Art in Quilts --- Quilts in Art

One of our favorite quilt patterns is Storm at Sea. We love the way that the straight seams create the appearance of waves and circles. When we caught a glimpse of this dazzling storm-at-sea quilt.... somewhere... it took our breath away.  Just look at the tall ship, with its quilts for sails, in the center panel. We simply had to find out more.

On a Quilted Breeze, 87 x 109", by the Oregon Coastal Quilters Guild, with artwork by Dennis McGregor

 "On a Quilted Breeze" was designed around a glorious painting, by Dennis McGregor, called "Women on Board" (see the detail image below). The quilt designer, Nan Scott, cleverly integrated the artwork into the quilt by selecting the colors of the storm-at-sea blocks to match the colors in the image, so that the center panel appears to flow seamlessly into the blocks. If you look carefully at the quilt you will see a horizontal band of apricot-and-peach blocks, which match the colors on the horizon. The golden tones in some of the blocks match the colors in the clouds and sails, while the cerulean and aqua blues match the colors of the sky and topsail.  There is even a circular motif, reminiscent of the sun, in the upper left corner of the quilt.

Women on Board, 19 x 25", limited edition print, by Dennis McGregor

We'd love to climb on board this magical ship, with its flying geese, feathered stars, and other quilted sails.  Dennis McGregor, award-winning artist and singer-songwriter, makes his home in central Oregon - the home of the famous Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.  In fact, Dennis has created many of the posters for the quilt show (and the Sisters Folk Festival.... and the Sisters Rodeo).  You can see the fabulous collection on his website.

Annie, 28 x 18", by Dennis McGregor at DennisMcGregor.com

In the background of "Annie" are the majestic Three Sisters volcanic peaks, each over 10,000 feet in elevation, that dominate the skyline.  The town of Sisters, Oregon was named after the peaks, and the stunning scenery of the region is brought to life in Dennis McGregor's painting.

There are wonderful gifts for quilters on Dennis' website, where you can find note cards, t-shirts, and even Quiltoos. Check it out, here (you'll be glad you did).  And, if you are curious to find out more,  you can see a 2004 video of Dennis in action -  singing, and painting, and talking about what inspires him -  courtesy of Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Image credits: Images of "Women on Board" and "Annie" are shown with the generous permission of Dennis McGregor. "On a Quilted Breeze" was designed by Nan Scott and pieced by 48 guild members of the Oregon Coastal Quilters Guild. The quilting was done by Lisa Taylor and Mechelle Johnson.

Long Beach International Quilt Festival - Part 3

Here is Day 3 of the Long Beach International Quilt Festival, with an emphasis on international quilts and contemporary depictions of traditional patchwork patterns.

Portugal Folkloric Dancers, 92 x 118", by Leslie Gabrielse, The Netherlands,  at Gabrielse.com

Leslie Gabrielse writes that she was inspired to make this "upbeat piece" in remembrance of the folklore festivals she observed in several villages and towns as she traveled through northern Portugal. She explains, "All the village roads were decorated with colorful arches, and I tried to capture the movement of the dancers... and the variety of the colors of their folkloric costumes."

We would call this piece more than 'upbeat'.... we would call it jaw-dropping in terms of its lifelike qualities !  Notice how the dancers almost seem to be illuminated from behind, as Leslie has very skillfully placed the lighter values of fabrics in the center of the piece to create a focal point for the viewer's eye.

Portugal Folkloric Dancers, close-up

Take a look at the incredible detail of the fabric piecing in this close-up.  Beautiful hand embroidery accentuates the outlines of the dancer's costume.

Orphan Blossoms,  app. 60 x 60",  by Timna Tarr, at Q Tailored Quilts

The International Quilt Association used Timna Tarr's "Orphan Blossoms"  on the cover of the program and the tote bags for this year's Long Beach Festival, which was a great idea, because these traditional Dresden Plate blocks just about jump off of the vivid lime green, pink, and lavender background.  Timna found the antique Dresden Plate blocks on e-Bay and wanted to use them in an updated setting. She notes, "I took the Dresden Plate off its original muslin background and laid it on top of fabrics on my cutting table. When I saw how well the Plate fabrics looked on top of green hues, I knew I had to keep experimenting. Even though the Plates and center Arcs are made of old fabrics, I used new fabrics for everything else, including the one inch circles around the plates."

Orphan Blossoms by Timna Tarr, close-up

We loved the lively, swirling energy of this happy quilt, including the very cheerful "bubbles" carefully appliqued around the outside of the Dresden Plates. Timna has done a fabulous job updating one of the most popular traditional quilting patterns in the history of fabric art.

