Newsletters

September 2015

Hi everyone – There seems to be a lot happening out there – fantastic!


Attention members that live in the Canberra region
Buffy Beggs writes - Would you be interested in getting together on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to share our work and our methods and our inspiration? I think it might be very supportive of our art. If yes, please email me - buffy.beggs@gmail.com and I will then be able to see if it is viable to go forward.


Meet Ali and Kate
Ali and I will be flying the SAQA flag at two upcoming Stitches and Craft shows, sitting/standing near the SAQA Trunk Show F and chatting with visitors about art quilts, techniques, SAQA etc. The details - Melbourne 22-25 October (Kate) and Adelaide 5-8 November (Ali). Stop by and say ‘hi’


Oceania Exhibition 2017? – Yes!
Thanks for the great responses. There are five of us to get things going - Alison Laurence (NZ), Rasa Mauragis (NSW), Wilma Cawley (ACT), Sue Dennis (QLD) and me (Kate). At certain points we will no doubt put the call out for help in specific ways as I know there’s a lot of expertise in our membership. Stay tuned!


Members’ Space
We love to share small and big achievements, successes and experiences.

Neroli Handerson has a bit more background about her new role as Editor of Textile Fibre Forum -
As a former graphic designer one of the first questions I was asked when I was approached to be editor was if I could update the look and feel of this more than 30 year old magazine and it looks like I got my way! The magazine is now sporting a new logo and layout with a renewed emphasis on presenting the best of both Australian and International textile artists, exhibitions, best practice articles and reviews. Issue #119 is out in September and is my first issue as editor. I’d love to know what you think of the new Textile Fibre Forum and I also welcome any article submission you may have, so please email me - tffeditor@artwearpublications.com.au.


Lisa Walton writes -
I'm off teaching in the UK and Luxembourg and I will also be manning the SAQA Exhibition at The Knitting & Stitching Show in London in October at the end of the trip. [Follow Lisa’s adventures via Facebook - www.facebook.com/dyedheaven or her website - www.dyedheaven.com]




Yvonne Line writes –

My artwork, ‘And to each has its Season’ has been accepted for hanging in the exhibition ‘Evolution, Change , Challenge, A Contemporary Quilt. The venue is the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery and Arts Centre, 782 Kingsway, Gymea. NSW and is in conjunction with The Quilters’ Guild of NSW. Open from 29 August, 2015 to 8 September, 2015.

 And to each has its Season by Yvonne Line

(2005), 99cm (H) x 69cm (W)
Artist’s Statement: I have used leaf shapes as a metaphor for the life cycle of change and evolution of the family of Man. The challenge that I set myself was to use unpatterned fabric, simplify design elements and emphasize the use of a restricted palette and strong colour value. Technique: Freehand drawings of leaves. Machine appliqué, through wadding and backing. Machine and hand finished.
Materials: Cotton, Polyester wadding.


Mary Williams writes –

I have been chosen as the Guest Exhibitor at the Quilters Guild of South Australia, Festival of Quilts Exhibition 2015 to be held during the Craft and Quilt Fair, Adelaide 5th to 8th November at the Wayville Showground. My exhibition "Retrospective" will follow my journey as a traditional quilter to textile artist over the past 21 years.

Fall for Autumn by Mary Williams


Seasonal by Mary Williams


Eileen Campbell writes –

At the recent Victorian Quilter’s Showcase Exhibition my quilt ‘Always Bouquets’ won 1st in the ‘Pictorial Quilts’ category and also the award for ‘Excellence in Domestic Machine Quilting – Professional’.

Always Bouquets by Eileen Campbell

Always Bouquets (detail) by Eileen Campbell


Sue Dennis writes –

I have been invited to attend the 2015 China International Patchwork Invitational Tournament and Patchwork Arts Show in Beijing 14-16 October. The show will be held at the Beijing International Exhibition Centre and I will represent Australia with a display of 10 of my quilts plus five quilts from leading Australian quilters, Eileen Campbell, Lucy Carroll, Kay Haerland, Brenda Gael Smith and Linda Steele. This is a wonderful opportunity to introduce quilters in China to the unique style and subject matter of Australian quilting as well as the wealth of quilting talent we have in our country. Other countries to be represented are Taiwan, South Korea, Canada and the USA. I will be posting about my experiences when I can - www.suedennis.com, and www.suedennisartquilts.blogspot.com

A Hot Land by Sue Dennis


Jenny Bacon [Curator Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt exhibition and Prize 2013, 2015] writes -

The Golden Textures biennial exhibition at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery, Maryborough Vic was invited to bring a selection of works to the largest quilt show in Europe – Festival of Quilts 6th-9th August 2015. Knowing that we would be given a professional standard gallery space was one of the most important factors that encouraged us to take up the challenge to travel.

We were able to take 21 works by 17 artists including many from SAQA. The full list was:

Anna Brown, Sue Dennis, Dianne Firth, Susanne Gummow, Jann Haggart, Alvena Hall, Suzanne Lyle, Noelle Lyon, Margaret McDonald, Susan Mathews, Jenny Bacon, Sue Reid, Valarie Robinson, Ruth de Vos, Brenda Gael Smith, Tricia Smout.

The trip was a great success, I had fantastic assistance for set up and take down; the visitors were very complimentary and wrote in the Visitors Book that they were ‘inspired’ by our colour, design and technique. One drawcard was ‘Coastal Life #2’ [below] by Susan Mathews; it usually featured a crowd of visitors. To the right of Susan’s piece is ‘Eucalyptus’ by Anna Brown.

Coastal Life #2 by Susan Mathews [left]
Eucalyptus by Anna Brown [right]
Outside view of our Gallery with works by Noelle Lyon and Ruth de Vos



With over 1000 quilts and 60,000 visitors in four days the Festival is a terrific opportunity to network and indeed it led to us being invited to return to France in April 2016 where we will have a gallery at Quilt Expo en Beaujolais. It was also a chance to meet many SAQA members from Europe and the USA. All these invitations are a result of the high standard of work that our artists are producing. So the journey continues!




Brenda Gael Smith writes –

Along with several other SAQA members, my work [bottom row, third from left] was selected for the Evolution, Change, Challenge contemporary quilt exhibition at Hazelhurst 28 August to 8 September.  There is an online gallery at quiltersguildnsw.com/exhibitions/hazelhurst

Two new works of mine - Kelp Forest and Landlines: A river runs through it - were juried into "Dare to Differ" at Gallery M Adelaide, 2-25 October.


Auction Quilts!
Check out the latest SAQA video of all of the auction quilts! Start it up and let it run!


Opportunities/Events

Brenda Gael Smith writes –

I would love to include artwork by SAQA members in my next travelling exhibition - a matter of time. Entries close on 15 January 2015. For more information, see: matteroftimetextiles.com

·         Art Quilts: Evolution & Revolution
Bookings are now open for the Conference Gala 2015: Art Quilts: Evolution & Revolution at Geelong. All welcome! Highlights of the program include:
·         One-day conference forum Art Quilts: Evolution and Revolution including presentations by Padriac Fisher , Director, National Wool Museum; Jan Mullen, fabric & pattern designer, writer, and maker of art quilts; and John Lamb, professional photographer;
·         REview / REdesign/ REpurpose Workshop with Jan Mullen;
·         Exhibition opening of Art Quilt Australia 2015 and Australia Wide Four;
·         Conference Gala Dinner & Silent Auctio;
·         Artist Studio Tour – visit Helen Millar, Jennifer Hyland and Susan Mathews in their home studios; and
·         Quilt Study at the National Wool Museum.


Don’t forget these SAQA opportunities!

Concrete and Grasslands – September 30

SAQA Journal Member Gallery – October 1

Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora – October 31

My corner of the World – November 30

Tranquility – January 31, 2016

Turmoil – February 28, 2016


Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Email contributions to koszko@iinet.net.au. If you could prepare the text yourself we can then just cut and paste. And don’t forget to include images wherever possible!


That’s it for now – keep creating!!!



Ali, Susie and Kate
****************************************************************************

August 2015


Hi everyone – I hope you are taking advantage of the cooler weather and creating madly!


New Member Welcome!
Welcome to new member Gael ODonnell from Carterton New Zealand. We’re very pleased to have you aboard!


THANK YOU!
Thanks to all members who sent me postcards for the Conference earlier this year. I also took them with me to Newcastle Stitches and Craft, and they were a real hit alongside the touring trunk show. Many visitors had never seen textile art or art quilts, and they were blown away by the techniques, materials, and the workmanship. They are a fabulous way to get the conversation started about SAQA and the work we do. As this trunk show travels, if Ali or I will be there, the postcards will be there (while we can keep an eye on them).

Postcards at Newcastle Stitches and Craft



Wish You Were Here
Enjoy this month’s gallery of art - ‘Wish You Were Here’. The curator, V.Susan Johnson says “I thought of postcards as I searched through the gallery images. Whether they represent real or imagined places, these quilts invite me to go in search of new views--or perhaps new points of view. I chose them for the emotions I think their creators may have experienced as they brought them to life, emotions I equate with traveling to new places. And of course, all travels include thankfulness for a safe arrival home.”
See the work here: http://www.saqa.com/gallery-mini.php?ID=180


Members’ Space
We love it when members let us know what is happening in their neck of the woods – small and big achievements, successes and experiences are celebrated here.


Neroli Henderson is the new editor of Textile Fibre Forum magazine, with her first issue hitting the newsstands in September – congratulations Neroli!


Sandra Champion writes –
I was thrilled that my quilt Button Grass Plains: Winter won
First Prize Art Quilt Open
Best Use of Mixed/Decorative Media and
Bernina Best Of Show
at the Island Quilts Show in Tasmania in July.
Button Grass Plains: Winter will travel next year with 2015 Best of Show from other States.

Button Grass Plains: Winter by Sandra Champion




Lisa Call writes –
I am having an exhibit of my textile paintings in Philadelphia this month from August 7 – 28, 2015.

Portals: Beginnings and Possibilities
Solo Exhibit
Bluestone Fine Art Gallery
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I've attached a few images of work from the show.
*Portals #5*
©Lisa Call
52 x 85 inches


*Portals #55*
©Lisa Call
18 x 18 inches


*Portals #58*
©Lisa Call
14 x 46 inches



Oceania Exhibition 2017?
We think than many Oceania members would like to work towards a SAQA exhibition, and we know that there other regions were very interested in hosting an exhibition from SAQA Oceania members, so anything we arrange has the potential to tour internationally.

We feel that planning for an exhibition in 2017 is realistic – the making of the pieces is one thing, the organization will also take a fair bit of time.

SOOOO….who has the interest and time to get this rolling? Please let us know – don’t wait for someone else to put their hand up if it’s something you’d like to do. It could be super exciting to exhibit here and then have our work travel the world!


New Mentorship Program: Update!
Last month, we wrote a little about the mentorship program – Sue Bleiweiss (Massachusetts/Rhode Island regional co-rep, http://www.suebleiweiss.com) has more -

Sue Bleiweiss

Now that the mentorship program has been underway for several weeks I thought I would post an update on how it’s going and provide some statistics and other information about it.

So far 12 matches have been made and all the mentees have met with their mentors at least once via Skype, FaceTime or telephone to talk about their objectives and goals and to set up a regular communication schedule with each other. Everyone is very excited about their new partnerships and I couldn’t be happier about that.

You might be wondering who these mentors are so I am going to tell you! I’m sharing their names with their permission of course and they are:
Pamela Allen, Sue Bleiweiss, Lisa Call, Jenny Bowker, Sherri Culver, Kathleen Loomis, Alison Schwabe, Pamela Druhen, Carol Ann Waugh, Susan Polansky and Phylis Cullen.

Each of them have signed on to work with at least one mentee and a couple are working with more than one. I am grateful for their willingness to sign on to be a part of this program because the success of the program really hinges on having enough mentors. And that brings me to my next statistic…

I have 9 mentees on the waiting list waiting to be matched up with a mentor. I need more mentors!

So I am once again putting out the call for mentors. Now I know that being a mentor isn’t for everyone and I absolutely understand and respect that but I’m guessing that there are some of you out there that are thinking you might be interested but you’re not sure about it because you are not sure how to be a mentor or what areas or categories you can mentor someone in. To answer those questions, just pop over to the SAQA website here: http://www.saqa.com/memberArt.php?ID=3369 All the information about the program is there and if you take a look at both the mentor and the mentee applications (regardless of which you want to apply for) those will also help answer your questions. If you still have questions or your unsure, then write to me at sue@suebleiweiss.com. I will be happy to talk with you about the program and how you can be a part of it.

The mentorship program is just one of the programs brought to you by the SAQA membership committee. The committee is chaired by Diane Wright and is made up of volunteers Clara Nartey (Secretary), Sue Bleiweiss, Paula Huffman Brown, Sharon Buck, Christine Hager-Braun, Candice Phelan, Allison Reker, Desi Vaughn, and Martha Wolfe. We meet once a month to discuss, brainstorm and develop programs and initiatives related to areas of membership. Watch for updates about the committee’s other programs and initiatives in future emails.

By the way - if you're curious about what other commitees that SAQA has you'll find that information on the SAQA website here: http://www.saqa.com/about.php?ID=72 http://www.saqa.com/about.php?ID=72


Don’t forget these SAQA opportunities!

Concrete and Grasslands – September 30

SAQA Journal Member Gallery – October 1

Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora – October 31

My corner of the World – November 30

Tranquility – January 31, 2016

Turmoil – February 28, 2016


Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Email contributions to koszko@iinet.net.au. If you could prepare the text yourself we can then just cut and paste. And don’t forget to include images wherever possible!


That’s it for now – keep creating!!!



