SAQA Studio Art Quilt Association

SAQA's Mission and Goals


Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. (SAQA) is a non-profit international organization whose mission is to promote the art quilt through education, exhibitions, professional development and documentation. Founded in 1989 by an initial group of 50 artists, SAQA now boasts over 2,400 members: artists, teachers, collectors, gallery owners, museum curators and corporate sponsors.
SAQA defines an art quilt as 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.

SAQA's mission is to:

Publish a newsletter and e.Bulletin addressing the professional needs of the working quilt artist.
Publicize information about the art quilt through a web site, Professional Artist Member portfolios, and referrals to teachers and speakers for workshops and symposia.
Educate through a series of conferences and lectures.
Create a network of collectors, dealers and artists.
Produce quality exhibitions, with documentary catalogues and critical reviews.
Encourage critical writing, research and publication of articles about art quilts in the art press, popular press and scholarly journals.

OUTER BANKS LOCAL ARTIST NETWORK

Here on the Outer Banks I have a meeting set up for February 17th at 7 pm at Kill Devil Hills Library.
It is for the Outer Banks Local Artist Network. I am hoping to establish this as a support group for all local artists those who are working artists, those who want to be , or those who just want to associate with other artists for critique and socialization. The other goals are to develop exhibits, weekly or bi weekly shows during the summer , where part of the money raised will go to a local charity and the rest raised will be put in a fund to develop the Outer Banks Art Center.

The Outer Banks has such an amazing variety of artists in every medium , but there is no focal point where it is easy to work with each other in the real purpose to showcase what we do to all around us and to the tourists visit every summer. Eventually the Outer Banks Art Center will be located in a building and we will offer Art and Mixed Media classes on a walk in basis much as I did with Ocean Beads Gallery and the Free Jewelry making and beadwork classes. This will be a opportunity for artists to develop teaching credentials in their medium, exposing people to their mediums and allowing them to decide if it is something they want to pursue.

Hi Ya'll Our Sister called Bideford, England

Read the wonderful letter below that I received this morning ...from Bideford, England. It is such a wonderful opportunity and We really need to come together .

Hi Lorri,



It seems like we’re wanting the same things, but with 3,000 miles of ocean in between.



I’ve been excitedly reading through your OBLAN blog and can see that you’ll be an ideal creative contact in the Outer Banks area.



Here in Bideford, South West England, we’ve (my husband Dave and I) been keen to make more (artistically) of our ties, historic and contemporary, with Manteo and area. Bideford and Manteo are twinned, or will be so officially very soon. The lost colony is thought to have left England from the port of Bideford. We’ve been contacting some of the arts people in Manteo regarding some kind of arts twinning programme e.g. exhibiting Manteo area artists work in Bideford and vice versa and trying to set up artists residencies through the sister cities and have had positive responses from Laura Martier of Dare County Arts Council, Kathryn Stewart from Silver Bonsai Gallery and Sharon Enoch from the Full Moon Gallery.



I started a blog myself about this http://bidefordmanteo.blogspot.com/ . We’re also rallying the creative people here in much the same way as you are through your blog; we’ve just set up ‘Bideford Bay Creatives’ which is only a couple of months old. The BBC have a strong network of 11 committee members and are now starting a membership drive for our launch in October of the ‘Culture Show’ which will see local artists, performers, craftspeople etc showing their wares in non-gallery spaces in Bideford’s downtown. Our website should be up and running in October also but for now it’s all go go go, to make it happen.



We can call you some time for a chat as we have a deal on our home phone where we can call the States for free.

Meanwhile do take some time to take a look at our blog and maybe add a story with a link to your blog. We haven’t as yet had any posts from any Americans so yours could be the first!



Look forward to hearing from you,

Best wishes, Sadie

Sadie Green, Freelance Arts Projects Manager

Green House

Torridge St

Bideford


I am telling you all now we should be screaming from the roof tops...WE are a group of amazing artists come see us ..come learn from us ...come help us put ourselves on the map like Penland, John C. Campbell, Torpedo Factory and all the other great art communities that have been built out of artistic and economic need and desire.

I am not a fancy person but I am a hard working person as anyone who knows me from when I owned my own beadstore and created the first jewelry/bead making classrooms on the Outer Banks. Before that no one thought of it...I love the Outer Banks and all the wonderful talented people we have here. From the simple Folk Art sculptures made with driftwood and shells from out beautiful beaches to the incredible classic artists that paint life on their canvases...or put that love of life into their ceramics.

I hope by the time you have read the above you understand I get it ...I love ART I love teaching people to create, enjoy and love art. So now its up to you to help...it can happen alone...You have to come together and make the dreams come true.

The picture above is from the Manteo Farmers Market that ran from May 15 to August 15th. It was a great summer and we had so many wonderful vendors as well as people from all over come visit. If you are a artist and did not participate this summer you really should next year.