Majestic Bugs, app. 90 x 90 by Irena Bluhm, at Irena Bluhm Designs

Irena Bluhm writes, "This quilt was stitched first, then color was applied using colored pencils. Double batting was used to create the raised design effect for each colored piece of fabric."

What our camera does not show here, is the exquisite hand-embroidery stitching on each one of the stars, points, and apricot shapes. So many enthusiastic quilt fans were standing and admiring this piece, that we could not get near it for a close-up. This was one of the prettiest traditional-design quilts we saw at this show.

First Snow in Kyoto, by Christina Lauchenauer,  Switzerland, at Quilt-Art

Here's a very original and effective use of hand-sewn and hand-quilted blocks, done in elegant apricots, oranges, and cocoa tans and browns. Christina Lauchenauer says, "I tried to capture the feeling of a first cold ( autumn)  morning in Kyoto, Japan. A little snow covers the last bright leaves, and the rooftops of old houses." Christina adds that she wanted to create a beautiful hushed, muted atmosphere, evocative of the "contemplative quiet and peace of its (Kyoto's) temples."

First Snow in Kyoto, close-up

Christina explains that her inspiration to create this quilt was based on her fascination with sashiko stitching and patterns. In this close-up, you can see the variety of lovely embroidery designs she has created for each block. 

My Double Wedding Ring, by Keiko Goke, Japan,  at Quilt Wonderland

From Miyagi, Japan, Keiko Goke created this beautifully colored machine-pieced, machine-quilted, and hand top-stitched contemporary version of the beloved Amish double wedding ring pattern. Keiko worked without any templates to create sophisticated oval shapes that show off a variety of purples and lavenders against the solid gold and green backgrounds.

Autumn Splendor, by Susie L. Anderson

Susie notes that she was inspired by a Kaffe Fassett design to create this traditional baby blocks pattern in a fantastic color-saturated rainbow of monochromatic solids. We're very impressed by the quilter's fabric selection, as her careful use of light, medium, and deep values allows the viewer to clearly see each face or side of the baby block, thus enhancing the three-dimensional effect.

Birds Return, by Kayoko Oguri, Japan

Here's one of several magnificent quilts we saw with the theme of birds in flight. Kayoko Oguri says, "I like red colors. The pattern of the curves was arranged in my own way. The birds that returned to their nests in the evening sun was depicted." As you can see above, the birds seem to be flying through waves or streams of sunbeams, which were created by the use of shiny gold quilting threads applied to mirror the shape of their wings.

Long Beach International Quilt Festival - Part 2

Here we are on Day 2 of our visit to the Long Beach International Quilt Festival. These quilts were part of an exhibit, "West Coast Wonders", celebrating the landscapes, architecture, and lifestyles of the West Coast of North America.

Rialto Trees - Daytime, app.20 x 20, by Denise Oyama Miller at DeniseOyamaMiller.com

Denise writes, "The inspiration (for this quilt) was from a visit to Rialto Beach on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state. The wind blows so strong that the needles and bark have been blown off the trees." One of those quilts in the minimalist style,  this work impressed us by the stark beauty of the branches and the skillful use of contrasting light and dark values. Even though the trees have been battered by the wind, they are still standing tall, straight,  and affirming their presence, which is a very endearing value.

A smaller quilt called Rialto Trees is posted at the SAQA auction page.   A companion piece, "Rialto Trees - Nighttime", was awarded first place in 2010 at the Marin Society of Artists show.

Roses - Sun and Shadow, app. 22 x36, by B. Lynn Tubbe

Lynn states, "Escape into the beauty of California's natural world. I especially enjoy other gardeners' flowers that I find difficult to grow among grazing deer. This quilt uses only fabric and thread for color definition and depth." This original design of Lynn's uses raw-edge fused applique to create a very lovely and life-like depiction of rose blossoms and their shadows against a weathered garden fence.

Wave Rider, app. 32 x 40, by Monika Scola

Monika explains that computer manipulation of the shape of a heart created this vortex ( the swirls or spiral design which leads into the center).  Can you see how she turned the heart shape on its side to resemble an ocean wave to symbolize her love of surfing? We loved the restful monochromatic aqua blue tones in this quilt, which was constructed using pieced fabric, broderie perse, fused applique, hand beading and painting, plus free-motion quilting.