Ali, Susie and Kate
*************************************************************************************

July 2015

Welcome to another monthly newsletter! We hope you are all keeping well and warm!

New Member Welcome!
Welcome to new members Sarah Cox and Kathryn Robertson. We’re very pleased to have you aboard!

Meet Ali and Rebecca Staunton
Ali and Rebecca will be at the WA Craft Show in August – stop by to say hi! This show kicks off a new SAQA Trunk Show tour of Australia

Meet Kate in Newcastle
Kate will be at the Show from 13 to 16 August, with a floor talk at noon every day. I would be great to catch up with members!

Successful Meet Up at the Sydney Quilt Show
Lisa Walton organised a few meetings with SAQA members in town for the Sydney Quilt & Craft Show. It was a great opportunity to match faces to names and get to know each other a little especially as we had a few interstate visitors. Here is the group who met up on the first day

Back row – Yvonne Line Brenda Gael Smith, Sue Devanny, Denise Griffiths, Mirjam Aigner
Front row – Maxine O’Toole, Lisa Walton, Rasa Maugaris

Also at get together, but not pictured - Beth Miller, Alex & Judy Schaefer, Buffy Beggs and Wilma Cawley


Members’ Space
We love it when members let us know what is happening in their neck of the woods – small and big achievements, successes and experiences are celebrated here.

Lisa Walton is very pleased that her quilt Blue Corridor has been selected for the prestigious Tactile Architecture Exhibition which will be on display at IQA shows for a year starting with Houston



From Alan Tremain

MEDIA RELEASE—June 2015 Out of Africa An Exhibition of Wax Cloth Quilts by Alan R Tremain Art Studios Gallery, 391 Mann Street, North Gosford NSW 2250 August 5—16, 2015 Quilting Design Workshop ‘Autumn Splendor—Emotional Response to Colour’. A 4day onsite Quilting Workshop will be conducted in conjunction with the exhibition. Request application form from ozquilt@bigpond.com Or go to www.artstudioscooperative.org/workshops Art Studios Cooperative, 391 Mann Street, North Gosford NSW 2250 Monday and Tuesday 10 & 11, 17 & 18 August 2015 Contact: Alan Tremain / Oz Quilt Design / ozquilt@bigpond.com / 0418 273 940 / PO Box 9235 Wyoming NSW 2250 ‘Out of Africa’ is a much awaited exhibition of dramatic and original quilts made using and inspired by African Wax Cloth. This is the first solo exhibition by Alan since suffering a stroke August 2013. While African Wax Cloth embodies a very dramatic and colourful history, its true origin is yet to be defined. Views differ as to how Dutch wax prints entered the West African market. One view is that in the late 1800’s Dutch freighters on their way to Indonesia from Europe with their machinemade batik textiles stopped at various African ports, and subsequently an African client base grew. African wax cloth fabrics have been widely embraced by couture fashion houses in both Europe and USA. One of the most popular wax cloth print themes has historically been the use of political images and campaign slogans. African wax cloth is well known for its highly stylised and innovative bold and colourful design with very graphic images. On additional display in this exhibition will be a quilt by an unknown African quilter using such themes. This quilt, which has miraculously survived since 1944, features on the whole‐cloth quilt backing, a print celebrating the election of William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman as the 19th President of Liberia on 3rd January 1944. He was later to become known as ‘The Father of Liberia’. This quilt has resided in Africa, England, USA and now forms part of Alan’s private quilt collection of significant quilts. Another ‘presidential’ quilt on display will be one titled ‘Happy Birthday Mr President’ which bears no resemblance to the breathy birthday song, sung to President John F. Kennedy at his 45th birthday by an adoring Marilyn Munroe on May 19th 1962. Instead this quilt celebrates both President Barack Obama’s election as the 44th President of the United States as well as his birthday on 4th August. Barack’s father Barack Snr., was a Luo from Nyang’oma Kogelo, Republic of Kenya, West Africa. Obama’s parents met in 1960 in a Russian class at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, where his father was a foreign student on scholarship. A Zairean fable, ‘The Tortoise, The Elephant and The Hippopotamus’ features pictorially as the central panel in another quilt in typical African colour palette of bright yellow, red and black. ‘African wax cloths are so dramatic and inspiring. I found it very hard to choose which prints that excited me the most and I’ve tried to include many of my most popular quilt designs in this exhibition ranging from small to large’ Alan says. Alan R Tremain is Australia’s longest practising male quilt designer and is recognised internationally for his design, quilt conservation and restoration abilities. Alan’s inspiring and dramatic ‘Out of Africa’ wax cloth quilt exhibition will be opened at 2.30pm on Saturday 8th August by International Quilt Artist Judy Hooworth and introduced by the Quilt Study Group of Australia’s Convenor Karen Fail, both Life Members of the Quilters’ Guild of NSW Inc. 


Inspiration
In previous Newsletters Helen Beaven and Mel Forrest put together some information about all the resources that are available on the SAQA website. Here are two more.

1 – Maria Shell presented a fabulous talk at the Conference, and there was a lot of interest from other members for her to share her knowledge – she very generously has put together a webinar. Highly recommended. This direct link may open up a page for you to sign into your SAQA account since mentorship webinar are a members-only resource. Enter your info and the page will automatically redirect to the webinar.

2 – Lyric Kinard led two breakout sessions about making bad art – sounds counter intuitive, but she is awesomely inspiring. She also very generously puts out a newsletter that also includes calls for entry. You can visit her website to find out this information and also sign up for her newsletter - http://lyrickinard.com/

3 – Ali has been listening to some wonderful podcasts by Grace Bonney (a design blogger with a love for art and design) and highly recommends these – if you have a communte or other ‘free’ time, it’s worth plugging in and being inspired - www.heritageradionetwork.org/programs/79-After-the-Jump


Oceania Exhibition 2017?
We think than many Oceania members would like to work towards a SAQA exhibition, and we know that there other regions were very interested in hosting an exhibition from SAQA Oceania members, so anything we arrange has the potential to tour internationally.

We feel that planning for an exhibition in 2017 is realistic – the making of the pieces is one thing, the organization will also take a fair bit of time.

SOOOO….who has the interest and time to get this rolling? Please let us know – don’t wait for someone else to put their hand up if it’s something you’d like to do. It could be super exciting to exhibit here and then have our work travel the world!


Call for Entry
Art Quilt Elements 2016
Juror:Bruce Pepich, Racine Art Museum, Executive Director and Curator of Collections
For more information visit www.artquiltelements.org
Last day to enter is September 30.
Wayne Art Center
413 Maplewood AvenueWayne, PA 19087
(610) 688-3553



Postcards Update
Kate still has all the postcards from members that she took to the SAQA Conference. The work represented is really interested, and it would be great if we could take them around with us as we (Ali and Kate) visit the various shows with the SAQA trunk show.

Our thinking is that we won’t put them up on a wall (too much worry about them being taken), but we will have them on the table when we are personally there, so we can show them to visitors and talk about them, and when we aren’t at the table, we will put them away safely.

Only fibre postcards will be included. If you supplied a fibre postcard, and you’re happy for it to be seen by show visitors around Australia, you need do nothing. If you supplied a fibre postcard and you don’t want it to travel, and want it back, then please email Kate (koszko@iinet.net.au). If you only sent an image the first time, but want to make a fibre postcard to be included with the others, please email Kate with details so she knows to expect your card (koszko@iinet.net.au).

New Mentorship Program: An Exciting New Benefit for SAQA Members
Sue Bleiweiss, Massachusetts/Rhode Island Rep writes –

At the end of 2014 I launched a pilot mentorship program in my region (MA/RI) in the hopes that it could eventually be offered to all members throughout the organization. What started as a small region based test program is now available for all members of SAQA to participate in.

What is the mentorship program? It’s a goal or project-based program of peer mentoring open to all SAQA members seeking one-on-one mentorship for a period lasting up to twelve months: SAQA mentoring is a partnership in professional development. The SAQA mentor is a friend, a trusted guide, one who shares knowledge and resources with a less experienced colleague. The mentor’s responsibility is to provide guidance, support and feedback. The mentee’s responsibility is to identify goals and make reasonable progress in attaining those goals. Mentors are recruited and matched to mentee applicants based on availability and areas of interest. Mentors will review the advisee applications from SAQA members: If the mentor accepts the applicant and the mentee is amenable, both will receive a welcome email and begin meeting to discuss and define the goals and objectives of the mentorship. These meetings can be held via FaceTime or Skype if meeting in person is not geographically possible.

As far as I know, there is no other organization as large as SAQA offering a program like this as a benefit with a general membership level. You can find more information about the program along with applications for both mentors and proteges on the SAQA website.



Don’t forget these opportunities!

The Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize: ‘History, Her Story’
The major prize of $3000 is sponsored by Bernina Australia. Entries close 31 July 2015. www. tasquiltguild.org.au.

Concrete and Grasslands – September 30
Explore the juxtaposition of the natural landscape and the human constructed cityscape.

Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora – October 31
All works will reflect on the theme ‘Diaspora’.


Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Email contributions to koszko@iinet.net.au. If you could prepare the text yourself we can then just cut and paste. And don’t forget to include images wherever possible!


That’s it for now – keep creating!!!



Ali, Susie and Kate
******************************************************************************

June 2015

Only a few days until June, and lots happening. I hope you are all finding studio time during this cooler time of the year!

New Member Welcome!
Welcome to new members Karen Mundt (Queensland) and Kathryn Robertson (Victoria). We’re very pleased to have you aboard!

Meet Up at the Sydney Quilt Show
Lisa Walton is keen to have a SAQA gtg at the Sydney Quilt Show at Glebe Island. She’s thinking about a coffee around 3 when it gets quieter; her preferred days are Saturday or Sunday, but she could be available on another day, depending on interest. Please email Lisa: lisa@dyedheaven.com

Members of Brisbane
Our quarterly meeting is on Saturday 13 June, at 10am in the Gallery Café. Local and visitors alike are very welcome to come along and chat about all things arty!!

Members’ Space
We love it when members let us know what is happening in their neck of the woods – small and big achievements, successes and experiences are celebrated here.

Lisa Walton writes –
“My Bushfire Sunset quilt [image below] is going to be hung in the Boardroom of the Rural Fire Service.



Brenda Gael Smith writes -
“Following the fantastic response to Beneath the Southern Sky and Living Colour!, I am curating another travelling textile art exhibition touring in 2016/2017.

All the details at: www.amatteroftimetextiles.com. There is also a facebook page: facebook.com/aMatterofTimeTextiles. International entries welcome!”

  
Charlotte Scott writes -
“I interviewed fellow SAQA Oceania member, Helen Godden, when she visited NZ in January for the Manawatu Quilt Symposium. It's a great listen as Helen is funny, upbeat and full of interesting information.

Here is a link to listen to the interview via a podcast on my blog: http://theslightlymadquiltlady.blogspot.co.nz/2015/05/podcast-interview-with-quilt-artist.html

and an iTunes link:



Kaye Sauer writes
“I thought you may like to know that one of my quilts ‘My Top 40’ won first prize at Brookfield Show in the Art/Pictorial Section. I have attached a photo.”



Rebecca Staunton Coffey writes
“Eight of my quilts will be on show at Parliament’s Exhibition Space in Wellington, New Zealand, from 30 April to 6 June 2015. The exhibition is called ‘The Colour of ....’ and features the work by eight quilt artists from the Hutt Valley: Patricia Ashcroft, Diana Carroll, Margaret Davidson, Brenda McPartlin, Ruth Nicholas, Gael O’Donnell, Margaret Rogerson, and me. Our group was originally called 8 by 8 until recently when we added an extra person (now we are 3 squared) this is our second series of 15 inch by 12 inch quilts. The first series was exhibited in Upper Hutt Expressions Gallery. I have stayed in the Group even though I have returned to live in Australia.

Different techniques and ways of working with fabric are what interest me the most. The opportunity to work with colour using fabric, paint or thread is exciting.

Doing my textile art provides an opportunity to enter a different world which is challenging and consuming. There is the discovery of different approaches to a subject, the researching and planning, and the playing and experimenting to achieve the finished art quilt. My work mixes traditional quilting techniques with more innovative surface design and uses some of my own hand dyed and handprinted fabrics.

I have completed City and Guilds by distance with Laura and Linda Kemshall(UK) in Patchwork and Quilting and Creative Sketchbooks. I also undertook an Artist Strength Training distance course with Jane Dunnewold and found this very helpful in terms of reflection and focus of my work.”

Quilt National
Kate Oszko writes –
‘It was an absolute pleasure to visit The Dairy Barn Arts Centre in Ohio and see the Quilt National artworks hanging in that wonderful space.

Of the 84 artists whose work was on show, 5 were Australians,  3 from Japan, 3 from Germany, 2 from Canada, 2 from Switzerland, 1 from Northern Ireland, 1 from Great Britain, 1 from Denmark, and the rest from the USA.

SAQA Oceania members represented are - Kathy Brown - Growing Pains; Ruth de Vos - The Boundless Energy of Children; and Judy Hooworth - Rainy Day Dora Creek #12.”

http://dairybarn.org/quilt-national/quilt-national-2015/



Don’t forget these opportunities!

The Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize: ‘History, Her Story’
The major prize of $3000 is sponsored by Bernina Australia. Entries close 31 July 2015. www. tasquiltguild.org.au.

Urban Textures Challenge –
A challenge using SAQA’s fabric line, “Urban Textures’, with entries featured in a special online exhibition, and 15 appearing in an upcoming issue of the SAQA Journal.

Concrete and Grasslands – September 30
Explore the juxtaposition of the natural landscape and the human constructed cityscape.

Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora – October 31
All works will reflect on the theme ‘Diaspora’.


Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Email contributions to koszko@iinet.net.au. If you could prepare the text yourself we can then just cut and paste. And don’t forget to include images wherever possible!


That’s it for now – keep creating!!!



Ali, Susie and Kate
*********************************************************************************************

May 2015


Hello everyone!
Quick Suggestions

2015 SAQA Conference – Fiberlandia
I (Kate) put together a brief report on the Conference in a special edition Newsletter which you will have received by now. It truly was a great experience to be among my ‘amen, sisters’.

Lisa Walton (Vice President) also wrote about her experience. She says “I really encourage you all to think of attending the next one which will be in Philadelphia (29 March - 3 April 2016). You will certainly enjoy it and be inspired and meet some really interesting like minded souls. If you are interested in seeing some of the action in pictures you can check out my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Dyedheaven “

It can be a good idea to get a few small art works ready now, for donation pieces or other opportunities that crop up. Here are a few sizes to consider –

4in x 6in (postcard)

6in x 8in (SAQA Spotlight donation size) – these looked great when matted

12in x 12 (Benefit Auction donation size).

It is also a great idea to make some good quality/high resolution images of your work. Most competitions/shows now ask for online entry, so it’s good to be prepared now.


New Group
Neroli Henderson writes –
“I’m wanting to start up a get together of SAQA members for a once a month meeting in St Kilda. I’ve managed to get a restaurant venue, opposite Luna Park and the Palais with a semi private dining room that fits up to 18 and we’re welcome to sit and chat over coffee or lunch or even bring hand work and sketch books etc. They have even said a machine would be ok if we needed one to demo something. There is lots of parking around there too (street and off street) and it has a major tram stop outside the door.

I’m currently trying to gauge interest - and find out what times / days would work best for most people. Please email me back if you’re interested in this and I’ll add you to a list!

As far as I know there are no inner city art quilt get togethers and I know I’d love to spend an hour or two around creative types regularly.”

Email Neroli at eiloren@me.com


Benefit Auction Deadline
Don’t forget - 1 June 2015 is the deadline for your 12” x 12” auction piece.


World Quilt Competition Deadline
Brenda Gael Smith writes –
“Entries for the 2015 World Quilt Competition close on 18 May 2015.
The Australian entry form is available at http://www.worldquiltaustralian.com
Entries can be submitted online, by e-mail or by post.
New Zealand entry forms are available from Anne Scott at NZ Quilter nzquilter@xtra.co.nz

The World Quilt Competition 2015 premieres in New England before touring to Pennsylvania, Palm Springs and Santa Clara.  Quilts must be larger than 1296 square inches (eg 36in x 36in or 30in x 40in) and completed since 2013.

Brenda Gael Smith
Australian World Quilt Coordinator
info@worldquiltausttralian.com
www.worldquiltaustralian.com”


Other Opportunities
 - SAQA Journal Gallery section: Health and Wholeness – 1 July 2015
 - Urban Textures Challenge - 31 July 2015
 - Concrete and Grasslands - 30 September 2015
 - Stories of Migration - 31 October 2015
 - SAQA Journal Gallery section: Something New – 1 October 2015
 - My corner of the world (international) – 30 November 2015
 - Tranquility – 31 January 2016
 - Turmoil – 29 February 2016
See the SAQA website for more information about the above.


Members’ Space
We love it when members let us know what is happening in their neck of the woods – small and big achievements, successes and experiences are celebrated here.

Helen Godden writes –
“This was the Redirecting the Ordinary selection "A Close Shave". Hand painted with Dye on calico and extreme free -motion graffiti quilting in back ground”

Helen Godden – “A Close Shave”

Helen Godden – “A Close Shave” (detail)


Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Email contributions to koszko@iinet.net.au

If you could prepare the text yourself we can then just cut and paste. And don’t forget to include images wherever possible!

That’s it for now – keep creating!!!

Ali, Susie and Kate
***********************************************************************************

April 2015


Hate to say it – one quarter of the year gone! As we head into the cooler months it usually means more inside time. I hope you are all finding the opportunity to create.
  
New Member Welcome!
First – thanks to all the members who promote SAQA through their enthusiasm and encouragement to others. It’s so great to see the membership increase.

Second – I apologise if you are a new member and we have not formally welcomed you! There was a changeover in systems at SAQA, and that may be why some people have not appeared in this space in previous newsletters. Rest assured, we really value your membership, your input, and what you bring to the group.

So – here are the names of those coming up on the list as new members in 2015 who have not been welcomed yet (if you aren’t a newie, well, you have received a double welcome!! lol)
Sharon Bradley
Liana Christlo
Ellizabeth Dubblede
Helen Harford
Sharon Tyzzer Jewson
Alison Leslie
Mary Lewis
Catherine McDonald
Rhonda Stien

Welcome all!!


Meet Up at the AQC
Lisa Walton is organising a SAQA dinner on Thursday night at the AQC in Melbourne and would love to hear from as many SAQA members who are in town. Dinner will be in Lygon Street and is a great opportunity to meet and chat with fellow SAQA Members. Contact Lisa - lisa@dyedheaven.com if you would like to come along.


Exploring the SAQA Website – by Helen Beaven
Helen has put together another instalment of all that is on offer on the SAQA website - www.saqa.com


Member Listing
For a listing of all SAQA members:
or
Members>Member Resources>SAQA Member Directory
The page will look something like this:

Use the drop down boxes or the table to search.
Each member is listed along with their location, contact details and website (if they have one).

If you get lost or can’t quite find the right information, try the site map:
The site map link appears at the bottom of every page.


Members’ Space
We love it when members let us know what is happening in their neck of the woods – small and big achievements, successes and experiences are celebrated here.

Pam Holland writes –
“I’m in Mexico Teaching with now and it’s an amazing experience. I wrote this the other day so it’s from my Journal.

‘Another day begins and the daylight is tipping the trees.

For a Tutor, teaching in a country in a foreign language is challenging and very rewarding. (I don't speak Spanish).

The middle of Mexico is a long way from Australia. Here I am surrounded by the most wonderful Mexican friends. I'm in a totally Mexican environment, and we are managing to share the ideas and techniques on Textile Art that I have created at home in my studio in suburban Aldgate.

It’s more than that though, it's a fusion of creativity and design. I capture as much as I can with photographs which tell only part of the story. It's the history and culture that is shared through conversations with vendors and artisans here that complete the picture.

At an Art Gallery in Patzcuaro I had the opportunity to teach Americans and indigenous artisans who have never experienced a quilting class. They shared their art with me and a joining of creativity has begun.

I’m teaching 9 classes throughout Mexico, every person in class is Mexican and it’s unique to have a translator and two cameramen following me around the class. The video is being translated into 15 languages and shared throughout the world.

Classes are loud, bright and a lot of fun and I’m excited to be teaching this art to men as well as women.

I count my blessings that I'm able to be in this 'place' right now and I also thank the troops back home for their observation of my passion... I will be home for an extended time after July which will be a bit of a difference after years of travel.’

Cheers Pam”


Chris Hussey writes -
“I am the workshop co ordinator for the Hobart-based textile group Stitching and Beyond. I am organisng a workshop for Jeannette DeNicolis Meyer very early February or late January for Stitching and Beyond (dates not yet confirmed, but she has to be back in the US by February 20). She will be in NZ and is going home to the US via Australia to accommodate our workshop request. Her workshops and fees are on her website, but she has told me she is choosing not to offer Surface Design in Australia for a number of very good reasons. Cost-wise for our group, this involves the one way airfare from NZ, plus internal airfares in Australia, workshop fees and accommodation. We were happy to pay this ourselves originally, but Jeanette is wondering if there are others interested.

Jeanette is looking for another workshop or two in Melbourne/ nearby Melbourne, coastal NSW north of Sydney or perhaps southern Queensland. I envisage if say, another 2 or 3 groups joined with us, we could share the NZ-Australia airfare. A further possibility is perhaps to divide the total internal airfare by 2 or 3, depending on the groups that were involved as we are doing with Cas Homes visit later this year, making the airfare component more equitable. Clearly each group would be responsible for fees and accommodation costs for their part of the tour.

If anyone is interested, please could they email me (Chris) at SandBworkshops@gmail.com


Catherine McDonald writes -
“If anyone is interested in teaching at the New Zealand Christchurch Quilt Symposium 2017 then they can register information on the website www.quiltsymposium2017.org.nz
and should do this by the end of June. About 50 tutors are selected for the event with several (20ish) from overseas.”


Tricia Smout writes
“My ‘Life’s Golden Highlights’ piece was accepted into the Golden Textures Biennial Contemporary Art Quilt Exhibition, displayed at Central Goldfields Art Gallery, Maryborough, Victoria (21st February – 5th April 2015). It is 150 cm long and 39 cm wide. The photography is by Jolanta Szymczyk.

Description: Occasionally, for the lucky few prospectors, gold appears as gleaming flecks and nuggets and veins in otherwise seemingly worthless rock. Similarly glimmers of hope and sparks of good fortune are hidden within the tedious dross and trivia of our everyday existence. In times of stress and turmoil, we need to develop the ability to seize these positive moments and embrace them. This quilt features inspiring quotations about seizing offered opportunities, seeking cheerful experiences and aiming high to bring our dreams to fruition, while also making the best of the gloomy times. These gems of wisdom appear as bright sparks, written, embroidered and beaded on glittery and black fabrics, encased and surrounded by layers of less exotic materials.”

Life by Tricia Smout

Tricia’s piece will be travelling to the UK!! (see below)


Jenny Bacon writes –
Golden Textures- Contemporary Art Quilts was on at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery, Neill St., Maryborough Vic until 5th April 2015. The 2015 Acquisitive Prize was won by Ruth de Vos for Banksia Spill. A selection of quilts from Golden Textures will travel to Festival of Quilts in Birmingham UK in August 2015. We are an independent show run by the Gallery and supported by the Central Goldfields Council, not attached to any Guild, Group or Network, aiming to build a collection of contemporary art in ‘quilted’ form to complement the rest of the art collection held by this regional gallery. Open to any Australian quilt artist, we will next be looking for Expressions of Interest in mid 2016. If you wish to be on our mailing list please contact Curator: Jenny Bacon jbacon@iinet.net.au


Helen Godden writes –
‘SAQA Food For Thought - my second SAQA exhibition i have entered and selected that’s 2/2. First was Redirecting the Ordinary and it was sold for $1800 - I was going to put $500 on it and they said NO NO NO so I was very pleased for their advice. However I should have stopped there. 3rd entry for Wild fabrications was rejected/not selected. That’s how it goes.

Food For Thought - C is for…Couching. I am doing lots of experimental couching and developing this new technique. I have created an entire landscape (Missoula Montana, for CEO of Handi Quilter, look at his proud grin) piece and then this vegetable still life, all couched with no digital image underneath just free hand and I call the technique Couched Yarn Painting.

Missoula Montana Landscape by Helen Godden


Vegetable Still Life by Helen Godden

Vegetable Still Life (detail) by Helen Godden


Don’t forget these opportunities!

  - SAQA Journal – Health and Wholeness – May 1
  - The Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize: ‘History, Her Story’
The major prize of $3000 is sponsored by Bernina Australia. Entries close 31 July 2015. www. tasquiltguild.org.au.
 - Urban Textures Challenge –
A challenge using SAQA’s fabric line, “Urban Textures’, with entries featured in a special online exhibition, and 15 appearing in an upcoming issue of the SAQA Journal.
  -Concrete and Grasslands – September 30
Explore the juxtaposition of the natural landscape and the human constructed cityscape.
  -Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora – October 31
All works will reflect on the theme ‘Diaspora’.


SAQA Benefit Auction 2015
Have you started your Auction Quilt yet? The final deadline 1 June. Not that far away! Full information: http://www.saqa.com/memberArt.php?ID=3304


Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Email contributions to koszko@iinet.net.au. If you could prepare the text yourself we can then just cut and paste. And don’t forget to include images wherever possible!


That’s it for now – keep creating!!!


Ali, Susie and Kate
**********************************************************


March 2015

Greetings! Well, 2015 is truly off to a great start – lots of happenings to share.

New Member Welcome!
Maree Rogers and Sharon Thomson are our two newest Oceania members. Hi from us all and great to have you part of our region!

Exploring the SAQA Website  - www.saqa.com - by Helen Beaven
Member FAQ
The SAQA website is full of useful information, for a list of membership related frequently asked questions:
Scroll down past membership questions to also find:
·        General questions
·        Exhibition questions
·        Website/technical questions

For a different view:
Members > Member FAQ

For new member information:
Members > Member Resources > Frequently Asked Questions > Information for New Members or
Members > Member FAQ > Information for New Members

If you get lost or can’t quite find the right information, try the site map:
The site map link appears at the bottom of every page.


CONGRATULATIONS!!
Dianne Firth writes:  “I have 'Earth Bones #2' (see below) showing in the Golden Textures Biennial Contemporary Art Quilt Exhibition, Central Goldfields Art Gallery, Maryborough, Victoria 21st February – 5th April 2015.
I have also had 'Sea Blue' preliminary acceptance for the AQC True Blue challenge, but shouldn't show you that one just yet.”

