Solo

Excited about the reception tomorrow for my solo exhibit of art quilts.  I love that it is scheduled at the same time as the Focus on Fiber retreat, so that my fiber art buddies can attend.  We are having our usual wonderful time working, playing, getting to know one another better, and many side adventures. Will post some photos next week.  Cheers!

Wildhaired Winged Woman

I've just finished tweaking this piece.  I tend to overwork my art pieces, but I like to hang unfinished ones in my kitchen, where I can study them from time to time and change what needs changing. 
She started right around Christmas, and I wanted to give her some wild hair.  And wings.  She started abstract, and I fiddled with her until I almost lost that abstract quality.  I like her.  Here is step one:

And after quite a lot of facial surgery, highlights, and implants, she morphed into this:

My dad's doctor saw me working on her yesterday and asked if she was from The Wizard of Oz.  Is she scary?

Inspiration

I got a new camera for Christmas.  It will take quite some time to learn how to use it well.  It's complicated.  I love taking photos.  I love noticing the beauty around us everywhere.  I have a folder on my desktop full of inspirational images I've collected.  Someday, they want to be made into art quilts.  I would like to take a year off from my usual life, and work on them.  I need a sponsor miracle!!!

Looking back over these photos, I realize that each of them is a miracle.  Thank you God.

Piecing Together

On Sunday, Dec. 7, I had the pleasure, along with my daughter, of attending the opening reception of a SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) exhibit in the beautiful Biscayne National Park in Homestead, FL. 

I want to thank Maya Schonenberger and her team for organizing this exhibit.  There was a tremendous amount of work and planning involved - this exhibit will be traveling to ten national parks in the next two years. 

One of the artists, Marianne Williamson, hosted a wonderful brunch before the reception in her lovely home.

The exhibit is called, Piecing Together a Changing Planet, and is about various climate change issues.  This is Gabriele DiTota, of Melbourne, with one of her pieces.

Inverness, Fl was well represented with two artists juried into this show.  This is Suzanne Evenson and her work.

And yours truly, Karol Kusmaul with my quilt, entitled, AIR.  I was explaining how I use repurposed fabrics from thrift store clothing to get the variety of interesting patterns in my work.  My quilt was inspired by a conversation with a friend who had visited China for two weeks, and said he never saw the sun because of the polluted air there.  Not having fresh air to breathe, or water to drink, is incomprehensible, but it is happening now, in our world, maybe not too far from where YOU live.

We also owe a debt of gratitude to Ranger Jerry, who was instrumental in the planning and did research for the exhibit, and is one of our biggest cheerleaders.  Here he is in conversation with my friend Mara.

This is a link to more information about the show, the artists, and the travel schedule.  Check it to see if it will be appearing at a venue near you!  It is our hope that our work will inspire positive changes regarding these important issues.
 http://www.nationalparkartexhibit.com 

Please also visit our facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/piecingtogether

Back to camp!

I was invited back to camp this past week to work with the girls on quilted postcards.  They are becoming pretty adept at sewing, as they have been working on some adorable stuffed monsters.  Here are a few photos of campers at work on the cards.

They were hugely impressed with my Janome 6500, because it can stitch letters, numbers, and fancy stitches. 

More classes

Here are some pics from my recently completed quilt classes.  First, the traditional class.

We did the Kaleidoscope pattern.  Some used large, and some used small templates.  That's me on the left.
Also just wrapped up an Art quilt class.  A few photos.

We did a variety of compositions, and some color studies.  Here is a piece that I am starting for our last assignment - to make an interpretation of a playing card.  I'm thinking about balance, give and take, and wondering if I should add two sleeves to this one so it can hang either way up!

SAQA auction quilts

SAQA is an international group of quilt artists that I belong to.  Each year, we create small (12" square) quilts to be auctioned.  Some of the members are curating small collections of 6 pieces that are related somehow.  Here is a  collection based on depth.

Artists are: Rebecca Douglas, Georgia Heller, Karol Kusmaul, Gail Kotowski, Ellie Kreneck and Lynn B. Welsch 

To view many other auction pieces, please visit: www.saqa.com and click on Artwork, then 2014 Benefit Auction.