Where Has Sew Chick Been?

Long story! The short of it being...I had a baby! I had a rough pregnancy including hospital bedrest for two months (yikes and more yikes!) He was a preemie, but you'd never know it now since he is so big and super-healthy. His name is Alex and he has been keeping me very busy. Look at that smile...

He has also had me thinking about getting back to doing what I do well: My art. Sewing. Being creative again in a way so that I hopefully don't have to return to an office environment. I've had an Etsy account since '06, but now I am going to actually open up shop. Put some things in there soon that I hope folks will like. Oo la la, you know?! Pretty darn exciting to see what my brain will crank out.

I also want to enter the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. What's that? Every three years, the Smithsonian Nat'l Portrait Gallery has a portrait competition open to artists of all mediums. My art quilt specialty is portraiture, so I figured that I would enter. The deadline is Halloween. I figure I'd see what happens. As my youngest sister would say "YayZ!"

In the immortal words of Futurama's Bender Bending Rodriguez: "I'm back baby!"

On the Journey of Hope Exhibit...

In a recent email to the artists involved, I was suprised--yet somehow not surprised--to read about the difficulties that Dr. Mazloomi has been having with the Journey of Hope exihibit featuring quilts made in honor of Obama's inauguration: 
"I must say, booking the exhibition has been extremely difficult. Most museums were afraid to take it, or had staff or patrons that didn't like the president. I found it amazing how deep the hatred is of President Obama. Some institutions were threatened with violence and withholding of operational funds if they took the show!"

I don't feel like going into a political discussion or what usually devolves into a "not-discussion" here. It just makes me sad that institutions dedicated to art or history and showing all facets of culture were threatened with violence or a cutting of funds. *sigh*

Textural Rhythms in San Francisco

Textural Rhythms opens tonight at the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco. That is pretty exciting!

Journey of Hope Available for Pre-Order

Yay!!

The Journey of Hope: Quilts Inspired by President Barack Obama exhibit book is available for pre-order through Amazon! Or you can do so at Barnes & Noble as well!

I feel like running around waving my arms around Muppets-style I am so excited! My piece "Wildest Dreams" is in this.

Gearing Up for a New Year

 

I totally forgot to post this!! An announcement of the Obama quilt show was shown on a NYC jumbotron-style screen in Times Square in December. So exciting! A selection of the quilts went on exhibit in Yokohama, Japan.

Exhibit News

The Quilts for Obama exhibit here in DC at the Historical Society has been extended until July 26.

Textural Rhythms recently opened at the Lincoln Sq. branch of the American Folk Art Museum in NYC. My sister went to the opening reception in my place (yay!) and took this pic next to my piece.

Twitter 101 for Art Quilters!

Due to my involvement in a certain virtual world, I've gotten got very used to using Web 2.0 methods such as Twitter and Plurk over the past two years. I don't have a Plurk account as Elle: Sew Chick because my God, Plurk is such a major time suck due to its ability to have conversation threads added to its Twitter-like short posts that I'd have to really think about that.. However, you can definitely follow my musings on the art quilt and writing world and craziness in general via my Twitter feed. If you click on the pics, you can see my notes on the basics of how to use Twitter!For those of you who are still wondering "What the heck is Elle talking about?!" Twitter is a microblogging service that allows you to post 140 word or less mini-postings (called "tweets") about whatever's going on in your world right now. Yes, while you can rhapsodize about your latest coffee or pho soup break, it is also a great way to get up to the moment info from your colleagues, friends and organizations such as news media, asssociations, museums and other arts organizations...I like to talk about the exhibits I'm in, challenges and inspirations, my writing life and yes, pho soup. It also has a RSS function, so you can subscribe to your fave twitterers. I've also found twitterfeeds for other art quilters such as PaMdora, Joanie San Chirico, Susan Sorrell, Lisa Call, Kyra Hicks and others. I can't believe it took me this long to set it up for myself outside of my virtual world presence. D'OH!

Yay! Textural Rhythms is Now in New York

The "Textural Rhythms" exhibit is now at the New York State Museum until March 1 and we got word that it'll be at the Lincoln Square branch of the American Folk Art Museum next. I got picked to be in the first presentation when it opens there in late March, as it's split into two parts due to the exhibit's size. I'm totally tickled.

w00t!

Quilts for Obama Exhibit!

