SAQA Alaska: 2009

Nelda Warkentin featured in Studios Magazine

Nelda Warkentin's studios in Alaska and Maine are featured in the current (Winter) issue of Studios magazine, available at Barnes & Noble. Nelda's downtown Anchorage studio is in the living room of her condo. Her East Coast studio is in the attic of a 170 year old farm house in the mountains of western Maine. Copies of the magazine can also be found at http://www.interweavestore.com/.

From There to Here

"From There to Here", an exhibition featuring nine innovative Alaskan printmakers, opens with a reception from 5:30-7:30pm, November 20 at the Trailer Art Center/MTS Gallery in Anchorage.

The work of Denise Gallup is included. She has a series of five small stage framed quilted pieces (her work in the current Earth, Fire & Fibre is actually the first in the series) using silk chiffon and tissue pattern collage, with screen printing, digital printing, drawing, hand and machine stitching.

The show runs through December 15 with the gallery open Wednesday and Saturdays at noon.

The Textile Blog Takes Note of Nelda Warkentin's Work

For a discussion of Nelda Warkentin's work, visit the November 5 entry on The Textile Blog: http://thetextileblog.blogspot.com/ .

Changing Tides

Fabienne Peter-Contesse is having her first solo show at Changing Tides in Juneau, December 1-13, 2009. You can meet the artist during Gallery Walk on Friday, December 4 from 4:00-9:00pm. Her work "Organic I" is pictured.

Glaciers as Inspiration

"Glacial Rivers" by Ree Nancarrow received second place in "24th Parallel", a juried contemporary art show held by the Fairbanks Arts Association in October, 2009.

Continuing with the glacier theme, "Glacial Run-Off" was selected to be part of "Ascension: Exploring the Art of Denali", an exhibition of works from the Artist-in-Residence Program of Denali National Park and Preserve and the UA Museum of the North. The exhibition will be open until Jan. 31, 2010.

1000 Artisan Textiles

Linda Beach will have several works included in the upcoming book "1000 Artisan Textiles" which will feature contemporary fiber art, quilts and wearables. The title from Quarry Books will be available through Amazon in May, 2010.

High Fiber

Kathie Cook has been invited by the San Jose Quilt Museum to display her work in the upcoming show "High Fiber Under Five" which will be on display October 30 - November 8. The quilts pictured are from her Portals Series - Portal 4, Piazza, Doorways of Italy and Portal 5, Urban which was inspired by the Getty Museum. All of Kathie's pieces are hand pieced and hand quilted. For more information go to www.sjquiltmuseum.org .

Ascension - Exploring the Art of Denali

"Ascension - Exploring the Art of Denali" is currently on display at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, Fairbanks. Works from the Artist-in-Residence Program of Denali National Park & Preserve as well as objects from the UAMN's fine arts, ethnology, and history collections to tell the story of Denali and explore the connection between the art and science of Denali. Past SAQA members who have served as an Artist-in-Residence include Ree Nancarrow, Linda Beach and Karin Franzen. For more information contact http://www.alaskageographic.org/ .

500 Art Quilts

Images of two quilts by Nelda Warkentin will be included in the upcoming publication, "500 Art Quilts", due to be released by Lark Books in Spring 2010.

"In Praise of Green....and Other Colors"

At the North Wall Gallery in the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar in downtown Talkeetna, the exhibition "In Praise of Green.....and Other Colors" features the work of Julia March Crocetto. According to the Denali Arts Council "watercolors merge with fibers in this show of colorful exploration. Julia has been using various surface design techniques to combine painting and fibers; resulting in abstracts, landscapes and even mobiles. Known for her wearable scarves, this show will be a departure, taking her silk paintings to a new level. Texture is a major part of the focus, with works that hang on the walls and in the air."

The exhibition will be on display from October 10 thru November 10. For further information contact http://www.denaliartscouncil.org/.

Photo: "Cranberry and Poplar", French dye on silk Habutai

Fiber Art at Artique in October

"This Way and That" by Diane Melms will be among a show of paintings, quilts and pottery by Linda Lyons, Gretchen Hancock, Dan Lasser and Diane Melms at Artique (http://www.artiqueltd.com/) in Anchorage October 2 -30, with a First Friday reception on October 2 from 5-7pm.

Another New Member in Earth, Fire & Fibre

Diane Melms, who recently joined SAQA, received a Jurors Award for her body of work currently on display in the Earth, Fire and Fibre exhibition at the Anchorage Museum. Her two pieces, "Concentric Squares" (34" x 34") and "Chroma Stacks" (26" x 30") are pictured. "Chroma Stacks" was purchased by the museum for their permanent collection.