Sue Dennis writes:  “I have 5 quilts in the Golden Textures exhibition, currently on show at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery in Maryborough, Victoria. The exhibition runs until April 5 with opening hours being Thursday- Sunday 10am-4pm. My quilt ‘We all dance around the sun #2’ was selected for the AQC True Blue Challenge touring exhibition. The exhibition premiers in Melbourne during the Australasian Quilt Convention April 16-19.” Sue’s work for Golden Textures is her ‘Seduced by the Imperfect’ series – see below

Jan Scudamore writes:
“I have two exhibitions going back to back
1          ‘Filling In the Gaps’ (see image below) a retrospective exhibition of past works. Layering and filling in the gaps  on textile art pieces using commercial fabrics, haberdashery, beads, recycled items, stretch and furnishing fabrics with a bit of glitz. Some of them are large wallhangings quilted and stitched and some are hand stitched onto circular frames and art boards which, were used to create the many and varied textile art works. On display at Rosalie Gallery Goomungee Queensland (approx 60klms north west of Toowoomba) Gallery open Wednesday to Sunday 10.00am to 3.30pm; exhibition on from the 18th March 2015 until 12th April 2015.
 Shifting Sands by Jan Scudamore

2          The second exhibition is one that has been in the pipeline for over two years and this is a joint exhibition. Tessa Wright and I worked to a theme titled "Aspects". This is a textile and mixed media exhibition showcasing very different responses to the contrasting features of the bush, rainforest, reef and rainforest. The whole idea is to take the viewers on a journey as they wander through the gallery looking at the works.
The exhibition is on at the Lockyer Valley Regional Art Gallery at the Lake Apex Community Centre Gatton Queensland from 11th April 2015 until 24th May 2015.
Forest Floor by Jan Scudamore

There is a very sad twist to this exhibition. I attended the Quilt Symposium in Palmerston North in NZ and on the very last day of the Symposium, I received a message to phone back to Oz urgently. I did and learned that Tessa had passed away suddenly. Tessa and I were very close and worked very well together, especially when putting this exhibition together.

I made the decision to continue with the exhibition and over the past few weeks, I have had to complete not only her works, but my own. Some of the things we had planned won't happen, but nevertheless, I am sure the whole idea of the exhibition will remain and I am treating it as if she is still taking part. I personally have been in grief mode, as I finish the projects and touch her works.

An article about the exhibition is now appearing in the Textile Magazine by TAFTA and written by Toowoomba Chronicles Art Critic - Sandy Pottinger. Which has been a great thrill and compliments the exhibition.

One never knows what around our corner. And I wondered if anyone in the group has ever experienced a similar situation.”

Neroli Henderson’s work ‘The Fallen’ (see below) has been selected for the AQC True Blue Challenge, touring exhibition.

Postcards for Portland
THERE IS STILL TIME!!! A reminder about my address -

Kate Oszko
9 Estaway Ct
Capalaba  QLD  4157

The postcard just needs to be a regular size – approx 4in x 6in. Put your details on the back – name, city/town, state, email addy – and any other information you wish. Also, please let us know if you’d like the postcard returned.

If anyone wants to chat about ideas for their postcard, we are here to help – just drop use a line. Ali - ali@aliquilts.com.au; Kate - koszko@iinet.net.au.

Don’t forget these opportunities!
·        Spotlight Auction – March 20
A chance to have your work showcased at the Fiberlandia Conference in Portland

·        Two by Twenty – March 31
Twenty accepted artists will show two pieces that relate to each other in some way. This exhibition will feature SAQA artists whose work has not appeared in a SAQA exhibition in the past three years.

·        SAQA Journal – Health and Wholeness – May 1

·        The Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize: ‘History, Her Story’
The major prize of $3000 is sponsored by Bernina Australia. Entries close 31 July 2015. www. tasquiltguild.org.au.

·        Urban Textures Challenge –
A challenge using SAQA’s fabric line, “Urban Textures’ , with entries featured in a special online exhibition, and 15 appearing in an upcoming issue of the SAQA Journal.

·        Concrete and Grasslands – September 30
Explore the juxtaposition of the natural landscape and the human constructed cityscape.

·        Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora – October 31
All works will reflect on the theme ‘Diaspora’.


SAQA Benefit Auction 2015
Have you started your Auction Quilt yet? Early bird entries are due in on 1 April with the final deadline 1 June. Not that far away! Full information: http://www.saqa.com/memberArt.php?ID=3304


Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Email contributions to koszko@iinet.net.au. If you could prepare the text yourself we can then just cut and paste. And don’t forget to include images wherever possible!


That’s it for now – keep creating!!!



Ali, Susie and Kate
*****************************************************************

January/February 2015

Hi Everyone!

First Newsletter of the year – which promises to be wonderful on many levels!

New Member Welcome!
A warm welcome to Alex Shaefer, Judy Schaefer and Chris Beardsley. Lovely to have you part of SAQA.

Stay connected!
There are a few ways to connect with the SAQA community.

 - Locally - the OMG! Oceania Mentorship Group, the new challenge is ‘Balance’. This is a low key, encouraging and interesting page to check and get inspiration! - www.facebook.com/groups/256979821174070.

 - Worldwide – there is a Yahoo Discussion Group for SAQA members only; request membership at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SAQA/join – don’t forget to include your full name in your request!

 - Worldwide - the Visioning Project is about visualizing goals and dreams and making them happen, with members helping each other with support, networking, and resource information; contact Suzan Engler if you’re interested – suzanengler@gmail.com

 - Worldwide – the SAQArtique group is open to all SAQA members and members offer critiques in the spirit of a shared interest in quilting as an art form and improvement of each person's talents; contact  Martha Ginn if this interests you - marthaginn@bellsouth.net


NZ SAQA-ers
In case you missed Charlotte Scott’s message on google groups – two visitors are looking to meet up with NZ SAQA-ers.

Charlotte writes –
“Hi everyone,
After sending out emails to organise a SAQA meet up at the NZ Symposium, I've received a couple from international SAQA members who will be in NZ this year and are interested in meeting other members.
I've sent personal emails to both Uta and Lisa, but if there are any other NZ members who would like to be in touch with them, I've included their messages for you.
Regards,
Charlotte Scott
www.theslightlymadquiltlady.blogspot.com

From Uta Lenk, co-rep for SAQA Europe/Middle East; Mozartstr. 6, 84137 Vilsbiburg, Germany; e-mail: Uta_at_SAQA@web.de
“Hello Charlotte - I saw your notice on the yahoo group. I won't be there at this time - but I am coming to NZ in November. I'll be in Wellington first for a few days, and then biking a bit. Would love to meet people, if there is interest. Perhaps you could mention it when you get together...?
Greetings, UtaBlog - SAQA Europe/Middle East's Blog: http://saqa-europe-middleeast.blogspot.de

From Lisa Call – lisa@lisacall.com
“Hi Charlotte,
I'm going to be in New Zealand in April to teach a workshop and afterwards I'll be traveling around the country for about 3 weeks. I'd love to connect with other saqa members while there. Is there some sort of local list or maybe a facebook group for new zealand saqa-ers?
lisa

Quilt Symposium Manawatu, New Zealand
Quite a few members were at the Symposium held in Palmerston North from 16 to 21 January. By all reports it was a fun time of learning and sharing.

Charlotte Scott interviewed Melanie Martin whose graffiti-inspired work was awarded Best of Show. You can listen to the interview on Charlotte’s blog, here - http://theslightlymadquiltlady.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/interview-with-melanie-martin-best-of.html
 
Alison Laurence won first prize in the Games Up challenge with "Hopscotch", and her quilt was selected to tour with the Suitcase Exhibition.
Helen Beaven's quilt 'No Sew HSTs' won a merit award in the 'Inspired Fibres' Category at the Symposium. The description of the Inspired Fibres Category is as follows ‘Without freedom, there is no creation in thread and fibre play. Innovative use of fibres and threads but must bear some resemblance to a quilt.' Helens’ quilt is wool and other fibres felted on to an acrylic felt base then quilted. It is her take on half square triangles - just the no sew variety.

Viewers’ Choice was won by Mathea Daunheimer for ‘Fragility - Kina on Rangiputa’. The images below are lovely details of her work. She was interviewed on ‘The Ambitious Quilter’ blog - http://www.theambitiousquilter.com.au/2015/01/26/a-new-zealander-on-talent-tuesday-mathea-daunheimer. Mathea’s blog is Esparta Fiber Arts

Brenda Gael Smith was in New Zealand teaching and exhibiting. Photos from the Living Colour! exhibition at Te Manawa gallery (Palmerston North) and NorthArt Gallery (Auckland) can be viewed at:

Postcards for Portland
Thanks for the cards I’ve received so far – I think we will blow people away with our diversity!

A reminder about my address -

Kate Oszko
9 Estaway Ct
Capalaba  QLD  4157

The postcard just needs to be a regular size – approx 4in x 6in. Put your details on the back – name, city/town, state, email addy – and any other information you wish. Also, please let us know if you’d like the postcard returned.

If anyone wants to chat about ideas for their postcard, we are here to help – just drop use a line. Ali - ali@aliquilts.com.au; Kate - koszko@iinet.net.au.

Call For Entry – All SAQA Members

Reminders

 - Balancing Act – deadline of 28 February
This show celebrates women both throughout history and today--and is open to any interpretation each artist feels inspired to depict. 

 - Spotlight Auction – March 20
A chance to have your work showcased at the Fiberlandia Conference in Portland

 - Two by Twenty – March 31
Twenty accepted artists will show two pieces that relate to each other in some way. This exhibition will feature SAQA artists whose work has not appeared in a SAQA exhibition in the past three years.

 - SAQA Journal – Health and Wholeness – May 1

 - Urban Textures Challenge –
A challenge using SAQA’s fabric line, “Urban Textures’ , with entries featured in a special online exhibition, and 15 appearing in an upcoming issue of the SAQA Journal.

 - Concrete and Grasslands – September 30
Explore the juxtaposition of the natural landscape and the human constructed cityscape.

 - Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora – October 31
All works will reflect on the theme ‘Diaspora’.

Call For Entry - Other
The Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize: ‘History, Her Story’. The major prize of $3000 is sponsored by Bernina Australia. Entries close 31 July 2015. www. tasquiltguild.org.au.

SAQA Benefit Auction 2015
Have you started your Auction Quilt yet?

Early bird entries are due in on 1 April – this means that your piece will be eligible for all publicity images. The final deadline is 1 June. Not that far away! Who is planning theirs? Any tips or tricks you’d like to share with us?


Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Send through celebrations and awards, information about exhibitions or general matters of interest to our membership – email them to koszko@iinet.net.au.

If you could prepare the text yourself we can then just cut and paste. And don’t forget to include images wherever possible!


That’s it for now – keep creating!!!



Ali, Susie and Kate
**********************************************************

December 2014

Hi Everyone!

So it’s the last Newsletter of the year. What a year 2014 has been!

New Member Welcome!
It’s wonderful to see the SAQA membership growing – a warm welcome to all our new members who have recently joined. We'll be sending you an individual invitation to join our Oceania Google Group as well as the OMG! (Oceania Mentorship Group) shortly - we're thrilled to have you in the Oceania region.
  
OMG! SAQA’s Oceania Mentorship Group
How are you progressing with the ‘Roots’ challenge? It has got a lot of us thinking about what it means to us. Join the discussion and sharing –
 www.facebook.com/groups/256979821174070.
  
Get Togethers
Are you heading to the NZ Quilt Symposium in Palmerston North in January 2015? How about a gtg with other SAQAers? Charlotte Scott is happy to coordinate this, so drop her a line if you want to catch up - lottiemscott@yahoo.com, or ring her on (NZ) mobile phone - 0277524648.

Veronica Oborn Jefferis who would very much like to meet up with some other SAQA members who live in Adelaide. Contact her on avjeff@bigpond.net.au if you are in the area and would like to get together.

Our Members of Brisbane (MOB) gtg on 13 December was a good way to catch up with what everyone was doing – and some shopping at the Gallery Gift shop may have occurred… 

(Back row, from left – Sue Dennis, Mel Forrest, Kate Oszko; Front row, from left – Kathryn Iliff, Janet Jackson)

The dates for 2015 are:
- Saturday 14 March
- Saturday 13 June
- Saturday 12 September
- Saturday 12 December.

Are you in another city/state and are looking to meet with other SAQA-ers? Let us know and we might be able to do some matchmaking!

Postcards for Portland
Have you made your post card yet? It would be great to have them sent to me by the end of January. My address -

Kate Oszko
9 Estaway Ct
Capalaba  QLD  4157

It just needs to be a regular size – approx 4in x 6in. Put your details on the back – name, city/town, state, email addy – and any other information you wish. Also, please let us know if you’d like the postcard returned.

A special message from Lisa Walton:

Hello Oceania Members.


In addition to membership fees, SAQA depends on your voluntary donations to provide the rich and varied programs that inspire, motivate, educate and develop quilt artists and to promote the appreciation of art quilts throughout the world.

Every gift and every donor count!  Participation from the entire SAQA community sends a message to the larger art world, increasing recognition for art quilts and the artists who make them.

I know that we all benefit from SAQA in different ways including selling and displaying our work through the Benefit Auction and Exhibitions. It would be wonderful if you would make a donation to the End of Year Appeal so that we can continue to benefit from this great organization.

Please lend your support by making a gift today (there is a button above) and show that the Oceania members appreciate everything that SAQA does for us.

I hope you all have a wonderful Festive Season and look forward to meeting up with many of you in the New Year. I will try and organize a get together at the AQC and Symposium in NZ.  If you are interested please let me know.

Thank you

Lisa Walton

Vice President – SAQA
  
Call For Entries
New - Balancing Act
Premiere Venues: International Quilt Festival, Houston, Texas -- October 2015; International Quilt Festival, Chicago, Illinois -- June 2016; Quilt! Knit! Stitch! Portland, Oregon -- August 2016; additional venues to be announced (work must be available to travel from September 2015 to December 2018).

