Virginia A. Spiegel

It’s not very often that you can say a catalog in the art quilt world is actually unusual, but this one is. The Sightlines’ exhibit catalog is 64 pages, hardcover, with 6-page gatefold that opens in the center showcasing the ENTIRE exhibit as it will be shown on exhibit.  The catalog was designed by Deidre Adams with all photography by Gregory Case.  The catalog is available from the Studio Art Quilt Associates’ store here.

The exhibit will be premiering at International Quilt Festival in Houston this week.  You can preview and purchase the artwork here.

The publication of this catalog was supported by a generous donation from Herb Anhaltzer, “in memory of Mary Anhaltzer, who wanted to put art quilts on the map.”   In 1999, Mary opened “Thirteen Moons Gallery, the first and only gallery in Sante Fe (and quite possibly the country) to focus on the hot “new” medium of the art quilt.”

Each artist has a four-page spread with an image of their installation, detail image, artist statement, and artist bio.   The artists include:

Britta Ankenbauer
Regina Benson
Shelley Brenner Baird
Yael David-Cohen
Linda Colsh
Sue Dennis
Anne Helmericks-Louder
Fulvia Luciano
Wendy Lugg
Kathy Nida
Pat Owoc
Mirjam Pet-Jacobs
Jayne Willoughby Scott
Leni Levenson Wiener

There is also a curator’s introduction by me, the person who was lucky enough to be chosen to invite the artists.  I emphasize in my statement that I didn’t want artists who conceived of the sightline as a gimmick, but rather those who would be able to subsume it under a larger philosophical statement.  The artists succeeded beyond my wildest hopes.

The exhibit itself is unique in that each of fourteen artists created a complete installation of five to eight artworks to fill a ten-foot space with only one inch between artworks.  Each installation is linked to the next by two eight inch squares before and after the main artworks.  All the artwork have a line, literal or implied running through them  It sounds confusing, but here is Pat Owoc’s installation:

Tuesday is just around the corner, but you can still have my book shipped free to you even if you live outside the U.S.  What a deal!  All the details, including a “click-through preview” of Wild at the Edges: Inspiration from a Creative Life, is here.

The book might seem a bit pricey in hardcover, but I’m willing to make only $4 profit on each book and have limited distribution so that Blurb can take care of all the billing and shipping.  Just one of those tough choices that frees up more time for the studio.

Need a testimonial?  Here is what artist Carol Larson had to say about Wild at the Edges:

The spectacular artwork, combined with the enlightening text, the wondrous haiku and the beautiful photography all combine to make this book a treasure for anyone who loves nature, art or life! Additionally it is such a powerful lesson for women about life on the edge, facing the fear and truly living in the moment. What an inspiration, Virginia!

Thanks, Carol!  Read more reviews here.

If you have any requests for a book you would like to see me create, let me know privately or by leaving a comment.  I have created eight Blurb books so far, but mainly from Boundary Waters trips.  They are books I return to again and again.  I hope you will say the same about Wild at the Edges.

Happy Weekend!

The Beneath the Surface exhibit premiers tonight at the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach, CA.  This juried invitational was co-curated by Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison.

You may order the catalog here OR Jamie and Leslie will be signing and selling the book throughout IQF.  All the details are here.

Each artist is given a page for a Q and A as well as a page featuring their artwork.  It’s the kind of catalog that I appreciate as an artist as it allows me to share something about myself and my artwork.

My artwork for this exhibit was quite a departure from my usual way of working. As I stated in an earlier blog post, “I am admittedly in love with it because it is a perfect manifestation of my intent, my message, and my theme.”   Read more about that as well as my artist statement for the artwork here.

Knowing (Boundary Waters 52)

What a great idea!  Jamie Fingal and Leslie Tucker Jenison, co-curators of the Beneath the Surface exhibit, have started a blog featuring a Q&A with each artist.  My interview is up today here.  I reveal my book addiction, why I’m seldom in the studio in the summer and other juicy details.

Beneath the Surface will premiere at International Quilt Festival – Long Beach, CA fromJuly 22-25, 2010. The exhibit is sponsored by Moore’s Sewing Centers and Brother International.

More information about Knowing (Boundary Waters 52) including an artist’s statement and working process are here.

Lura Schwarz Smith and Kerby C. Smith are celebrating the release of their new book, Secrets of Digital Quilting: From Camera to Quilt. What an intriguing title! My interview with Lura and Kerby is now on Valley Fiber Life online magazine.

The book is available from Lura (autographed copies) and C&T Publishing.

One of Lura and Kerby’s digital quilts was recently juried into Quilt Visions 2010, one of 40 artworks selected from 600 entered.

The winner of 500 Art Quilts from my review/drawing is Heather.  I very much enjoyed the comments with links to inspiring artists/artwork.

My review in brief: Beautifully designed and beautifully printed, 500 Art Quilts will definitely entice those unfamiliar with art quilts to learn more, inspire those new to art quilting, and be a must-have addition to the library shelves of any fiber art enthusiast. The book is available at your local bookseller, Amazon, and B&N. Topping out at 432 pages, 500 Art Quilts is an uber-bargain with retail around $25.

And to wrap up our little potpourri of publications, this article, Quilting and Alpacas:  A Wonderful Combination, came about because an e-mail from quilter Nancy Danielson had a signature line that included the name of her business, M&M Alpacas. It’s not every quilter who also has alpacas in her backyard.