More on Earth, Fire and Fibre.....

Z. Denise Gallup of Girdwood, our most recent SAQA Alaska member, also has work in the upcoming Earth, Fire and Fibre exhibit opening September 4 at the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. Denise says of her work "The History" (detail shown, quilted piece-stage framed, approx. 13" x 18") "This piece is a continuation of my exploration of biology and biography. While I continue to use tissue clothing patterns as a metaphor for "life's directions", this is a new direction in materials for me."

Earth, Fire and Fibre Artists Announced

Earth, Fire and Fibre Exhibtion XXVII recently announced the artists whose work was chosen for the upcoming show, including three SAQA members. The exhibit opens in Anchorage with a reception on Sept. 4, 2009 from 7:00-9:00pm and will remain on view through December 6, 2009. The exhibit will be located in the Chugach Gallery located on the 4th floor of the new Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center addition. The SAQA members whose work was juried in are:

Karin Franzen, "Pirouette 4" (49"h x 42"w) and "Pirouette 6 "(36"h x 48"w). "Pirouette 6" received an Honorable Mention.

Linda Beach, "Tenacity" (36"h x 59"w) and "Dappled Light" (63"h x 46"w). Tenacity received an Honorable Mention.

Nelda Warkentin, "Spring Swing" (70"h x 50"w)

Cloth Art = Art Cloth

Mary Hertert and SAQA member Kathy Harte will have an exhibition titled "Cloth Art = Art Cloth" opening on Thursday, August 6, 2009 with a reception from 5:30-8:00pm at the Terra Bella Bakery & Cafe (http://www.terrabellacoffee.com/) in Anchorage.

Quiltscapes at the Whistler

Ree Nancarrows' two panel quilt "Braided River with Flowers" (38"h x 26"w) was accepted into Quiltscapes at the Whistler. The juried quilt show will be held in Lowell, MA from August 5 - 30.

A Sense of Humor

Artwork for the upcoming exhibition "A Sense of Humor" has recently been selected and a piece by Cat Larrea titled "The Dark Side of Quilts" was among those chosen. The exhibition will premier at the International Quilt Festival in Houston in October.

Art Purchased by University

"Map of Shadows" by Linda Beach is one of several works of art just purchased by the University of Washington Medical Centers' Art Program. The various pieces will be displayed in public and patient care areas in the Seattle medical center and Roosevelt Clinic Buildings near the UWMC campus.

Exhibition in Ketchikan

Susan Christensen is exhibiting in a group show she is curating at the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Councils' new Main Street Gallery venue in September, 2009. The show, titled "7 Women, 7 Lives" features the work of seven Petersburg artists in a variety of media and opens September 4.

Denali Residency and Lecture Announced

Karin Franzen has been selected to serve as an Artist-in-Residence at Denali National Park during the period of August 18-27. On August 27 at 7:30 p.m. she will lecture at the Denali Education Center near the entrance to the park. Contact http://www.alaskageographic.org for more information.

Anchorage Women's Clinic Acquires Fiber Art

The Anchorage Women's Clinic at Providence Hospital has recently acquired two works by Nelda Warkentin, "Happy Hour" (35" x 28") and "Pond's Edge" (36" x 36").

Fiber Arts Fiesta

Nancy Dobson had four pieces accepted into the Fiber Arts Fiesta held in Albuquerque, New Mexico this past May. Her piece "Sun Catcher" received third place in the art quilt category.

Quilt National

"Meadow Pine" by Nelda Warkentin was juried into Quilt National '09 now on exhibit at The Dairy Barn Arts Center (www.dairybarn.org) in Athens, Ohio until Sept. 7,2009. Her work and others in the exhibition can be viewed on the Dairy Barn website.

Fiber Art Installation at Anchorage Church

On July 20, an installation of banners for "Ordinary Time" by Kathy Harte was hung at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Anchorage.

Sacred Threads

Kathy Harte's "Our Daily Bread" can currently be seen in the 2009 "Sacred Threads" exhibition now on display in Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

Seeing Green in San Diego

Linda Beach has three works in the invitational exhibition "Seeing Green, Visions of a Changing Planet" now on display at the Visions Art Quilt Gallery (http://www.quiltvisions.org/) in San Diego. The exhibition will run from June 20 through August 16, 2009.

SAQA Alaska