Hi Friends! I'm delighted to be back in your email inbox. ☺️ Thanks for staying connected with me. Let's talk about art and integrating a creative life in a complex world. I had the great pleasure of seeing Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City earlier this month. Here are just “three bits of inspiration” from the Asawa exhibition. (It was hard to pick just three… I left out her amazing chair prints and stunning botanical drawings.) Read on for some new art quilt collages and a few opportunities to learn from me either virtually or in person. Plus, a few recommendations of wonderful random stuff.😉 Cheers! |
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1. life and work This is a fantastic short video about Asawa's life, art and the exhibition at MOMA. It's full of historical clips of her family, peers and home life. I especially love the shot of her with the milk carton sculpture. I've been saving toilet paper rolls. Ruth is inspiring me to build something with them. 2. stitch inspiration I studied this untitled wall mounted sculpture for awhile thinking about how I could use my beloved hand embroidered Y stitch in a similar configuration. So much of Asawa's work is about interconnected lines and shapes, repetition, transparency, and positive and negative forms. These are basic elements of art and yet Asawa found such unique ways to use them over her enormous body of work. 3. shadows When you see Asawa's hanging wire sculptures, you can't help but be drawn to the shadows they create on the walls and floor. There are also several folded paper pieces that create shadows that become part of the work itself. It reminds me of the beauty of the shadow created by a line of stitching that sinks down into layers of fabric and batting. |
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During WWII the US government forcibly relocated and incarcerated 120,000 people of Japanese descent, including Ruth Asawa. Sadly, the current US government has returned to intimidating, harassing, provoking, and endangering US citizens not only with current immigration control tactics but because of their focus on absolute power at the expense of protecting, serving, uplifting, and building opportunity for all its people. Generally, I hold my deepest thoughts quite privately, but it seems imperative to be clear that I’m incensed by what's happening in my country. I’m consumed with fear for our democracy. I’m desperately sad. I also believe making art and connecting with each other has real value. So, in this moment I am finding ways to resist the forces of destruction and also embrace creation. |
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I'm delighted this art quilt collage was juried into the Studio Art Quilt Associates exhibition Pollinators. The exhibition will premier at the International Quilt Festival in Houston in November then travel to the Detroit Zoo in 2027. |
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Breezes, Birds and Bugs, 2024, 41x23” original art quilt collage featuring fused appliqué, print making, hand embroidery, and free motion quilting |
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Each creature from the title is represented with a hand embroidered motif. The breezes are swirly running stitches, the birds are tiny fly stitches and the bugs are a combo of a French knot and two lazy daisies. Check out my Instagram post about this quilt for a secret fourth pollinator that also starts with B. |
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Three opportunities to learn from me! A virtual lecture, a virtual two-day workshop and an in-person five day workshop. See below for all the details! ⤵️ |
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I'll also be at Quilt Symposium in Christchurch, New Zealand in October. I'm looking forward to seeing all you creative Kiwis! • I'd love to schedule a virtual or in-person workshop or lecture with your group! Check out my offerings and email me! |
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This art quilt collage will be part of Art Quilt Elements 2026 at the Wayne Arts Center near Philadelphia, PA from March 23 to April 25. It's such an honor to be part of one of the premier juried art quilt exhibitions. I hope to make it to the opening. Will I see you there? You can read more about this quilt and the floral arrangement that inspired it in this Instagram post. |
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Unbound, 2024, 20x20” original art quilt collage featuring fused appliqué, print making, hand embroidery, and free motion quilting |
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Highlights & Recommendations |
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Use the code ASAWA15 for 15% off anything in my Etsy shop through February 28. |
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Have you been inspired by Ruth Asawa? I'd love to hear about it. Email me. |
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Some products listed here may be Amazon Associate links from which I earn a tiny commission. |
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632 York Court
Lewisville, TX 75056, United States |
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