This weekend I completed a diptych to enter into the Gosford Art Prize. While I was at it, I also entered the triptych Hope, Promise, Bounty: Reap What You Sow. Five works for two entries! Is that double dipping?
The prize is open to all artists, apart from employees of Gosford City Council. All artwork must have been produced within the last 12 months. Gosford Regional Gallery has a strong track record in supporting textile art* but I expect the competition will be tough. Apparently in 2011, a record 616 entries were received, with 165 works included in the exhibition.
For now, I would like to keep the diptych a surprise but here’s a photo of part of the back. You will see that I am trying to use up some of my stash of commercial fabrics and I used the mitred facing finish which is ideal for square and rectangular quilts. (See my Mitred Facing Finish tutorial.)
Once again, I found that is a challenge to create uniform sized works for a diptych or other multi-piece work. In fact, one piece is 1.5cm wider than the other. I contemplated trimming the second piece to match but that would have compromised the composition. Besides, I doubt this small variation will be apparent to viewer.
I was excited that I might be able to submit this piece for the SAQA exhibition Deux but I am not sure that it allows diptychs where each element is narrower than the 30in minimum width. By the way, Deux open to all SAQA members who have NOT participated in an all-SAQA exhibit during the past three years. Artists will be asked to submit up to four works that best represent their style or voice. Each artist chosen will be asked to exhibit two works that relate to one another in some way. Deux will be exhibited at IQF-Chicago, June 2013 and Carrefour Européen du Patchwork, Alsace, France, September 2013. It’s a great opportunity and just one of the many educational, exhibition, mentoring and networking opportunities that Studio Art Quilts Associates offers experienced and emerging textile artists. If you’ve been thinking about joining SAQA, add the discount code “BGS” to the application form and, for a limited time only, you will receive a 10% discount on the membership fee.
*For example, the Twelve by Twelve Theme Series was exhibited in the foyer in 2010 and the Beneath the Southern Sky exhibition will be exhibited in June 2013.