Exhibit Concept: Throughout history, women have had to balance responsibilities to community, home and family while pursuing other interests, jobs or careers. From those who helped farm the land to those who worked the factories during wartime, to those who stand shoulder to shoulder with men to pursue careers, and those who serve as caregivers; women have always had to juggle the various aspects of their lives.

This show celebrates women both throughout history and today--and is open to any interpretation each artist feels inspired to depict. What have we accomplished that we now enjoy as rights and freedoms that our grandmothers and their grandmothers did not? What obstacles are left to conquer? We encourage both representational and abstract work.

Jurors: Lynn Bassett, Sue Bleiweiss; Managing Curator: Cynthia St. Charles
  
New - Stories of Migration: Contemporary Artists Interpret Diaspora
Premiere Location: Textile Museum, Washington, D.C. from mid March through late August 2016.

Exhibition Concept: Housed in the new George Washington University Museum, The Textile Museum is hosting a juried exhibition in collaboration with SAQA. All works will reflect upon the theme of "Diaspora." Diaspora is the dispersion of a people from an established ancestral homeland. These communities remain simultaneously active in social, economic, cultural, or political processes in their country of origin and with compatriots worldwide. In addition to presenting the pieces selected by jurors, the exhibition will feature social, cultural and historical commentary by faculty members of GW's acclaimed program in Diaspora Studies.

Jurors: Lee Talbot, Curator of Eastern Hemisphere Collections at The Textile Museum; Rebecca A. T. Stevens is Consulting Curator, Contemporary Textiles at The Textile Museum

SAQA Administrators: Leni Levenson Wiener and Patty Kennedy-Zafred; Please contact Leni@leniwiener.com with any questions regarding this prospectus (full prospectus online).

 Reminder - The Tasmanian Quilting Guild and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery have announced the theme for the 2015 Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize: ‘History, Her Story’. An entry form can be downloaded from www. tasquiltguild.org.au. Entries close on 31 July 2015. The major prize of $3000 is sponsored by Bernina Australia. Last year the winner was our very own Sandra Champion.
  
Reminders - SAQA has a range of opportunities for creating and entering work in collections, exhibitions and the Journal – here are the current ones:
Wild Fabrications - Deadline for Entry is January 31, 2015
SAQA Journal Gallery section: Creatures - Deadline is February 1, 2015
SAQA Journal Gallery section: Health and Wholeness - Deadline is May 1, 2015
Concrete and Grasslands - Deadline for Entry is September 30, 2015

The Pi Project
From the SAQA ebulletin. Sally Sellers writes -
‘If you don't know about The Pi Project, let me tell you about it: it is an international public art project celebrating the number Pi. Digits are made by individual participants on fabric (hooray for fiber art!) and sewn together in the precise order in which they appear in Pi. The result is a fabric "ribbon" that could be 200 feet or 2000 feet, depending on participation.

The Pi Project is gathering steam, but I still need numbers, especially from fiber artists! The public has responded positively and I've received many digits on 9.5" square (24 cm) pieces of fabric. The squares need not be fancy at all. The deadline is Jan 31, 2015, although ASAP is a far better deadline. Please send me a digit, and spread the word to others. For more complete information, go to www.ThePiProject.org.’
  
2015 Auction Quilts
Are you the person we’re looking for? Someone who can get us organized and on track for next year’s auction?

We don’t see it taking up too much time, just a few reminders here and there for those of us who need the encouragement.

Drop any of us a line if this is speaking to you!
  
News!
Get ready for an exciting new opportunity for Oceania members in 2015 – we can’t say too much yet, as final details have to be sorted. BUT we can say that it will be a wonderful chance to be part of a touring exhibition. Stay tuned!
  
Congratulations!
Beth Miller writes –
‘My quilt, Canberra the Planned City, was accepted into the Sweinfurth Art Center, Quilts = Art = Quilts. The exhibition runs until January 4 2015. I was lucky enough to win the Catherine Hastedt Award for Workmanship for this quilt.’

Well done Beth!
 


Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Send through celebrations and awards, information about exhibitions or general matters of interest to our membership – email them to ali@aliquilts.com.au or koszko@iinet.net.au.

If you could prepare the text yourself we can then just cut and paste. And don’t forget to include images wherever possible!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
From all of us – we wish you all the very very best for this time of year. We hope you have plenty of time to rest and recharge. We hope you have time to be creative or to start planning for the new year. We look forward to catching up again in 2015 for another amazing year.

Signing off for 2014


Ali, Susie and Kate
********************
October 2014

Hi everyone and welcome to the October newsletter. No, your calendar is not wrong – it IS November, but better late than never!

New Member Welcome!
Welcome Jennifer Bacon and Rae Poon new SAQA members in our region. Good to have you on board! We know you’ll find lots of resources and news that will help you in your journey as artists.

As reps, we are sent membership updates about once a month. But if you think someone should be mentioned here that isn’t, or if you’re getting this Newsletter and you’re no longer a member – please let us know!

OMG! SAQA’s Oceania Mentorship Group
The OMG! (Oceania Mentorship Group) on Facebook has been a great success. With the first challenge, Ali got us thinking about ‘unity’ and some of us have shared our work – not all of it complete. Joining the group is well worth it, as it gives another perspective on our art. There is no pressure to ‘do’ anything, but of course, sharing is encouraged, if that’s what works for you.

Sue Reno launched the second challenge on 1 October – and her chosen theme is ‘Roots’. If you haven’t already, check out the discussion and the way the theme has resonated with members.

The OMG! Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/256979821174070/ and ask to join!

Feedback Very Much Appreciated!!
Thanks to all the members who responded to our question about whether non-SAQA members can be part of OMG! We really appreciate the time you took to let us know your thoughts. As reps, we aim to do what you as members want/need. So if you have any other ideas/suggestions, they are more than welcome.

Travelling Trunk Show G – Our 25th Anniversary Trunk Show
Trunk Show G is heading to Adelaide in a few days. As usual, Ali will be the official escort, and would LOVE to say ‘hi’ to any local SAQA-ers.

Get Togethers
Members of Brisbane (MOB) – get ready for a slight change of meeting date. The quarterly gtg at the Queensland Art Gallery Café will now be the SECOND Saturday of the new season. This will free up some members who previously had clashes.

So, our next meeting will be 13 December, 10am.

In 2015, we’ll meet on Saturday 14 March, Saturday 13 June, Saturday 12 September, and (planning waaay ahead now) Saturday 12 December.

Everyone – locals and visitors – very welcome!

SAQA – What’s In It For You?
We often get asked about the benefits of being a member. A good question. Here are some of the things your membership offers you.

In June and July Mel Forrest and Helen Beaven wrote about the resources available on the SAQA website. There is heaps there, so it’s worth a re-read of their articles. Plus, Helen has put together some information for this Newsletter – all about Webinars – see below!

SAQA also offers members many opportunities to participate in juried exhibitions. Go to the SAQA website, click on the Resources tab at the top of the page, then click on ‘Calls for Entry’. Or go here - http://www.saqa.com/calendar.php?ID=9. You’ll see a list of deadlines and dates with a clickable link to more information. Always worth a look to see what’s on offer. This information is also mentioned in the regular e-bulletin sent to members.

How about submitting your work for the SAQA Journals? Read about the requirements and deadlines in the current e-bulletin, or here - http://www.saqa.com/calendar-detail.php?ID=3469. It’s a great opportunity to showcase your response to a particular them or idea to the broader SAQA world.

At a more local level we have:
-  this Newsletter where we share information/successes/events
-  our own regional blog - saqa-oceania.blogspot.com.au – where you can find previous -  Newsletters, links to member blogs, and a link to the main SAQA website
-  googlegroups – a discussion group and a way of getting information to members       quickly, allowing for interaction as well
-  OMG! Facebook membership group
-  Face to face get togethers – at the moment there is one regular meet up in Brisbane, but there are ad hoc ones tied in with local shows.

The main SAQA site has a page called ‘Maximize your SAQA Membership in 5 Easy Steps’ – some good resources/information there as well - https://www.saqa.com/members.php?ID=3245

Plus, we’re always open to other ways we can enhance your SAQA experience – just let us know!

SAQA Webinars – by Helen Beaven
Exploring the SAQA Website www.saqa.com
Every now and then SAQA host a webinar, this is either like a podcast (audio only) or a powerpoint presentation with audio. When these are ‘aired’ live you can join and listen. Webinars are advised in the weekly SAQA emails. The only one I’ve listened to live was at 8am NZ time – this would have been way less convenient in the various Australian time zones! Fortunately after the webinars have aired they are available on SAQA’s website.

The most recent webinars include:
-  Trade Only Design Library (TODL). This is a free research library and toolset for design professional. More information here - www.saqa.com/members.php?ID=3251
-  Maximising Your SAQA Membership in 5 Easy Steps. Includes information on connecting with other members, professional resources, career development and marketing - www.saqa.com/members.php?ID=3245
-  2014 Conference in Washington, DC. This includes highlights from workshops, exhibits and panel discussions.
-  ‘Selling Art Quilts’ with Wen Redmond, Roxanne Lessa and Frieda Anderson - www.saqa.com/members.php?ID=2238

To access the webinars you need to be logged on with your SAQA username and password. Use the links above or www.saqa.com/members.php?ID=2238 to go directly to the webinars.

Or, to navigate the website, scroll to the very bottom on the home page and select ‘site map’ (www.saqa.com/sitemap.php) – I find this makes locating things on SAQA’s site a lot easier. Select ‘member resources’, if you haven’t logged on to SAQA you’ll be asked at this point. Under ‘Professional Development’ select ‘Mentorship Webinar recordings’. There are recordings back to 2007 on a wide range of topics.

Conference 2015 – Portland Oregon
Are you going? A few of us have registered for Fiberlandia, the SAQA Conference in Portland Oregon from April 30 - May 3, 2015.

If you go to this web page - http://www.saqa.com/members.php?ID=3226 – you’ll see what’s planned, and further details of dates and times and other information.

Lisa Walton’s first hand account of the 2014 Conference was in the June Newsletter. Just head to the blog, click on the tab ‘Newsletters’ and scroll down to June to read all about it. This link will take you straight to the newsletters - http://saqa-oceania.blogspot.com.au/p/oceania-newsletters.html

Postcards for Portland
We know that not everyone can get to the Conference, for one reason and another, so Kate has cooked up a way to take you all with her!

Wouldn’t it be fabulous for SAQA-ers from around the world to see what Oceania artists get up to?

Here’s the idea – send Kate a postcard showing your work – approx 4in x 6in. It can be a newly created piece, or one you’ve already made and have kind of hanging around. Put your details on the back – name, city/town, state, and email addy. You can add anything else to this information side that you wish, but those details are a minimum. Also, please let us know if you’d like the postcard returned. The only cost to you will be the one way stamp to Kate.

The idea is to showcase the work of EVERYONE in this region, so it would be just so awesome if we could get a contribution from each member. I think members from elsewhere will be blown away by the talent we have here.

2014 Benefit Auction
As at writing, all auctions have closed. Congratulations to all those who submitted work – it was an absolute pleasure to browse the immense variety of artwork for sale. If you missed the chance to bid, there is still a chance to pick up something wonderful from the SAQA Store - http://www.saqa.com/storenew.php?scat=52

Help! A co-ordinator for next year’s Benefit Auction contributions is needed!
In 2013, Jenny Bowker had this wonderful idea for an ‘Oceania Collection’ of auction contributions. And it worked! We all got enthused, created wonderful pieces and posted progress on our blogs.

How about we do it all again in 2015? Having a co-ordinator will keep us on track, and make sure we don’t miss the submission date. Can you do it? It won’t be hard, but will be such a help to get some of us organized! Drop Ali/Susie/Kate/all of us a line if this is you!

News!
Lisa Walton has just released the first in her Creative Journeys ebook series. Book 1 is Fun and Easy Textile Surface Design Technique and has lots of great photos and links to videos. It is available through Lisa’s website www.dyedheaven.com or directly from Amazon. Lisa would love it if you helped spread the word on your networks as she is self publishing the series and would be very grateful for your support. She also wrote a blog post which has more information about why she is self publishing and more about what’s in the eBook - http://www.fibreinspirations.blogspot.com.au/2014/10/when-life-gives-you-lemons.html

The collection called ‘Australia Quilts’, curated by Brenda Gael Smith, was a special guest country exhibit at the European Patchwork Meeting in Alsace France. It was a big hit with viewers! The official online gallery is at http://brendagaelsmith.com/australiaquilts/ and there is a selection of exhibition photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/27239385@N04/sets/72157647521699198/

Another collection juried and curated by Brenda Gael Smith, ‘Living Colour’, will be at the South Australia Festival of Quilts 13-16 November. Suzanne Gummow will be presenting an artist floor talk on Saturday and Sunday at 1.30pm.

On 8 November, busy Brenda Gael Smith will be giving a presentation ‘Technology & Your Creative Practice’ at the Quilt Study Group meeting (the Group is part of of The Quilters' Guild of NSW Inc, Sydney). The meeting will commence at 2.00pm and go through until 4.30 pm. There is a new venue - Glover Cottages, 124 Kent Street, Millers Point, Sydney. Guild members $5.00 and non-guild members $10.00. Afternoon tea will be provided.


Judy Hooworth is having a solo show ‘Detour via The Silk Road’ at Timeless Textiles Gallery, 90 Hunter St Newcastle East. Opening 6pm -8pm 20th November until 14th December 2014. Judy’s new work is influenced by journeys to China and Central Asia in 2012/13. Inspired by embroidery and tile patterns from the region she has connected with artisans from the past, recreating and reinterpreting their designs with silk screened mono prints and intensive stitching in my quilts and textile pieces.

