More about the Seattle trip

When our group goes to APNQ there is always a good discussion on the train on our way home, about which were our favorite quilts. I took pictures of some that I liked and in the past I probably would have posted them here, but there is a lot of sensitivity these days about posting photos of artwork without permission of the artist and as I have thought about it, it makes sense to me. My very favorite piece was part of a special exhibit of South African quilts, curated by Rosalie Dace and it was her piece titled Night Flight that was, for me, the most exciting piece I saw at the show. Fortunately I can send you to see it on a web site. Scroll down to Night Flight and you can click to enlarge it. Trust me, it was even more beautiful in the flesh. Another piece in that exhibit by Jeannette Gilks, called Blood and Fire was an amazing piece about the 9-11 attacks and war and religion. I'm sorry it does not show too well on the web site. It was both powerful in its message and a work of complex beauty.

As I mentioned yesterday, I am always a little surprised when I see one of my quilts hanging in a big show like APNQ. I guess I should be used to it by now, but I have learned that the quilts I make don't look that good in those kinds of shows. Still, it's a honor to have a piece accepted, so don't think I am complaining. But it is interesting to compare venues. Here is my quilt in the APNQ show last weekend:

Here it is hanging in the "It's Good to be Green" show, for which it was made.

Isn't it amazing how much more presence it has in this second picture? Gerrie's quilt, also made for the GTBG exhibit suffered a similar fate at APNQ. It has really made me think about what kind of pieces are best submitted to what shows. I think, for example, I will definitely shoot for a size with enough width that my quilt will not have to share a panel with another quilt! (My quilt was not doing the little cow quilt next to it any favors either.) I actually think both Gerrie's and my quilt would have looked better hung together on a single panel since they are the same size and orientation and have compatible colors.

I think every time I have gone to APNQ I come away with a whole new idea of some way I want to change the way I work. Probably this is the biggest value in seeing a lot of other people's work. And it is not any single piece that ever makes me want to emulate it, it is just a feeling I begin to get about how I could improve what I do as I am bombarded with visual stimuli. I came away, this time, with a yen for bolder pattern and color to work with. With that in mind I did a little shopping in the merchant mall and brought these fabrics home.

Now I just need to get my life, house, possessions and stash moved and under control, so I can indulge in a little of my new inspiration.