The Affair of the Necklace
The artists of Journeys Art Quilt Group present their fourth annual show, The Affair of the Necklace. Beginning January 3, at Sisters Art Works Entry Gallery, 204 W. Adams Ave., the show will continue through February. Gallery hours are 10am to 5pm daily, and Saturdays 10am to 2pm. Those who wish to meet the artists are invited to attend opening night reception from 4-6pm on Friday, January 6.
The challenge originated in a group conversation about a necklace worn by one member. Each person was asked to design a quilt 18 inches wide and 45 inches long, around the topic of “the affair of the necklace.” The theme could be interpreted according to color, shape or an idea that was evoked by the necklace.
Just as the word “affair” in the English language has many meanings, the artists’ interpretations of the theme resulted in an amazing group of work. The designs use cotton, wool and silk, as well as embellishments, and viewers will be surprised at the variety: everything from whimsy to romance, from adventures in the abstract to pictorial, from playful to intense.
Some artists stayed close to the necklace theme. Sue McMahan generated her design by computer and it features jewel-like fabrics in an oval design. The quilt has an Asian feeling to it. Donna Rice’s work was inspired by the chain, and the background is paper pieced in pastels. Donna then painted canvas to represent beads. Mary Stiewig placed bright colored interconnecting circles on a background of black and white, and used reverse appliqué to construct her quilt.
Focusing on one meaning of affair, “an intense amorous relationship, usually of short duration,” Jean Wells named her quilt The Break Up because most affairs of such nature end in a break up. She used silk and cotton to piece an abstract design, and used detail stitching in the bead area to create interest.
Taking a whimsical approach, Charlene Kenny created a fabric portrait of a woman wearing a felted wool necklace. Her face is painted using fabric inks and she sports a floppy hat and a large dangling earring.
Another portrait approach was taken by Donna Cherry, who chose the feeling of adoration and romance. Striving to use some of the techniques of masters such as Rembrandt, Di Vinci and Alphonse Mucha, Donna “painted” her design with fabric.
Inspired by Rosalie Dace’s challenge to take a close look at a piece or part of an object and study it, and then design from that experience, June Jaeger designed her work using an old pitch knot on a tree trunk. She fused small pieces in jewel colors and machine quilted it in similar larger shapes.
New this year are small pieces, 8 x8 inches, each one created by one of the artists, and using some of the same techniques, imagination and creativity used to construct the larger quilts. These small pieces, priced at $64 each, offer the public an opportunity to purchase a work of art at a reasonable price. The works are as diverse as the artists. June Jaeger quilted a quail. Ruth Ingham beaded “an evil eye,” a souvenir from a trip to Turkey, onto her small quilt. In Turkey it is regarded as protection from evil. Sue McMahan used a twiggy fabric for her design and Mary Stiewig did a needle felted piece on silk fabric.
This is a not to be missed opportunity to view the work of some of Central Oregon’s premier fabric artists as they present their most recent offerings. Viewers will be delighted, as usual, by the talent and creative efforts of this group.
Info: Tonye Phillips, 541-595-6458 or Donna Rice, 541-383-1916.
The challenge originated in a group conversation about a necklace worn by one member. Each person was asked to design a quilt 18 inches wide and 45 inches long, around the topic of “the affair of the necklace.” The theme could be interpreted according to color, shape or an idea that was evoked by the necklace.
Just as the word “affair” in the English language has many meanings, the artists’ interpretations of the theme resulted in an amazing group of work. The designs use cotton, wool and silk, as well as embellishments, and viewers will be surprised at the variety: everything from whimsy to romance, from adventures in the abstract to pictorial, from playful to intense.
Some artists stayed close to the necklace theme. Sue McMahan generated her design by computer and it features jewel-like fabrics in an oval design. The quilt has an Asian feeling to it. Donna Rice’s work was inspired by the chain, and the background is paper pieced in pastels. Donna then painted canvas to represent beads. Mary Stiewig placed bright colored interconnecting circles on a background of black and white, and used reverse appliqué to construct her quilt.
Focusing on one meaning of affair, “an intense amorous relationship, usually of short duration,” Jean Wells named her quilt The Break Up because most affairs of such nature end in a break up. She used silk and cotton to piece an abstract design, and used detail stitching in the bead area to create interest.
Taking a whimsical approach, Charlene Kenny created a fabric portrait of a woman wearing a felted wool necklace. Her face is painted using fabric inks and she sports a floppy hat and a large dangling earring.
Another portrait approach was taken by Donna Cherry, who chose the feeling of adoration and romance. Striving to use some of the techniques of masters such as Rembrandt, Di Vinci and Alphonse Mucha, Donna “painted” her design with fabric.
Inspired by Rosalie Dace’s challenge to take a close look at a piece or part of an object and study it, and then design from that experience, June Jaeger designed her work using an old pitch knot on a tree trunk. She fused small pieces in jewel colors and machine quilted it in similar larger shapes.
New this year are small pieces, 8 x8 inches, each one created by one of the artists, and using some of the same techniques, imagination and creativity used to construct the larger quilts. These small pieces, priced at $64 each, offer the public an opportunity to purchase a work of art at a reasonable price. The works are as diverse as the artists. June Jaeger quilted a quail. Ruth Ingham beaded “an evil eye,” a souvenir from a trip to Turkey, onto her small quilt. In Turkey it is regarded as protection from evil. Sue McMahan used a twiggy fabric for her design and Mary Stiewig did a needle felted piece on silk fabric.
This is a not to be missed opportunity to view the work of some of Central Oregon’s premier fabric artists as they present their most recent offerings. Viewers will be delighted, as usual, by the talent and creative efforts of this group.
Info: Tonye Phillips, 541-595-6458 or Donna Rice, 541-383-1916.