Neroli Henderson manages a Facebook group called ‘Textile Arts’ which has a challenge called ‘Horizons’ – entries (images) due by the last day of the year – 31 December. Go here for more information - https://www.facebook.com/events/1580981495458089/?ref=4

Congratulations!
Brenda Gael Smith’s artwork was juried into Quilts=Art=Quilts, Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, Auburn, NY: It will be on display form 1 November 2014 to 4 January 2015 along with the work of other Australians: Dianne Firth, Beth Miller, Alison Muir and Judy Hoowoorth (see below). See the listing at - http://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/exhibits/QAQ.html

Judy Hooworth writes - My quilt ‘Creek Drawing #9’ has been juried in to ‘Quilts=Art=Quilts’ at The Schweinfurth Art Center, Auburn NY, USA. Another quilt, ’Rainy Day Dora Creek #12’ was accepted for ‘Quilt National 2015’at the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio, USA from 23 May 2015 to  September 2015. This is the sixth time my quilts have been selected for this prestigious event.

Lucy Carroll’s work ‘Eucalyptus Melliodora’ has been selected as part of the Flying Arts Alliance Inc Queensland Regional Art Awards touring exhibition. This year’s theme was ‘The Sky’s the Limit’. Find more information here http://www.flyingarts.org.au/Events-Exhibitions-pg16383.html


Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Send through celebrations and awards, information about exhibitions or general matters of interest to our membership – email them to ali@aliquilts.com.au or koszko@iinet.net.au.

If you could prepare the text yourself we can then just cut and paste. And don’t forget to include images wherever possible!

That’s all for now – see you next month later this month!

Ali, Susie and Kate

*******************************************************************************************************
September 2014

Hi everyone and welcome to the September newsletter. We welcome two new members to the Oceania group – welcome Dale Robson and Janet Wright. 

OMG! SAQA’S OCEANIA MENTORSHIP GROUP
Our first challenge comes to a close in the next day or so – with our second challenge commencing on 1 October with Sue Reno as our guest artist. As always, it is never too late to participate and you can find the OMG! Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/256979821174070/ and ask to join. 

My own thoughts about the first challenge are that 10 – 15 of our members actively participated in the challenge and have responded positively to the discussion, ideas, and suggestions. There are also a large number of members who joined the Facebook group and do not participate and seem quite comfortable on the sidelines. I think it is great to have so much interest– although feedback on how the forum might be improved or enhanced is always appreciated and welcomed. 

I received a number of requests from non-SAQA members to join the group – and it raised the question of whether the group should be open to anyone who wishes to participate. The pros include introducing more people to SAQA and the con is that the group was established to support Oceania members and some may prefer to keep the group exclusively for SAQA Oceania members – or broaden to any interested SAQA member – I don’t have a view one way or the other and would appreciate feedback on your thoughts, if any, about whether membership could or should be extended. Tell us what you think! 

TRAVELLING TRUNK SHOW G – SAQA’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY TRUNK SHOW 





















Lea McComas - A Horse of Course


Trunk Show G continues its tour around Australia – having toured through Canberra and then Newcastle in recent weeks. We are so appreciative of the support provided by Expertise Events in travelling the trunk show for us throughout its touring life “Down Under”. Please let me know if you are interested in helping out at any of the upcoming shows – a few hours being available to talk about SAQA and introduce art quilts to an inquisitive public would be greatly appreciated. Next Lea McComas - A Horse of Coursedates are: Melbourne Stitches and Craft Show October 23-26, Adelaide Craft and Quilt Fair November 13-16. I will be heading to Adelaide for the quilt show – would love some company! 

I’ve been able to travel with the exhibition a little this year – and there has been a crowd favourite – which is Lea McComas’s A Horse of Course. 

GET TOGETHERS 



Members of Brisbane (MOB) gathered at the Queensland Art Gallery Café on 6 September and spent a wonderful morning (and for some lunch) before taking in one or more of the exhibitions on offer. A great opportunity to catch up and were joined again by a resident reptile. We are moving our get togethers to the second Saturday of the new season – so for December that means we will gather at 10am on Saturday 13 December. 

Feel free to organise your own get-togethers and meet with other Oceania members. Shows, Fairs and exhibitions often provide an opportunity to catch up. 

CELEBRATIONS AND MEMBER NEWS
Congratulations to Sue Dennis who has had two quilts accepted for the Hands all Around touring exhibition which premiers in Houston at the International Quilt Festival 2014 October 30-November 2. The exhibition tours through 2015 to USA venues. 

















Sue Dennis - Flood #1: River Rising























Detail of Sue Dennis’ Shake the Tree, also accepted into Hands All Around. 

Sue was also selected to make work for Golden Textures, a biennial contemporary art quilt exhibition hosted by the Central Goldfields Art Gallery in Maryborough, Victoria. 

Sue’s new series Seduced by the Imperfect will debut at the exhibition which runs from February 21- April 5, 2015. 

LIVING COLOUR! EXHIBITION IS ON TOUR 

Living Colour! continues on tour to the following venues in 2014 Brisbane Craft & Quilt Fair: 8-12 October 2014 with daily curator floor talks by Brenda Gael Smith at 1.30pm. Living Colour will also be at the South Australia Festival of Quilts 13-16 November 2014 with artist floor talks on Saturday and Sunday at 1.30pm. Finally for 2014 (but more tour dates in 2015 to be announced) at Grenfell Art Gallery, Grenfell, NSW: 22 November-20 December 2014 

Congratulations to all the SAQA members who were curated into this exceptional exhibition. I can’t wait to see it in the cloth in Adelaide.

REGIONAL REPS UPDATE
Susie, Kate and I caught up recently in Brisbane, a wonderful evening discussing all things Oceania and SAQA related. We had quite a few ideas including:
  Putting together an Oceania SAQA Trunk Show to travel to Australia and New Zealand in 2015 – 2016 comprising a piece from any participating Oceania member – similar to existing SAQA Travelling Trunk Shows – a specific size able to be mounted and sealed in plastic protective sleeves
  Postcards from Oceania – to be taken to Portland, OR for SAQA’s 2015 conference – and the possibility of alternating between an Oceania Collection for the Benefit Auction and blog hop (as for 2013) and an Oceania Trunk Show in the alternate year (which could also travel to the US or other regions)
  An Oceania Conference – in 2016
  Further developing OMG! – and thinking about making the challenge pieces 12” x 12” to be consistent with the Benefit Auction measurements
  Applying for regional grant funding for SAQA Oceania specific events (in conjunction with own source funding as required under SAQA’s policy/ies) 

SAQA CONFERENCE – 2015 – PORTLAND OREGON 
Next year’s conference will see a few Oceania members in attendance –and is just around the corner. I’ve had to defer attendance due to family health matters – which is disappointing because I know how much fun, professional development and networking is possible at these events! In the meantime it would be great to have a volunteer to write about their conference experience for an upcoming newsletter – get in touch if you can contribute an article. 

Kate will be preparing the October newsletter so please send anything art quilt related for inclusion – we want to share what you are up to with other members of the group. 

That’s all the news for this newsletter, so until next month, 

Ali, Susie and Kate.
*******************************************************************

August 2014

Hi everyone and welcome to the August newsletter. August has been a huge month including the Out of the Box at the Delmar Gallery in Sydney. Well done to everyone who contributed or participated in workshops.

OMG! SAQA’s Oceania Mentorship Group
Our first challenge is well underway. It’s not too late to join the conversation or participate, if only from the sidelines – everyone’s view is most welcome. The OMG! Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/groups/256979821174070/ and ask to join!

Travelling Trunk Show G – Our 25th Anniversary Trunk Show?
Trunk Show G debuted in Perth at the beginning of August and is now in Canberra for the Craft and Quilt Fair. Many thanks to the Canberra Quilters for setting up and packing away the trunk show – if any member is available to help out at any of the 25th anniversary venues – please get in touch. 

(K. Velis Turan’s West village North)

A Reminder: Art Inspirations: Abstracts and Geometrics
Martha Sielman, SAQA’s Chief Executive Officer is excited to announce that she has just signed a contract with Interweave to write "Art Quilt Inspirations: Abstracts & Geometrics". The book will include interviews with 20 Featured Artists showing multiple works by each. Approximately 70 additional artists will have their work showcased in the book's gallery sections. This is your opportunity to be part of another great publication showcasing our art. 

(Image SDA website)

How to Submit for Art Quilt Inspirations: Abstracts and Geometrics
Preliminary submission is via email. Send toartquiltbook@gmail.com:
·         your name
·         address
·         phone number
·         email address
·         website URL
·         titles of your submission(s)

Attach jpegs of up to 3 images of your art. Images should be jpegs only, not larger than 1200 pixels in any dimension. Please label each image file with last name_first name_title (e.g. Sielman_Martha_Abstract 1).

Deadline is October 31, 2014.

Get Togethers
Members of Brisbane (MOB) it’s that time of the season again – we’ll meet at 10.00am on Saturday 6 September in the usual place – the Queensland Art Gallery Café. Can’t wait to see as many of you as can make it!

It was fantastic to get over to Perth again and catch up with SAQA members – and a special thanks to Linda Stokes who looked after the SAQA table during the show. We had lots of positive feedback about the 25th anniversary exhibition – and it was so lovely to say “hi!” and compare threads.

Calls for entry
SAQA offers members many opportunities to participate in juried exhibitions – to keep up to date with Calls for Entry please go to the Resources tab on the website main page, then check the far left column of options which includes “Calls for Entry”. Here’s the link www.saqa.com/calendar.php?ID=9

Deadlines and dates are covered off in the regular e-bulletin sent to members.The current e-bulletin can be found at
campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=f390cdd3-58be-4755-83d8-5935484a7bfa&c=b6fddce0-34f1-11e3-9855-d4ae5275b546&ch=b77556d0-34f1-11e3-98cc-d4ae5275b546#Deadlines

Ever considered submitting your work for the SAQA Journals? Read about the requirements and deadlines in the current e-bulletin. It is a great opportunity to showcase your response to a particular them or idea to the broader SAQA world.

The deadline for Food for Thought is fast approaching and is open to all SAQA members. Deadline: September 30, 2014. This exhibition will allow artists to explore any aspects of food that they find inspirational – from a single piece of fruit, to a still life, to the family table, to the significance of food in culture and the celebration of family milestones and religious holidays. Please check the website for full details, terms and conditions.

Conference 2015 – Portland Oregon
Save the dates! April 30 - May 3, 2015. All things being unequal, I’ll be attending the 2015 SAQA Conference in Portland, Oregon. It will be a wonderful experience and a chance to get together with other reps as well as around 300 SAQA members- all in the same place at the same time – just magic!

Portland is easy to access out of either LA, San Francisco or Seattle Airports. All conference details can be found progressively on the SAQA website. If you are interested in finding out about our annual conference, read Lisa Walton’s account in the June newsletter, or talk to some of us who have had the privilege of attending in past years. The benefits of attending are immeasurable – what about an Oceania contingent for 2015?

Help Needed – Coordinating the Oceania 2015 Contributions to the Benefit Auction
We are getting in early – if you would like to coordinate the Oceania 2015 Benefit auction collection and / or blog hop – please get in touch with one of your reps (me, Susie or Kate). SAQA marketing is looking for any members who recorded/documented the making of their 2014 contribution – and would love to hear from anyone who did so – for marketing purposes. See your latest ebulletin for more details.

Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Send through celebrations and awards, information about exhibitions or general matters of interest to our membership – email them to ali@aliquilts.com.au - it is preferred if you help us out and prepare the text yourself – so we can cut and paste – and don’t forget to include images wherever possible.

That’s all the news for this newsletter, so until next month,

Ali, Susie and Kate.

************************************************************************************************************
July 2014

Hi everyone and welcome to the July newsletter – it is hard to believe we are hurtling through winter and approaching Spring again. We welcome new members Susanne Hadfield, Susan Auden Wood and Neroli Henderson to SAQA and our Oceania region this month – a big welcome to you all. July has been an exciting month for our group, including the long awaited opening of Out of the Box at the Delmar Gallery in Sydney on Friday night. Congratulations to all who are exhibiting and especially to Susie Cujes who almost single-handedly pulled the exhibition and workshops together.

Co-Representatives Update – Welcome Kate Oszko
A big welcome and thank you to Kate Oszko who has agreed to join me and Susie as your Oceania Co-representative for the next two years. Kate brings a wealth of experience and expertise and Susie and I are really excited to have the benefit of Kate’s sage advice and being able to tap into Kate’s passion and enthusiasm for SAQA and art quiltmaking.

OMG! SAQA’s Oceania Mentorship Group
Thank you too for the nearly forty of you who are engaging with the mentorship group – our first challenge being an exploration of “unity”. The OMG! is a resource for Oceania members (apologies to anyone’s friend who tried to join and was declined but being a SAQA member is a pre-requisite to being part of OMG!). There is no pressure or obligation to join the group (facebook page), nor to post anything or complete the challenge – the information provided is intended to help with thinking processes and developing your creative practice. Take as much or as little as you like! For anyone who would like to participate in the group – please go to the OMG! Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/256979821174070/ and ask to join! Here is the post that launched “Unity” and you are most welcome to participate.

Challenge #1: Unity (finished piece 10" wide by 12" long - like portrait rather than landscape setting), any medium and combination of techniques.
Important dates: 1 July challenge starts; 1 August show and tell our exploration and visual diary work, our creative thinking and sharing; 15 September - post challenge pics and participate in ongoing discussion / feedback and learning. 1 October .... challenge #2

Exploring the SAQA Website – www.saqa.com
This newsletter we look at two different aspects of SAQA’s website – resources (Mel Forrest) and exhibitions (Helen Beaven).