Lorri

North Carolina
SAQA Co-Rep
Studio Art Quilt Associates
VA/NC/SC region
SAQA http://saqavancsc.wordpress.com

http://fairygodmotherarts.blogspot.com
http://outerbanksartquilts.blogspot.com


Not all of us can be Cinderella , But some of us can be Fairy Godmothers

Why do You make Art Quilts????

Duke University has many Art quilts hanging all over the Clinic building and the hospital...After having spent the last 3 years there with my hubby, I never noticed changes in any of them...I would go and visit them when I was having a bad moment just looking at them made me feel better...so if that is a reason to create something for them please do ...Art quilts don't glare at you they invite you in the rich colors and textures...they let you let them into your soul when times are bad . There are 3 at Duke I remember the most...one was a large raw applique of suedes and silkes and various fabs...in sagey greens it reminded me of the mountains I wanted and needed to be instead of the sterile place I was forced to be in because my sweet hubby was fighting cancer.

Sorry but I just want everyone to know art quilts in medical facilities have more meaning than you know.

I would like everyone to visit this post and leave a comment as to why they make Art Quilts .. I am just suddenly very curious....in return I will send everyone who posts a Fabric Postcard or ATC your choice. I really want to hear you..

To get the PC or ATC email your snail mail address to Iseasunrises@aol.com

Thanks and have a day ull of blessings, miracles and dreams



Not all of us can be Cinderella , But some of us can be Fairy Godmothers

SAQA AUCTION

http://www.saqa.com/newsebulletins/Squares09_1.aspx

You will be amazed and mesmerized by the collection of 12 inch by 12 inch pieces of art awaiting you in this years SAQA Auction...

The wonderful thing about pieces this size is the immense work is there by some of the BEST Art Quilters in the world. and everyone can find a space for something so special to hang . This artwork is capable of many things from bringing a simple smile to your face to opening your heart to things in life you need to see.

So visit the site today and see what awaits you ....you will be glad you did.

Lorri

North Carolina
SAQA Co-Rep
Studio Art Quilt Associates
VA/NC/SC region
SAQA http://saqavancsc.wordpress.com
http://www.saqa.com/newsebulletins/Squares09_1.aspx

http://fairygodmotherarts.blogspot.com
http://outerbanksartquilts.blogspot.com


Not all of us can be Cinderella , But some of us can be Fairy Godmothers

Hatteras Island Quilters First Show July 30-31,2009

Hatteras Island Quilters will have a first quilt show on Thursday and Friday, July 30 and 31 at the Cape Hatteras Anglers Club on Light Plant Road in Buxton.
On Thursday, July 30, the show opens at noon and closes at 4 PM. On Friday , July 31 the show opens at 10 am and closes at 4 pm.
Admission is Free.

the above was copied from a notice in the Coastland Times.

Quilting is just not functional Bed Quilts anymore. There are those traditional quilts that will keep you warm and then there are pieces that are Art Quilts that hang on a wall as decoration. Quilts are painting with fabric, and creating something that warms your heart and soul.

A quilt is simply anything that is three layers, a layer of fabric, then batting , and finally another fabric. Then either hand stitched or machine stitched (quilted)
for durability.

So many people have different ways of quilting some use scraps in "green" quilts recycling whatever they have around...and then there are ones who use ready made fabrics, and last but not least Hand Dyed fabrics...that turn out exquisite beautiful colors.

So if you get a chance to go to this quilt show or visit the Outer Banks Antiques and Quilts shop which sells supplies as well as finished pieces both old and new, you won't be disappointed.

Be prepared to smile

Artists Wanted

The Outer Banks has many wonderful things...But I think our local art is above and beyond so many places I have been, This islet of people probably has more artists per square mile than many places and I know as much as asheville the outer banks ugly step sister. Don't get me wrong ...I love that area and the mountains but if you go to any tourism site for North Carolina that is all they support. Not the Outer Banks and People we need to pull together and create our version of the Torpedo Factory in Old Towne, Alexandria http://www.torpedofactory.org/. I was in High school when that place started in a graffitti covered, dirt filled concrete building...and it was amazing.

To be able to walk in there and see the artists working in their studios.
They weren't having fancy parties they were getting together, cleaning the building creating a place for all artists to get together and share the experience of ART with everyone. Now 35 years later the Art Center is known around the WORLD.

The amount of Artists in all the amazing mediums we have here on the Outer Banks , I know with work and collaboration we can create our art center that will save the Outer Banks, as our fishing and beaches are over regulated and people who have no understanding of how this wonderful place came into existence and how it has been saved and maintained so everyone could come visit and see what a real community is about. If you are interested in helping this come to life...then post a comment and leave your email address or email me direct at Iseasunrises@aol.com

We can do this ....The Heart of the Outer Banks is ART.