Off the Wall Striations

 Striated Gray © 2013 Linda A. Miller

Another mini quilt, begun for last month's SAQA demo, is completed.  "Striated Gray", 9" x 7", is whole cloth hand dye cotton that was machine quilted and shrunk for texture.  Techniques include- painting with water soluble pencil & fabric paint, applique, foil embellishment, various yarns hand/machine couched, and hand embroidery.


Linking to Off the Wall Fridays.

Exhibit Jurying Process

The June SAQA Mentorship call was presented by Leni Levenson Wiener.  It was an excellent overview covering all facets of the exhibit process.  A valuable checklist was provided for deciding what exhibits are appropriate, including theme, timeline, juror, and exhibit history.  Leni stressed the importance of carefully reading the entry checklist and having professional quality photographs for presentation.  Planning is important.  Did you know that 50% of entries to SAQA exhibits come in during the last 24 hours?!  

Leni differentiated between the curator and the juror.  The curator is the project manager who works with the juror, artists and venue from the exhibit's inception to close.  (SAQA has a curator in training program for all interested members.)  The juror(s) is/are responsible for choosing the art while keeping the theme and vision of the exhibit in mind. 

SAQA carefully considers what will be a good venue.  It is seeking to bring more artwork to museums, so the needs of those venues is taken into consideration.  Museums like compelling themes.  The educational aspect is also important, since museums often apply for grants for exhibits.  It is the venue that generally decides on the number of pieces based on gallery space.  Look for more size requirements in future SAQA exhibits as the uniformity makes for a striking presentation.  Did you know that SAQA allocates specific containers for the run of the exhibits?  That can also dictate the size requirement.

Thank you to the SAQA Education Committee for this valuable presentation.  Missed it and a SAQA member?  Ever wonder why your work did not make it into an exhibit?  I encourage you to listen to the replay on the website in the near future.

Synchronous Connections

I was invited by my friend, Elizabeth, to go to her friend's art reception at the Audubon Center at Debs Park.  What a hidden treasure the site is.  To think I have driven by on the freeway all these years and never known of its existence.  The hills have lovely walking trails and secluded resting areas overlooking North L.A.  It is alive with the songs of birds.

Presented by the Arroyo Arts Collective, Birds of a Feather exhibits the work of five artists on the topic of birds.  Artists include: Kay Brown (prints), Inka Bujalska & Rachel Siegel (card birdhouses), Jeanie Frias (mixed media), Suzanne Siegel (collage and mixed media).  It is a wonderful intimate exhibit with unexpected delights.  The exhibit runs through August 31, Tuesday - Saturday 9am to 5pm.  Center address: 4700 N. Griffin Avenue, Los Angeles 90031.

The synchronicity of the day was discovering that Suzanne Siegel and I had both been a part of the 1978 UCLA Graphic Work Shop print exhibition.  She was completing her graduate studies,while I was an undergraduate.  What a small world, to reconnect again after all these years through a mutual friend.  Also made some new connections with the possibility to do some printmaking again.  Just goes to show you never know what the day will bring....

Off the Wall Minis

Two mini quilts that were begun for last month's SAQA demo are completed.  "Striated Orange", 9" x 7", is whole cloth cotton that was machine quilted and shrunk for texture.  Techniques include- oil stick embellishment, applique, various yarns hand/machine couched, and hand embroidery.

Striated Orange © 2013 Linda A. Miller

"Opening 3", 9" x 6", is whole cloth cotton hand dye that was also shrunk for texture.  Techniques include- various yarns hand/machine couched, and hand embroidery.

Opening 3 © 2013 Linda A. Miller

I am linking to Off the Wall Fridays.  Visit to see what others are up to.  What are you working on?

A Day at the Huntington

The Huntington Botanical Gardens were in bloom with summer energy.  The temperature was pleasant, happily without the usual summer heat .  We enjoyed the serenity of the Japanese garden watching swimming koi.  Amazing patterns created by nature....

The Chinese garden area also encouraged a contemplative mood, with its expansive lake and pavilions.  It is my favorite section, though some days it is hard to choose.  

Lion Dog statue at Chinese Garden entrance

Lion Dog details

Art was on offer in the galleries, too.  Currently showing at the Boone Gallery is an exquisite botanical drawing and print exhibition, "When They Were Wild: Recapturing California's Wildflower Heritage".  This is a collaborative project of the Huntington; Rancho Santa Anita Botanic Garden; and the Theodore Payne Foundation, including over 300 objects from the  archives of these foundations.  Prints that particularly caught my attention were those by Henry Evans, a prolific botanical illustrator and printmaker.    His work is refined, delicate and stunning.  Most impressive, and worth further research.  The exhibit has been extended until July 8.  

Ah!  What an inspiring day enjoying the company of friends, beauty of the gardens and the joy of art.  I am always revitalized by visits here.


"Making the print is a very selective process, a conscious effort to show the beauty and elegance of plant forms as an expression of my admiration for the wonders of life on this planet."
- Henry Evans, an excerpt from the artist's notebooks.

Pacifying Passion

Pacifying Passion © 2013 Linda A. Miller

"There is no art without contemplation."
-Robert Henri


This work is a reflection on the calming the hot emotional qualities of  red.  Soothing with horizontal linear design elements.  The process began by free motion stitching on a color gradated wholecloth top with wool felt batting.  The quilted top was rinsed in hot water and hung to dry.  I decided to only use a hand wash method to keep the accumulation of wool fuzz to a minimum...there is always a migration of fuzz to the top that requires removal after machine washing/dryer processing.  This produced an appealing effect with a subtle degree of shrinkage and texture.





From that point, I appliqued on undulating layers in a mix of prints.  The sun is also appliqued.  Yarns were machine couched to follow the lines of movement.  Some oil stick embellishment was added to heighten detail, with finishing touches of hand embroidery.

Though "Pacifying Passion" did not get accepted into the exhibit it was intended for, the act of aiming for the show inspired my motivation to complete it.  Sometimes an external goal can help create work that might not have been done otherwise.  Have you found this to be true for you?  I am sure this quilt will find an exhibition/home in the future. 

Linking to Off the Wall Fridays.  See what others are creating over there....

Tentmakers of Cairo

 Jenny Bowker, Sheila Frampton-Cooper, Hosam EL Farouk - Paducah 2013
Photo by Kim Beamish

At the May 18th SAQA meeting, Sheila Frampton-Cooper generously shared  several quilts with us from her collection made by the Tentmakers of Cairo.  The Tentmakers' work is brightly colored needle turned appliqué traditionally used to line tents or screens, and it is usually men who make it.  The workmanship is exquisite.  Colors and patterns are awesome.



There has been a lot of buzz recently about the Tentmakers.  Australian artist Jenny Bowker learned about them while living in the middle east.  Since 2007, she has been working with the Tentmakers to help revitalize this dying art.   The American Quilter’s Society (AQS) has become the exclusive U.S. representative for sales of the works of all 18 shops known as The Tentmakers of Cairo.  A feature documentary is being made by Australian filmmaker, Kim Beamish.  Here is a teaser.  For more information please go to the Tentmaker Website.