Archive for July, 2014

installing new exhibit…

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2014

“Forming Our Lives: Three Women, Three Phenomenal Stories” July 26-Sept 14, 2014 San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, CA

I drove down to San Jose Sunday afternoon to be in position for a Monday exhibit install at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles. Sadly traffic patterns control my schedule in this part of the world so I knew it wise to position myself outside of my commute zone.

I stayed at a wonderful Air BnB place which was a treat. This cute little house with the beautiful garden is owned by a fun and friendly gal who frequently rents rooms to finance her home improvements. And it was a scant 10 mins from my morning destination.

We arrived just as SAQA regional members deconstructed their beautiful ‘Northern California Expressions’ exhibit (the one for which I made the two Vineyard pieces that sold right off my design wall in spring, so I couldn’t enter the exhibit). We began to unpack and lay out our work on sheets placed on the floor and as soon as they patched and dabbed paint on the walls, we got to work!

Bonnie J. Smith‘s husband was our main ladder man as he has much experience hanging her work. After a couple OSHA-inspired tool juggling tricks we got down to team-work and in no time had installed the first wall which is a mix of all three women’s work and the artist statement for the exhibit. Forming Our Lives: Three Women, Three Phenomenal Stories was starting to transform the space and in a beautiful way.

This wall shows work from each of us and the artist statement about the exhibit

 

four pieces from Tall Girl Series: A Body of Work

Next we hung work from my Tall Girl Series: A Body of Work

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

then pieces from Bonnie’s Swimming Upstream series…about her rehabilitation from a debilitating work comp injury.

 

from Bonnie J. Smith’s ‘Swimming Upstream’ series

and finally five pieces from Cristina Velasquez‘ Dresses series… a fabulous and inventive parody on all the ‘shoulds’ society & culture put on women.

Christina installing her ‘Dresses’ series

We finished early enough that I had time to hit the highway home rather than staying another night. Of course I was in time for the “pre-commute” traffic!

the joys of living in the ‘burbs

 

“Forming Our Lives” at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles July 26-Sep 14, 2014 . (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays) Do see it…and while you are there check out the ITAB exhibit.

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old hands, new tricks…

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

I am working on a new body of work that will incorporate vintage clothing. In a moment of complete insanity I decided to deconstruct my father’s wool WWII Army uniform (on a hot summer day). The construction is incredible. Even the inner linings are works of art. At first it felt a bit sacrilegious or unpatriotic to take it apart, but really what else is there to do with it? Donate to charity and let some kid wear it to school? No, it needs this repurposing!

After spending about an hour on it this afternoon my hands, wrists and fingers were killing me. Apparently all my years of handwork (sewing, knitting, weaving, spinning, more sewing, dyeing, painting and typing) have caught up with me. It might serve me to contract this job out to a kid who wants to make some summer cash. I need not do everything!

Meanwhile I am off to the South Bay soon to install a three-person exhibit of which I am proud to be included. “Forming Our Lives” will be at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles July 26-Sept 14, 2014.

Curator Bonnie J. Smith writes: Art gives us the opportunity to reach out and engage the viewer. In the exhibit “Forming Our Lives,” three women recount personal stories that have affected and continue to shape their lives. Viewers can relate to or learn from their experiences and self-discovery, the solutions they have found through their journeys, or perhaps the resolution they are each still searching for in their lives.
Card-2-bonnie-web
Bonnie J. Smith found herself literally swimming upstream in her life after a work-related injury forced her to use a wheel chair. Although professionals had their doubts about her recovery, she persevered and was able to heal herself. Carol Larson was surgically shortened six inches as a teenager to make her a better fit for society. While the path that followed the decision has been emotionally and physically excruciating, she is a survivor. Cristina Velazquez’s work questions the world that says, “Women must be and do certain things.” She hits us hard as she repeatedly asks, “Why must I be that woman”? The artwork they have created continually asks the question, “Why do certain situations happen in our lives and how do we overcome them?” This exhibit gives insight into how three women have answered those hard questions.

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