Sew Chick Elle here (and I think it's cute that I've been referred to as such in some newspaper articles related to this)! On Sunday, I got myself prettied up and headed over with my family to the Historical Society of Washington DC's lovely Carnegie Library Museum for the "Quilts for Obama" exhibit! YAY! Guest curated by Roland Freeman with Dr Mazloomi's Women of Color Quilting Network (WCQN), it is a celebration of Obama's journey to the presidency. There is a historic piece from Kansas, as well as quilts and textiles from Ghana, Hawaii, South Africa, Kenya and the oldest member of Michelle Obama's family...This is a lovely piece from Tanzania...This one's from South Africa by Dennis Ngobeni and Somisa Baloyi, depicting him as the chief of his nation...This is by one of my favorite quilters, Carolyn Crump...
I didn't have much time at all when I got the call from Dr Mazloomi in November and literally did some backbusting work to finish, but here's the final version of mine, entitled "Wildest Dreams". It depicts my maternal and paternal grandfathers and great-grandfathers, who I believe could never have imagined seeing this happen in their wildest dreams...And here I am in front of Jim Smoote's piece with curator Roland Freeman whose book A Communion of the Spirits inspired me to become a quilter in the first place. It was so nice seeing folks I knew again and meeting new ones. I am so thrilled to be a part of this and if you are in town, please stop by to see and support it! The pieces are stunning...

Quilts for Obama Exhibit Opened Today

"Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of our 44th President" opened today at the Historical Society of Washington DC and there's my piece for it entitled "Wildest Dreams." The left two gentlemen are the husband and father of my maternal grandmother and the two on the right are my paternal grandmother's husband and father. My grandmom, mom and great-aunt joined my hubby, cousin and me there. The opening was FANTASTIC and the turnout was packed. It'll be there until Jan. 31.

"Wildest Dreams" Process

I got a call from Dr. Mazloomi asking me to participate in the upcoming exhibit "Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of our 44th President", curated by Roland Freeman, author of "A Communion of the Spirits" and noted African American quilting expert. It will be held January 11 through January 31, 2009, at The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., 801 K Street, NW at Mount Vernon Square, Washington DC 20001. The exhibit opens Sunday afternoon, January 11, 2009, at 2:00 p.m.

My piece "Wildest Dreams" honors my ancestors who could never have dreamed of Mr. Obama becoming elected. It depicts the husbands and fathers of my grandmothers. I stopped by and had dinner (which was great) with Grandma after dropping it off at Mr. Freeman's home yesterday and when I showed her its photo, she started exclaiming and hugging me. I am not going to post a pic of the whole final piece until the opening day, but I can show you the process for part of it. This is how my paternal great-grandfather, Walter Joseph Scott, went from photo to finished piece:

First, the lightbox (thanks Victor!)...Then the handpainting...Then the pieceing...Then after quilting, voila...a great-granddad in fabric!

"Wildest Dreams" Source Photo

Oh my, what's this? The source photo for a new piece in progress with a VERY short turnaround time entitled "Wildest Dreams."

Who are they? My grandfathers and great-grandfathers and great-great grandfathers! They were some good looking guys if I do say so myself!

Let's hope I can turn this one around in time...dear God what am I thinking?

Went Home and Now What...

I went home to my family's country house in Virginia recently. I spent a week down there with Grandma and Aunt J and it was good for me. Caught up on all of my professional org journal reading, read some books for pleasure about writing and spiritual thought, and regaled them with my beginner classical guitar playing...I took time to walk around the many acres of the place looking at the natural beauty there such as the mimosa, where butterflies and hummingbirds are regulars once more...
My great-great uncle's water pump. I remember using this when I was little. As you can see, it's gone unused for quite a while now...
I'd spend time in the quiet with the breezes on the front porch reading. I've been feeling lost for so long now...
...But I came up with a viable plan that I hope I can follow. Here I am with Aunt J and Grandma. I'm so glad to have had the chance to spend this time with them talking. I really needed that. It's nice to talk to people who truly love you and everything about you sometimes. I don't know what'll happen in the future, but all I can hope for is to put it on a path of good.

Articles About the Sisters in Cloth RMQM Exhibit...

While Googling about the "Sisters in Cloth" exhibit at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, I came across the following articles! Enjoy!

