Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt

Creating with Brenda Gael Smith

Seachange:Whale Tracks at the European Patchwork Meeting 2019

Filed Under: Contemporary Quilts, My Surroundings, Season After Season

Season After Season Promo

My artwork Seachange: Whale Tracks is currently touring with the Studio Art Quilt Associates/SAQA* global exhibition Season After Season. I wrote a comprehensive series of blog posts about the creation of this artwork on my blog and also produced a journal that you can preview in full and/or buy on Blurb.

When your work is away on tour for an extended period, it can sometimes take on a dream-like quality as it is adrift in the world. Seachange: Whale Tracks is a long way from home so it was a thrill when Birgit Schueller posted this early installation image from the European Patchwork Meeting in Alsace, France.

Seachange: Whale Tracks in Season After Season at the European Patchwork Meeting 2019
Left to right: artwork by Melody Money, Pat Kroth, Sarah Entsminger, Nancy Bardach, Melanie L Marr, Karol Kusmaul, Daren P. Redman, Patricia Kennedy – Zafred, Brenda Gael Smith, Lee F. Schwimmer, Jeannie P. Moore and Diane Melm. See Season After Season gallery.

The works were subsequently rehung with more spacing and Heidi Drahota kindly sent me this photo.

Seachange: Whale Tracks in Season After Season at the European Patchwork Meeting 2019
Brenda Gael Smith, Lee F. Schwimmer & Jeannie P. Moore. See Season After Season gallery.

Even more exciting, my mother is currently travelling in Europe and got to view my artwork in the cloth. Here’s the proof. (As an aside, Mum is visiting with my friend and textile artist Maryte Collard from Lithuania who I got to know through SAQA’s mentorship program.) SAQA is truly an international community and I am grateful for this. That’s why 2019 is the 9th time I have donated a small artwork to the annual SAQA benefit auction.

Seachange: Whale Tracks in Season After Season at the European Patchwork Meeting 2019

SAQA Benefit Auction 2019

Bidding is now open for the 2019 SAQA Benefit Auction. There is lots of exciting artwork available including my contribution Landlines: Paterson’s Curse inspired by one of Australia’s most conspicuous invasive weeds.

  • Landlines:Paterson’s Curse (detail)
  • Paterson's Curse
    Paterson’s Curse

The annual benefit auction is SAQA’s signature fundraising event. Your purchases help increase the recognition for art quilts and the artists who make them while supporting SAQA’s exhibitions, publications, and education outreach. It’s a great way to expand your textile art collection.

Landlines: Paterson's Curse by Brenda Gael Smith in the SAQA Benefit Auction 2019

*Studio Art Quilt Associates offers many exhibition, network and mentoring opportunities for its members. If you’ve been thinking about joining SAQA, add the discount code “WKS ” to the application form (and add my name Brenda Gael Smith in the referral field) and you will receive a 10% discount on the membership fee.

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