SAQA Resources by Mel Forrest
When you first enter the SAQA website you land on the homepage which features a monthly showcase of members works. From here there are several categories (tabs) that you can dive into including: About Us, Artwork, Resources, Join/Support and Members. Each main category breaks down further.

The category that grabbed my attention for this month is the resources category. The resources category subdivides further into nine sections including: Art Services directory, Calender of events, Artist interviews, Marketplace, Art Quilt Resources, SAQA Journal, SAQA Publications & Art Quilt News.

On this trip we’ll begin to explore the Art Quilt Resources category and in particular Resource Articles a sub-category within Art Quilt Resources. Sub-category Resource Articles contains links to articles which both inform and guide the experienced and the not yet as experienced art quilter through all those questions that pop up as we evolve through our artistic development.
To get you started with exploring this generous section here are a couple of links to articles contained within this sub-category.

Acquiring Your Own Voice by June O. Underwood
Finishing and Packing Techniques for Professional Presentation by Susan Crouse-Kemp
Learn to Analyze Your Own Work by Kim Ritter

These three articles are a small representation of what lies within the Resource Articles category. So go ahead, dive in and enjoy exploring.

SAQA Exhibitions by Helen Beaven
To view quilts in SAQA’s Exhibitions either go directly via www.saqa.com/memberArt.php?cat=8 or via menus on the webpage by clicking through about us →what we do →SAQA Exhibitions

This page details a bit of background for SAQA’s exhibitions and lists the most recent exhibitions. The list of exhibitions is then divided into Current, Future, Previous and Regional on the left hand side of the screen.
Going to Current (www.saqa.com/memberArt.php?cat=8&ec=3), displays the exhibitions that are touring various locations. For each exhibition the quilts can be viewed (and purchased), also view the show schedule, curator and juror’s statements.

Using Text Messages exhibition as an example (www.saqa.com/memberArt.php?cat=8&ec=3&ex=11), I have a quilt in this exhibition and as I was writing this have read for the first time the curator and juror’s statements (www.saqa.com/memberArt.php?ID=3127) where I’ve been mentioned!
Helen’s Quilt – Caveman Txt (above)

Being able to see what the juror was looking for and how they choose quilts for an overall look is invaluable – I’ve never seen this sort of detail in any New Zealand exhibitions I’ve enteredBe inspired by the quilts and challenged to have a go and enter a SAQA exhibition.

Lois Sprague, Too Much Information, www.saqa.com Text messages


Many thanks to Mel and Helen for their research efforts and time which is greatly appreciated by all of us.

Travelling Trunk Show G – Our 25th Anniversary Trunk Show



Trunk Show G is heading over to Perth for the WA Craft Fair from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 August. I will be at the show again this year delivering floor talks and providing demonstrations as well as catching up with SAQA members. If anyone would like to come to the show and help out on the SAQA stand or just drop in for a chat – please do. (Image: Diane Melms, Tango)

After Perth, the Trunk Show will travel to Canberra Craft and Quilt Fair from August 21-24 – then on to the Newcastle Stitches and Craft from September 11 to 14. The Trunk Show will then travel to Melbourne from October 23 to 26 – for the Melbourne Stitches & Craft Show. From November 13-16 the Trunk Show will be at the Adelaide Craft & Quilt and then to Sydney and Brisbane in March 2015 for the Stitches and Craft Shows before returning to the USA. Expertise Events has been a huge supporter of the travelling Trunk Show and provides transport between each event.

If any member is able to either attend or help with the exhibition at any of its venues (I’ll also be travelling to Adelaide) – simply being present to talk about SAQA would be wonderful - then please let me know and I can make the necessary arrangements.

Art Quilt Inspirations: Abstracts and Geometrics

Martha Sielman, SAQA’s Chief Executive Officer is excited to announce that she has just signed a contract with Interweave to write "Art Quilt Inspirations: Abstracts & Geometrics". The book will include interviews with 20 Featured Artists showing multiple works by each. Approximately 70 additional artists will have their work showcased in the book's gallery sections. This is your opportunity to be part of another great publication showcasing our art. 
(Image SDA website)

How to Submit for Art Quilt Inspirations: Abstracts and Geometrics
Preliminary submission is via email. Send toartquiltbook@gmail.com:
·         your name
·         address
·         phone number
·         email address
·         website URL
·         titles of your submission(s)

Attach jpegs of up to 3 images of your art. Images should be jpegs only, not larger than 1200 pixels in any dimension. Please label each image file with last name_first name_title (e.g. Sielman_Martha_Abstract 1).
Deadline is October 31, 2014.

Flying Arts Alliance – Professional Development
Flying Arts Alliance Inc offers a number of professional development opportunities for visual artists. Sessions are often available online – check the program for full details. Information and contact details for Flying Arts can be accessed at www.flyingarts.org.au

Curator Development Program
Over 5 workshops sessions during Sept – Nov the Curator Development Project offers intensive training to emerging curators wanting to develop their curatorial skills. Each session will cover principles and practice of curatorship as participants prepare for an exhibition which will be held at JWCoCA over December and January. There are limited places available and interested participants are invited to a briefing session at the Judith Wright Centre on Saturday 9 August at 2 pm.

Professional development Workshop 4 Artists
Sunday 3 August - How to facilitate an arts workshop - Valeska Wood

Running a workshop for other artists or students can be a stimulating, sharing experience and another way to augment your income. In this workshop participants will learn about the role of a facilitator, how to prepare and plan for a workshop as well gain valuable insight into managing group dynamics and evaluating the learning experience. It is all the things you need to know about planning and managing a successful arts workshop.
Where: Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, 420 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, Time: 10am - 4pm, Cost: $55 ($45 for members) BYO Lunch

Artist Consultations – Live and Online
Friday 29 August - Artist Consultation - Simone Oriti (Urban Art Projects)
This is an opportunity to have a professional discussion about your art, your practise and your career direction with experienced curator and exhibition manager Simone Oriti (nee Jones).

Where: Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts - Flying Arts Office
Remote sessions via SKYPE also available. Time: 1 hr time slots; Cost: $45 per hour ($35 for members). Call Paul on 3216 1322 to book a time

Artist Talk Online – Queensland Wide via Web TV
Monday 11 August - Artist Talk - John Stafford & Jennifer Marchant

Insightful, instructive and more than just interesting - visual arts champion John Stafford interviews public artist and graphic designer Jennifer Marchant who has recently completed the work “Sunset Strip” for the Brunswick Street Mall Redevelopment.

All you need for this session is a computer, speakers and an internet connection.

What’s On
Out of the Box continues at the Delmar Gallery, Trinity Grammar School in Sydney until 3 August 2014. For more information contact Susie Cujes who has pulled this exhibition of textile and fibre artists together. We’ll have a review of the exhibition for inclusion in our next newsletter.

Conference 2015 – Portland Oregon
Save the dates! April 30 - May 3, 2015. A message from the Conference Committee:
“Conference planning is taking place now. We look forward to welcoming you to Portland next year. Come early and stay after to enjoy all that Portland and the surrounding area has to offer. It is a short 2 hour drive to the mountains, the coast, Mt. St. Helens volcano, and the Columbia River Gorge is an hour away. We also have some wonderful museums, great galleries and fantastic fabric stores! We are planning a wonderful conference for you all. "

Who is coming to conference in 2015? Portland is exceptionally easy to access out of either LA, San Francisco or Seattle Airports and fares for April / May 2015 are well priced. All conference details can be found progressively on the SAQA website. If you are interested in finding out about our annual conference, read Lisa Walton’s account in last month’s newsletter, or talk to some of us who have had the privilege of attending in past years. The benefits of attending are immeasurable – what about an Oceania contingent for 2015?

Material for Inclusion in Your Newsletters
Send through celebrations and awards, information about exhibitions or general matters of interest to our membership – email them to ali@aliquilts.com.au - it is preferred if you help us out and prepare the text yourself – so we can cut and paste – and don’t forget to include images wherever possible.

That’s all the news for now. As the little sign on my wall says “Be gorgeous. Shine brightly. Love Life!”.

 Until next time


Ali, Susie and Kate 

************************************************************************************************************
June 2014

Hi everyone and welcome to the June newsletter – there’s lots to share including Lisa Walton’s account of SAQA’s Capitolizing on Fiber Conference celebrating 25 years of SAQA.
After a lengthy and excruciating wait (I think Bill Reiker will have to share the story, not me!) the 25th Anniversary Trunk Show G arrived at home – and I am now the custodian of 50 beautiful
framed art quilts ready to tour Australia and New Zealand until April 2015. This is Diane Firth’s Stony Desert #3 – other artists include Alicia Merrett (River Flow #3) and Hsin-Chen Lin (The Forest III). If nothing else we are reminded that it is the quiet persistence and development of our work that pays off – I can’t wait to share the trunk!

Oceania Mentorship Group Launches
We have lift off – the OMG! group has its own Facebook page – with a fresh challenge each quarter. What’s involved? Participants explore a challenge theme– whether that’s working in a visual diary or journal, gathering ideas and/or designs – it’s the thinking part of the process. We’ll share / provide comments to each other through the fb page – with resources provided to help participants engage meaningfully in providing constructive, appreciative feedback. Then the 2nd and part of the 3rd month are spent creating a piece in response to the challenge theme – members are invited to participate as much or as little as they like – it’s a personal commitment to yourself. We’ll then share thoughts and learnings in the final fortnight before the next challenge commences. Everyone is welcome to participate. Here’s the link https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=256979821174070 and the first challenge has been posted!

Capitolizing on Fiber– SAQA 25th Anniversary Conference
Alexandria Virginia May 2014
Here’s Lisa Walton’s first-hand account of her first SAQA conference and first as a member of the SAQA Board. It really is a special experience to attend and the 2012 joint conference of SAQA and the Surface Design Association held in Philadelphia, I can’t wait to go again. I love the speed dating and as Lisa found out … get postcards of your work to showcase at these and similar events. I’ll never forget the speed dating moment when I realised they meant for you to take 50 ordinary artist postcards made of paper … not the 18 inch high stack I had stitched over the three months leading up to conference! Happy reading and thank you Lisa.

Here is Lisa’s account of the 2014 Conference …

I was extremely thrilled to be going to my first SAQA Conference and it certainly lived up to all expectations.

As a member of the Board of Directors I went a day early to attend the AGM which was a great opportunity to meet all the Board face to face. Monthly conference calls are fine but there is nothing like actually meeting in person. The Board recently decided to change the changeover date for terms to June so this May meeting also serves as a crossover of retiring and new Board members. I think I volunteered for too much but time will tell.

The Conference was held this year in Alexandria Virginia which is just on the Potomac River near Washington DC so although I could have done the tourist thing this time I just stayed close to the venue as Alexandria does have some beautiful old buildings and sights.

Some of the highlights for me at the Conference

Artists Speed Dating – sounds weird but each table (starting off with each region at their own table so I was on the Overseas members table) introducing themselves for about 90 seconds and talking about their works and giving out business or postcards cards. When the table was done we moved to another table and repeated the exercise – about five times in all so you got to meet a great selection of artists. It was very funny trying to describe yourselves in such a short time. Note to self – get some postcards done of your work.

The Break Out Sessions were wonderful. I attended Lesley Riley’s session on How to be your own Art Coach and Gregory Case’s session on Photographing your textile and fibre art like a professional and both were fascinating and entertaining presentations. My only regrets were that the sessions weren’t repeated later so I could have attended some of the others – Promote your work without apologizing, Digital designing with Photoshop and What is a Voice and how do I find it. I was able – the next day to attend one of Sandra Sider’s Critiquing Contemporary Quilt Art which was really enlightening. Sandra’s skill and style and knowledge was fascinating to watch. I attended as an observer rather than one of the participants.

Another highlight was a trip out to a museum to see the new SAQA Exhibition Radical Elements. (http://www.saqa.com/storenew.php?scat=48) I really hope it travels to Australia as it was so interesting. Oceania was represented by Dianne Firth – Silicon.

One night we had a silent auction of over 60 8” x 10” works and the bidding was fast and furious. Based on the previous year we were expecting to raise about $5000 so it was absolutely amazing to tally up the total at the end to find we had raised over $10000. I kept getting outbid and the two quilts I really wanted finally went for $1000 and $700 so I obviously had good taste.

As it was the 25th Anniversary of SAQA we were honoured to have Yvonne Porcella who started SAQA give a presentation of a history of where and why SAQA started as well as the history of her work. What an amazing woman and she has achieved so much. There was also a really entertaining panel discussion with all (except one) Presidents of SAQA.

One thing, which really made an impression on me and gave me great food for thought was that I really am an artist and I need to work more towards this part of me. It is my driving force and although the teaching and writing is a major part of what I do – I need to remember to create for myself.

I really recommend attending a SAQA Conference and look forward to Portland Oregon April 30-May 3 2015.

Out of the Box Exhibition
Pieces for the Out of the Box exhibition are starting to arrive – your contribution is welcome and this is a great opportunity to put your work into an exhibition where you’ll be amongst friends and a whole lot of fibre art talent. Susie is looking forward to receiving more of your entries – keep working on finishing any outstanding pieces and arrange to have them sent to Susie in the next few weeks. This fibre art expo and exhibition runs from 25 July until 3 August 2014 at the Delmar Gallery, Trinity Grammar School, Sydney. Full details can be found in the latest issue of Down Under Textiles (page 9) and any queries please get in touch with Susie direct. Please send your exhibition pieces to Susie c/- Trinity Grammar School, 119 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill, NSW 2130

Getting to know SAQA and Exploring the SAQA Website
A big thank you to Helen Beaven for doing some research for us on the SAQA website – if you haven’t had time to explore all that SAQA has to offer then this first instalment introduces us to the Juried Artist Directory. Many thanks Helen.

