2. Studio Do you have a place where you can work on fibre art? Art Do you create original work from your own design? Quilt Do you create layered art with textiles and stitch? Associates Would you like to connect with other like-minded artists?
7. What is an art quilt? Quilt National's definition:The work must possess the basic structural characteristics of a quilt. It must be predominantly fabric or fabric-like material and must be composed of at least two full and distinct layers - a face layer and a backing layer. The face layer may be described by any or a combination of the following terms: pieced, appliquéd, whole cloth, stitched/fused to a foundation. The face and backing layers must be held together by hand- or machine-made functional quilting stitches or other elements that pierce all layers and are distributed throughout the surface of the work. At least some of these stitches or elements should be visible on the back of the work.
8. What is an art quilt? SAQA’s definition: a contemporary artwork exploring and expressing aesthetic concerns common to the whole range of visual arts: painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, assemblage and sculpture, which retains, through materials or technique, a clear relationship to the folk art quilt from which it descends.
11. You might like to know about . . . New techniques How to exhibit your work How to photograph your work Shows that you can enter Having your work critiqued The best way to price and market your work Ways to network with other fibre artists from all around the world who do the kind of work you do
14. How do artists from all over the world connect with one another?
15. Connecting with other artists Daily, via Yahoo Group Locally, at regional SAQA meetings Nationally, at annual SAQA Conferences A whole network awaits you
24. HistoryofSAQA Believing in the need to establish a place for art quilts in the world of contemporary fine art, in 1989 Yvonne Porcella sent out 50 letters to artists and friends to rally them to her cause. And so Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) was born.
My presentation today is based on some assumptions. Here are some questions for you to consider:
I would like to tell you a bit about SAQA – Studio Art Quilt Associates - so you can decide if it’s something you might be interested in joining.
A few definitions first, so we’re all talking the same language
It’s generally made of fabric, with a top that is whole, pieced or appliqued, a filling, and a backing, held together by stitching.
This is tougher to define…when it is an original design? When it satisfies the definition of “What is Art?” but also happens to be a quilt?
Let’s phrase the question this way and see what some leading exhibitors of art quilts have to say. (Read first para – second two are just details). Quilt National is a biennial show that began in 1979 to showcase the best of contemporary quilts.
Here’s how SAQA defines it.
What are you interested in knowing more about?
Carol Taylor – “Dispersion”
Let me explain some of these different ways in which SAQA members connect (explain each)
DAILY: Members may sign up for the SAQA Yahoo Chat Group, a way to stay in daily contact with other members – you may view or engage in lively debates about art, and exchange information on exhibition opportunities. It’s great fun and a way to get to know other members. You can receive posts individually or as a daily digest.
Locally, SAQA members meet at Parlour Meetings within their region – many regions have blogs so members can stay in touch with the local scene
Conferences: Offered alternately with Surface Design Association or solely SAQA – usedto be in Athens at the Dairy Barn to coincide with the opening of Quilt National – in 2011 it will be in Denver. I’ve been to four and can tell you these are the most informative, fun-filled events you could ever attend, where you rub shoulders with quilt celebrities and everyone is warm and friendly and very sharing.
A bit about SAQA’s history.
Yvonne Porcella was the founder.
SAQA’s Mission
Three levels of membership – I have brochures here if you would like to take one home with you with all membership information
One of the greatest resources is their website. Let’s take a tour.
The home page – SAQA logo – with a rotating slide show of professional members’ works. Note the 8 tabs at the top. Let’s take a look at what is to be found at each one.
Let’s take a tour of the Gallery tab.
On the Gallery’s drop-down menu, we see 6headings – let’s click on the first one, Professional Artist Members
SAQA has over 300 Professional Artist Members, called PAMs. Clicking on one of the thumbnails on this screen ...