Point Buchon, app. 40 x 40, by Sara Kelly, at Sara Kelly Art Quilts

Sara Kelly's description of her quilt is as lyrical as her design. She notes, "The Point Buchon (California) trail in spring is a symphony of saturated color. Golden poppies carpet the ( green) hillsides, and....spouting whales cruise the sparkling Pacific Ocean, which mirrors clear blue skies. We think that "Point Buchon" is a fabulous use of complementary light and deep values of blue and orange. Sara's impressionistic design style here plays up the fragments of sunlight as they reflect on the flowers and ocean.

Under the Ocean Beach Pier, app. 24 x 24, by Linda Laird

Linda says, "Ocean Beach pier (in San Diego, California) is a wonderful place to go tide pooling and beach combing. All sorts of natural and unnatural treasures can be found." She has created a very unique and original collage quilt of the objects she found in the water underneath the pier. Click on quilt to enlarge it, and you will see shells, a matchbook cover, part of a paintbrush......and what else can you find? It's like a quilted "I Spy" game.

Long Beach International Quilt Festival - Part One

Let's all go to a virtual quilt show this week ! Please join us, along with thousands of other quilt enthusiasts at the Long Beach International Quilt Show, sponsored by the International Quilters Association last weekend: July 29-31 2011.  Welcome to the show.

Elf Owl, 33 x 54", by Terry Waldron, at TerryWaldron.com

Some quilt shows have only one theme, but this quilt festival is so big, that it was divided into several different themes. Today and tomorrow, we will show quilts from the juried exhibit , "West Coast Wonders", celebrating the landscapes, architecture, and lifestyles of the western part of the U.S.A.  including California*.

In "Elf Owl",  Terry Waldron has designed a tribute to one of the birds of the Mojave Desert, east of Los Angeles. The elf owl is the smallest of all owls, just over 5 inches long. Elf owls make their homes in the tall saguaro cacti of the desert, where they can live high off the ground, protected from predators. Terry's work is both hand and machine appliqued, then machine quilted.

Elf Owl, close-up

Isn't he adorable, peeking out of the saguaro cactus like this? Owls and birds seem to be a very popular theme in quilting this year. We saw a number of quilts featuring owls and birds, along with some very cute owl fabric at the many vendors' booths.

Roadside Poppies, by Denise Oyama Miller, app. 48 x 24",  at DeniseOyamaMiller.com

Two separate panels hung together showcase these brilliantly colored wildflowers, done with fused applique. Denise writes, "Strolling through Ashland, Oregon, I came across a display of poppies growing....along the sidewalk. The metal fence behind them was a perfect backdrop for this celebration of the incredible flora of the west coast." The fence serves to greatly enhance the three-dimensional quality of Denise's work, as it helps provide perspective to the eye and bring the poppies into the foreground.

Roadside Poppies close-up

Look at how many different batik and tonal fabrics Denise used here ! The variety of fabrics and values really brings out the subtle nuances of the light and shadows as they fall upon the petals and stems of the poppies.  (Also note:  you can click on any of these images to see the amazing detail).

Malibu Beach, 29 x 32", by Sherry Kleinman, at Sherry Kleinman Art Quilts

 

 A resident of the seaside town of Pacific Palisades, just north of Los Angeles, Sherry has created her self portrait here.  She says, " I am lucky to live near the Pacific Ocean and can indulge in my life-long love affair with the beach. I have just added sun block and an umbrella to my must-have beach attire."  If you look closely, you can see that the beach umbrella actually stands out about 8 inches off the surface of the quilt.  The shadow underneath the umbrella adds a very realistic touch to this pieced, appliqued and hand-painted work.

Santa Barbara Riviera, app. 30 x 20",  by Ranell Hansen, at Ranell Hansen.com

We love quilts featuring houses and villages, and this one is no exception.  Ranell Hansen has re-created the charm of the Spanish colonial architecture of Santa Barbara, a coastal city about 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Nestled against the mountains, the white-washed buildings with their tile roofs evoke a tropical sun-splashed, Mediterranean setting. This quilt is actually much higher-contrast and less pale in person, as the flash from our camera tended to wash out the bright spots of color that Ranell added to the architectural details here.

Tsunami Rattles California, app. 36 x 24  by Ann Sanderson

Ann writes, "Japan has a special place in my heart. After the earthquake of last March, we lost contact with our Japanese friends, and our coastal California family home was threatened (by the tsunami that hit California). The design of this piece reflects the wave motion and the swirling waters of the tsunami."

We think this is a fascinating piece, with complementary muted peach and blue tones, embellished with delicate gold beads, iridescent square sequins, and stamped with splashes of shiny gold paint.

*Note:  For those who have been following our Cute Quilts for Kids series, we'll be wrapping that up next week, after our special reports on the quilt festival.