To mark the 20th anniversary of my first baby quilt, I have been reflecting on what I have learned along the way. Creative Backstory is a series of blog posts each highlighting a different year. I invite you to share your creative backstory. Each day, I will post an optional prompt. Leave your response as a comment below or on my Serendipity Facebook page or use the tag #creativebackstory or Instagram and I will add your name to my Creative Backstory Giveaway. I look forward to reading about what has shaped your creative life.
2010 – a year of consolidation
I have previously recorded some highlights from 2010 in my blog post Timelines 2010. With the benefit of further hindsight, I can see that it was an important year of creative consolidation. Building on my participation with the Twelve by Twelve International Art Quilt Challenge, I was starting to develop a body of work that reflected my personal voice. For the purposes of this creative backstory post, I will focus on the two works selected for The New Quilt 2010: Turf and Desire Lines #5: After the Rain
Inspired by a freshly mown lawn, glistening in the morning dew, Turf is a continuation of my Grass series exploring the organic splendour and variety of grasses.
Desire Lines# 5: After the Rain in some ways marks a convergence of my grass series with my Desire Lines series. With the rain comes new life, reaching for the sky:
I am proud to be a life member of QuiltNSW. I value belonging to an organisation that recognises the quilt medium as an art form and invests energy in providing opportunities for textile artists to share their artwork in a gallery setting.
Call for Entries: The New Quilt 2021
QuiltNSW is relaunching The New Quilt at Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Windsor, NSW from 5 February – 11 April 2021.
This juried survey exhibition showcasing the art of quilting is open to any textile artist resident in Australia whether or not they are QuiltNSW members. Think big, think bold – be adventurous! Note:
- there is no prescribed theme – submit your best work reflecting your creative practice
- a quilt means stitched and layered materials using any technique
- the quilt must be your original non-traditional design
- 2-D, 3-D, installation work, ceiling hung work, work on stretcher bars, and framed work will be eligible subject to certain size restrictions
The online entry form opens on 1 July and closes on 2 October 2020. See the QuiltNSW website for the conditions of entry and other information.
Sharing Stories: Prompt # 7 & Giveaway
I invite you to share your creative backstory. Here is an optional prompt: when was the first time that you shared your artwork in a gallery setting?
Leave your response as a comment below or use the tag #creativebackstory on Facebook or Instagram. I look forward to reading about what has shaped your creative life and will put your name into my celebratory giveaway. At the end of June, after I have completed Creative Backstory posts, I will select one commenter and, pandemic postal system permitting, this King Parrot textile sketch will wing its way to a new home.
Michelle Weatherson says
Just want to say how much I am enjoying and appreciate your sharing of your journey Brenda. The curated view of life that social media presents, disguises the progression, hard work and missteps that finding one’s visual voice actually takes. It’s good to know that those artists whose work I admire today started out just like me–at the beginning of the journey, and often with a baby quilt. Thanks again!
Brenda Gael Smith says
Hi Michelle – thanks for stopping by my blog and taking the time to leave a comment. I have found it instructive to look back over the past 20 years. It’s good to know that others find useful insights in this creative backstory. Keep on creating!