"Not Your Great-Grandmother's Quilt" by Meredith Knight, MileHigh News

"A Stitch in Time Captures Culture" by Colleen O'Connor, Denver Post

Self-Belief

I was sitting here thinking about creativity. I have a close friend living in the paradise that is Hawaii and working in the arts. She is so talented and creative and one of the most supportive, positive persons I know. She recently emailed me saying that she put her head down recently and cried, thinking "What am I doing wrong? Why am I not succeeding?"

I wrote her back saying that I have done the same thing.

Mind you, both of us are talented artists. Both of us are creative as hell. I think the problem isn't even our art. It's everything else but...but it's affected us. We've both had a rough, but very interesting, past 2 years. I think all creative types struggle with it. We know our talents have value--not even in just a monetary way--but the outside forces involves in our lives such as bills, illness, etc. can often make us doubt that value. I wrote her back saying..."So many others believe in us. It's just a matter of us believing in ourselves as well again. We can and will do it!"

And I believe we will.

Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum Exhibit Opens Tomorrow

Ooooo with a touch of la la! Got this in the mail! The exhibit opens tomorrow and will run until August 2, 2008. If any of you are in the Denver area, go check it out!

That is Carolyn Crump's lovely "Awakening" pictured here.

Oh Frak!

My sister did win the title of campus Homecoming Queen. I had no idea she could deliver a speech as well as she can sing!

Oh le sigh...I have procrastinated yet again. Well, at least it's only a matter of putting the backing on "Grandma Hopes She's Never As Old As I Am" for the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum exhibit.

I took the catalogs with me from the other two exhibits to one of my favorite shops, Paradise Fabrics, which specializes in African fabrics. I usually buy the bazin/cotton damask for my backings there, so I thought the owner might like to see the final use of them in my pieces. He said, "They are wonderful! You do realize that this is only the beginning for you, you know? How could it not be?" That made me feel good.

He went on to say "People here (he is Ethiopian) are so rushed and that is not good. Life should not have to be like that. You look like a person who does not like a rushed life."

Ain't that the truth?

Rebeading Fun & A Playlist to Bead By

My youngest sister is running for campus queen. She bought her dress at discount because it was missing beads...so guess who said she'd rebead them?I just fired up the iPod and set it to "shuffle", got out my supplies and got crackin'...
Here's what I listened to:
Prince: "Adore"
Jimi Hendrix: "Castles Made of Sand"
Isley Bros.: "My Lover's Eyes"
Wu-Tang Clan: "Triumph"
Peaches & Herb: "Reunited"
The Pharcyde: "Passin' Me By"
The Beatles: "Hey Jude"
Prince: "Sometimes It Snows in April"
Erykah Badu: "Certainly"
Tupac: "Temptations"
Kool & the Gang: "Cherish"
Gnarls Barkley: "Crazy"
Yes: "Owner of a Lonely Heart"
Freddie Hubbard: "First Light"
Alejandro Sanz: "Try to Save Your Soul"
Buju Banton: "Hey Bwoy"
J. Holiday: "Bed"
Outkast: "Slump"
Common: "Funky for You"
Frederic Chopin: "Nocturne"
INXS: "Need You Tonight"

Textural Rhythms Baltimore..FINALLY

Now that the exhibit is coming to a close tomorrow, I realized I never posted pictures from the Textural Rhythms in Baltimore! It was held in a glass fronted room that overlooked the main street. As we were pulling up, I saw this slide in the window and started screaming and pounding the steering wheel in excitement. The cop next to me looked over at me, not as thrilled...My family showed up for support! Here are my cousin, great-aunt, mom and grandmom. My husband was there as well as my siblings and family friends too...
Here's a group photo of all of the artists present. It was wonderful meeting everyone. Yes, I'm crouching there giggling with Sonji in the front row...
Here I am with the fabulous Jo. It had its own wall panel to itself, which was super-cool...
We all were in a book-signing frenzy afterwards. Here I am signing one now as its owner's li'l dude looks on. I feel like Elle the Rock Star. It took me an hour and a half to get through the exhibit. What great fun it all was!!! Thank you Dr Mazloomi!

Quilting African American Women's History

There's nothing more that I like than to go to the mailbox and have a nice little something waiting for me! It's even better when it is the catalog from your latest exhibit! This is the one that "Just Me Being Negative" is currently in up in Wilberforce, Ohio. Valerie White (who is so super-cool by the way) created the piece on the cover ("The Guardian")...And last month, Dr Mazloomi sent a cool photo of the PR announcement of the exhibit on the huge screens outside of the Reuters Building in NYC's Times Square! Yay!