay of Scotland and we created a long skinny wall hanging with several sizes of appliquéd and quilted circles and rings.  It was great.  Sheena had a lovely piece in the Tutors Exhibition inspired by her beautiful part of Scotland.

close up of the bird so love the way Sheena adds texture and pattern to her work.

The Quilt Exhibitions were great and my favourite was a work by Gael O'Donnell called "Off the Floor #1 which was Gael's own design and made using fabric left over from other projects.  Here is a close up of part of the quilt.  Really interesting the way Gael has used the various grey fabrics.

Will do another post of Symposium with my second workshop with Kim Thittichai (UK).
cheers Rebecca

Aqua Quilt top

I finished the aqua (essex linen/cotton) and handprinted fabrics quilt top.  Please note I finished the top and I now have around 6 quilts to quilt by confessing I am trying to put pressure on my self to finish the quilting!!!!  There is a nice summer breeze here in Brisbane this morning so the quilt top fluttered on the fence.

A close up of some of my hand printed fabric.

Next time I will tell you about the fabulous Quilt Symposium in New Zealand.

Rebecca

Fabric Printing 3

Trying to keep up my little piece of fabric printing.  Today I made a carved stamp and had fun moving it in different directions - like the red fabric paint on white.

cheers Rebecca

Hand Printed Art Fabric

I was really pleased that three Star Recruiters for SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Assoc) chose our hand printed art fabric. You can buy Ali and my fabric at Aliquilts web site. The Star Recruiters are rewarded for recruiting two or more members.  You can join SAQA online.  These are some of our  colour packs.  Purples and greens are very popular with our customers.

take care Rebecca

Fabric Print 2

I had fun doing a second fabric print today using water based fabric paint on my hand dyed fabric.

cheers Rebecca

Hawaii

I just (!) downloaded photos from my trip with my daughter to Hawaii in November.  We just love Hawaii and always have a fabulous time.  Below are a few photos.

View from our room in Waikiki.  Love the blue ocean!!

Sunset in Honolulu.

Sunset from our room - love the subtle colours.  I find these so inspiring when dyeing fabric and threads.

cheers Rebecca

Fabric Printing 1

Lynn Krawczyk has a great idea for 2015 to do 52 screen printed squares as a year long weekly art practice.  I thought I would tag along and do a series of printed fabric squares also.  I really enjoy printing and think it will be lots of fun.  My first printed square is below.  I just went for a simple design.

I used a Gocco screen I made from one of my drawings.
cheers Rebecca

New Year

Happy New Year!  I am hoping to do more blogging in 2015.  Going to the Quilt Symposium in New Zealand next week should be great.   It will be a great opportunity to catch up with my New Zealand friends and see some fabulous quilts in the Exhibitions.  I am doing two classes too.  More on my return.

I finished these postcards before Christmas.  I hand painted the card and added hand stitching.  We have swans down on the Lake near where I live.

All the best in 2015.
Rebecca