... takes you to a page with one or two examples of that artist’s works and contact information, in this case, LeniLevenson Wiener [pronounce: Why-ner]
Each month, guest “curators” from the membership assemble a virtual exhibition – this month’s theme is the colour blue, and this, too is a rotating slide show of works the curator has chosen for the theme.
The next tab on the website is News & Events.
The drop-down menu lists conferences, thee.bulletin, and other information of interest to fibre artists. Let’s click on the e.Bulletin.
This is a page we can scroll down and read a LOT of current information! It’s an easy way to keep up to date with SAQA news. There is always something happening! You don’t have to be a member to check this page out on a regular basis. This older page was selected to highlight SAQA’s annual one-foot square fundraising auction.
The next tab.
...the SAQA Store. Some of the quilts being exhibited by members in SAQA shows are available for purchase here. A great way for members to sell their work! The drop down menu at the top shows we can click on an order form and a donation form. Here we are in the SAQA Store where you can purchase some of the publications SAQA offers for sale.
to the Collectors Tab.
There are two artists featured monthly, which is a great way for members to become familiar with PAM members, and for collectors to do so as well.
About SAQA
Any question about any aspect of SAQA is answered here. And on the next tab ...
... Membership ...
The Membership tab is your way to find other members, learn about calls for entry, etc. Note the heading for SAQA University here – we’ll be coming back to visit this in a minute.
Support SAQA
Members give back to the organization in a number of ways: volunteering, assisting with committees, and making financial contributions to help with SAQA’s remarkable growth.
And finally, the Information tab ...
... With a WEALTH of information on a wide variety of topics – it’s very thorough
But that is just the public side of the website. Let’s go back to the Membership Tab and take a quick peek at SAQA University ... For members only – a very powerful wiki. I’m going to take you on a sneak peek tour.
What is SAQA-U?
SAQA U is a wiki, with resources gathered by and for SAQA members. Here you can see the five main sections: Art, Business, Education, Resources & Technology.
This is an amazing resource – everything you wanted to know about fibre art in one easy-to-access location. The Art Section includes materials on the recent history of textile and quilted art, the history of women in art, theories of art and beauty, and historically important quilt artists, art groups and art movements.
This section of SAQA University is dedicated to information in the areas of general business and marketing.
The Education section of SAQA University is dedicated to information areas of technique, learning opportunities, personal growth, safety issues, and other resources that will provide vehicles for you to enhance your artistic ability or collaborate with others on multiple levels.
This section includes contact information and a variety of resources for assisting you with career development as a fibre artist.
This section includes equipment, data management, communication online, software, safety, website development, how-to guides, and more. There is so much information here – and you would never read through every page, but it’s nice to know that answers to all your fibre art questions can be found here. As I said, it’s a powerful resource.
Here is a snapshot of still more pages available on SAQA-U.
A perk of membership: the Journal, mailed out quarterly.Non-members can see the current issue’s table of contents, but only members can access thepdf of the issue. The SAQA Journal contains the latest on what’s happening in the world of fibre art: show reviews, articles on issues of interest to art quilters, as well as SAQA news for all members. I have copies here if you’d like to look through one.
Each issue includes a section with messages from our president, currently Lisa Chipetine, our E.D. Martha Sielman, our newsletter editor, Carolyn Vehslage and sometimes from board or committee members.
And professional advice for fibre artists.
And my personal favourite, the glossy full-colour centrefold. I always turn here first, though I’ll tell those who ask that I read it for the articles.
Anne Savage -
Laurentian Foothills
Conclusion: This dynamic organization is right for you if you work with textiles in a creative way and are excited to learn more. I will close with a short slide show of some work from seven of our members.
Cheryl DineenFerrin: Motorcyclist Portrait Project: Kari & Jim
And the final one. I hope one day to be able to add one of your pieces to this slide show.
On the SAQA website, of course!
[This page can be changed to reflect the local scene wherever the presentation is shown]
Questions? Thank you for this opportunity to tell you about SAQA. I’ll be at the front if you want to come up and chat with me later this evening.