Juried Artist Directory
To view the Juried Artist’s Directory and a great selection of quilts either go directly via www.saqa.com/pam-directory.php or via menus:
about us →who we are →juried artist directory

For the definition of a ‘Juried Artist’ click on Juried Artist Guidelines on the left hand side of the screen (www.saqa-pamapplications.com/).

There are 13 pages of artists (in alphabetical order) each with 25 artists.

Selecting Juried Artist Gallery www.saqa.com/pam.php shows a random slideshow of different artist’s work. To move through the images use the navigation arrows. Clicking an image provides more information.

Enjoy going through the pages and viewing the quilts.

Celebrations and congratulations

The fourth biennial PETITE: Miniature textiles opened on 14 June 2014 and will be at the Wangaratta Art Gallery until 27 July 2014. The exhibition features the work of one hundred textile artists including Brenda Gael Smith’s High Country Lupins #2. Congratulations to Brenda on not only having her work selected but sharing the challenge of working in a smaller context.

Get togethers
I’ll be in Perth from 31 July through to 4 August accompanied by Trunk Show G. Thanks to everyone organising a get together – I can’t wait to catch up again. I’ll also be in Adelaide later in the year (from 6 – 16 November) and would love to catch up if that’s at all possible.

Until next time, take care and happy creating


Ali and Susie

************************************************************************
April 2014

Hi everyone and it’s both welcome to and goodbye April. I hope you all had some time doing the important things in life over the Easter and Anzac Day breaks – many people seemed to combine the adjacent weekends and turn the fortnight into a very creative experience.

I love this time of year – the change of seasons, even if in some parts the visual accompaniment to the temperature change isn’t quite as dramatic as in the more southern part of our countries. It’s not just the autumn colours – it’s the way the humidity gives way to dry air and clear night skies. Just magic.

There’s lots of magic happening in Oceania region – thanks to everyone who sent information and news items – it is wonderful to be able to share successes and other interesting things with everyone. Our best wishes go to members facing health and other challenges – you are in our thoughts.

Out of the Box (non-SAQA Exhibition)
Out of the Box is an exhibition being coordinated by Susie and is open to textiles artists including any member of the SAQA Oceania group. It is time to start sending Susie your pieces for the exhibition. This is a friendly reminder to get cracking and start packing. Susie has recently moved back into her renovated house and has a room ready to store your works. Please feel free to contact Susie if you need further info and don't forget your return postage address and title of your piece.

Send your pieces to:
Susie Cujes, Trinity Grammar School,119 Prospect Rd, Summer Hill, NSW 2130

Don't forget to include $20 for the first piece to cover postage and advertising. There will be an advertisement in the next Down Under textiles! Pamphlets are available –contact Susie for more information.

Get Togethers



In March Susie (left) had a wonderful morning in Auckland having a cuppa with two SAQA members Alison Laurence (centre) and Maureen Heywood (right). It was great to catch up with fellow artists and discuss the struggles and satisfaction we experience in the creative process.

Members of Brisbane (MOB) also get together on the 1st Saturday of the new season – at the Queensland Art Gallery Café – next meeting will be the first Saturday in June – meet around 10am for morning tea and bring something for show and tell. Please email me (ali@aliquilts.com.au) if you are able to join us – it helps book the table and I can let everyone know if something comes up - all welcome.

Lisa Repsevicius wants to hear from WA members who would like to get together in a similar way to that of the MOB – please get in touch with Lisa is you would like to meet up – Lisa can be contacted at: lisa@delasoie.com

Congratulations and Celebrations

Based in far north Queensland, Lucy Carroll had her quilt, Work Ready, accepted into SAQA’s Redirecting The Ordinary Exhibition. Lucy says she really enjoyed making Work Ready – which has taken her to some new places as far as design goes and it gave Lucy an excuse to take lots of pictures of her husband in uniform!

Lucy says she is grateful for the support of other Oceania members and looking forward to meeting more of us over time.

You can see more of Lucy’s works at Lucy Carroll Textiles lucycarrolltextiles.com
Congratulations Lucy


Congratulations also to Helen Beaven - Helen’s quilt 'Knit One, Paint One' was also selected for SAQA's 'Redirecting the Ordinary' exhibition. It is Helen’s take on all the knitting that her quilting friends seem to be currently doing. Its a whole cloth quilt that has been coloured with oil pastels, each shape has been padded with an extra layer of batting before being quilted. For a bit more info on how it was quilted. For a bit more info on how it was created see Helen’s blog entry
http://myinnerthread.blogspot.co.nz/2014/04/a-bit-of-background.html


Congratulations to Felicity Clark who has just finished a wonderful exhibition Embodiment at the 69 Smith Street Gallery inn Fitzroy, Melbourne with Laziza Hawkins throughout April. Felicity exhibited a mini retrospective of her art quilts and more recent machine embroidered silk drawings. Felicity says she used as a response to her physical and emotional journey over the last 4 years. Felicity’s works focus on the human form and responses to various stimuli. Many of you will have seen Felicity as one of the faces of “I am SAQA” campaign. Congratulations again Felicity.


Congratulations also to Pam Holland who was approached by the Museum of Natural Science in Houston to loan her test piece of the Bayeux Tapestry to Quilt for the Magna Carta Exhibition. The piece will be displayed from January to August 2014 and Pamwill be giving lectures when she visits again in July. Pam says she visited the exhibition in early March and was blown away to see the piece in such a prestigious display. It is an honour and a fabulous achievement.

There is a you tube video on Pam’s web page - here’s the link to the youtube video www.youtube.com/embed/UIGoUHlH9ow It is a beautiful video – an extraordinary setting.

Pam also has the honour of sharing the Super seminars with Ricky Tims and Alex Anderson. Congratulations again Pam.


More celebrations – this time congratulations again go to Judy Hooworth. Judy’s quilt Creek Drawing #11: Autumn has been selected for Quilt Visions 2014: The Sky’s the Limit at Visions Art Museum, San Diego USA. The show runs from 3 October 2014 through to 4 January 2015.

We can’t show an image of Creek Drawing #11: Autumn yet – however you may have seen one of Judy’s earlier quilts (left) at the Australasian Quilt Convention select exhibition Great Australian Quilts. Judy’s quilt Road to Condo #2 was made in 1992.

Have You ever Been a Guest Blogger?
Erica Spinks was invited, along with a few other bloggers, to contribute guest posts and celebrate a month of hand stitching on the European blog, …And Then We Set It On Fire. Erica shares her experience and an idea for using guest blogging as a way of reaching different audiences.

Erica: It was decided that March would be the month. I agreed and jotted a few notes in my diary, so that I could start to think about what I would post and how many posts I would write. Over the next couple of months, my subconscious started to shape my ideas.

Based in Europe, …And Then We Set It On Fire is a technique-driven blog dedicated to mastery of surface design techniques. Generously, each guest was given direct access to the blog so that she could contribute text and photos without having to go through an intermediary. I’m not sure I could ever give anyone direct access to my blog!

I hand stitch for the sheer pleasure of it and I endeavoured to share a variety of my works so that readers could see how the simple running stitches I use alter the texture of my works. My three posts are here: http://andthenwesetitonfire.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Erica%20Spinks

Guest blogging allows you to expose your work to a different collection of readers and is a valuable way of gaining new followers to your own blog. Perhaps we could consider if fellow SAQA Oceania bloggers would like to reciprocate with guest posts? Please get in touch if this appeals.
Contact Erica by email at ets@iprimus.com.au or visit Erica’s blog at creativedabbling.blogspot.com

Contextart – A fellowship and the Blue Mountains
As recipient of the Queensland Regional Art Awards (textiles) for 2013. Part of the award included a generous Fellowship to attend ContextART just prior to Easter – and I chose five days with Hilary Petersen at the Korowal School in Hazelbrook, Blue Mountains (NSW). I wanted to maximise the opportunity to really explore a technique and thoroughly enjoyed Hilary’s Dye Print Stitch. It was nice to have the uninterrupted days in a supported environment to simply … explore. I had a magic week with new friendships, a deeper understanding of chemistry, serendipity and alchemy and a chance to truly leave the world behind for a few days. Many thanks to Hilary and my fellow classmates for an unforgettable experience.


SAQA member Caroline Sharkey is joining with Gloria Loughman for a Sewing at Sea Cruise in 2015. Bookings are open – feel free to contact Caroline for more information. Caroline is also teaching at the Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara in the US in October 2014. It’s all very exciting and congratulations Caroline.

Can You Help?
If you would like to be part of OMG! (Oceania Mentorship Group) please let me know – so far I haven’t received any indication of support or interest from our more experienced or well exhibited members – which may well be for many sensible and realistic reasons. OMG! is not something that one member can run effectively – so, please let me know if you are able to contribute a few hours (ideally if we had 6 interested “mentor” members able to set a small challenge - and then two month’s later be available via the blog or similar platform to provide commentary / join in an online discussion / a supportive critique / feedback on the pieces put up by participating members). We could review in a year and see how participants felt their work had developed after 6 challenges (or not), and how the “mentors” had found the experience. Just some of my thoughts … it really is a matter for members and I’m more than comfortable not to progress the idea if the interest or value in such an exercise doesn’t exist.

Thank You
Mel Forrest and Helen Beaven have kindly agreed to contribute to the monthly newsletter - look out for reviews of the SAQA website and other interesting items in future months. Thank you Mel and Helen.

Thanks also to Kate Oszko for her ongoing behind the scenes support for me and Susie – it’s all greatly appreciated.

If you have an idea, or suggestion please get in touch – we are here to support you as your representatives and happy to hear your thoughts. A quick note – I am home from paid employment on weekends when I can deal with SAQA related matters / emails – although I will try to respond more quickly if that is possible.

All the best until next newsletter, Ali (and Susie)

************************************************************************
March 2014

Welcome to March – and the autumn months where the humidity leaves us for a short time and the nights become crisp and cool – depending of course, on proximity to the equator. It is my favourite time of year.

Best wishes…
Our best wishes are heading to Jenny Bowker and family for the coming weeks. Jenny will be in our thoughts, hopes and prayers for the challenges ahead – and we all wish for the best possible outcome next week.

Are You Up To Date with Works In or Held by Galleries?
Have you ever put a quilt or piece of textile art into a gallery or other space on consignment? Do you have work in a gallery that is being held pending sale of that item? The Arts Law Centre of Australia offers a range of advice to assist artists. Changes to the Australian (Commonwealth) Personal Property Securities Act 2009 that came into effect mid- 2012 might affect your interests if an administrator is appointed as a result of financial difficulties or closure of the gallery. An administrator can assume that the art belongs to the gallery if the item is not registered on the (Australian) Personal Property Securities Register. For a small fee, personal property including art works can be registered on the PPS Register – this is a way to provide prima facie evidence that you are the owner of the artwork. You can have a look at the PPS register at www.ppsr.gov.au For more information about the register and personal property / security more generally visit www.artslaw.com.au/articles/entry/personal-property-securities-101. The Arts Law Centre provides access to a great range of articles and information to assist artists and not a substitute for getting independent legal advice. Same goes for mentioning the register in the newsletter – feel free to have a look and make your own decision about whether you need to take action.

Congratulations on Redirecting the Ordinary Selection and Participation by Oceania Members Congratulations to the five SAQA Oceania members whose pieces were juried by Alicia Merrett into “Redirecting the Ordinary”. That’s an amazing number of artists from our region represented in this exhibition. Congratulations too go to the many other SAQA Oceania members who submitted pieces for consideration. I was intrigued to receive an email advising my piece was not selected, and that disappointment and rejection happens to everyone. I’m sure it does. However there is a different take on not having a piece selected – which I shared with the curator, in part, as follows:
“ … got your email. Thank you so much for your prompt response - and I am not "disappointed" at all. I am growing as an artist - and being part of SAQA has helped me in ways I can never describe. Redirecting the Ordinary was the first exhibition I've submitted to - and it is my best work to date - I really connected with the theme and my response. I am so happy that I was able to accomplish this as an artist – an emerging and learning artist - and my goal was to actually enter. To have been selected would have been icing on the cake - and I'm yet to interpret a decline letter as a failure - I'm seeing it as yet another opportunity to take my textile work further. And I am ...

I hope we all take something positive out of making our best work and submitting it to exhibitions. For those Oceania members whose work was selected – I’d love to include some words in next month’s newsletter and on our blog about your creative processes and how you interpreted the theme – we’d love to share your excitement.

Out of the Box Exhibition – Delmar Gallery 25/7 – 2/8

An invitation for Oceania members and other textile artists to submit pieces for exhibition at Delmar Gallery 25 July – 3 August 2014
As promised a further update from Susie on the processes for exhibiting and/or attending the workshops. Each entry can be any size, there are no restrictions on subject, and it does not have to be quilted. This is your chance to let the creative juices flow. I am hoping that some of you will consider 3D options. You can have holes you can have things protruding - it is up to you. This is not a juried exhibition.

Now each entry will have a fee of $20 which hopefully will cover return postage and go towards advertising. An artist can enter up to three pieces with the second and third piece the fee will be $10 each. Please number them in order of preference in case we need to restrict numbers of pieces able to be hung.

Please label each piece with the title and your name on the back and you must have either a rod pocket on the back or loops for a rod. Remember the gallery will take the standard commission on the sale so when you are working out the price of your piece take that into account. If you don't want to sell make sure you mark it NFS.

Include in your parcel a return address and an artist statement if you desire. You can start sending me your pieces from 22nd April to the 30th June. This gives me time to set up the catalogue before the opening on Friday 25th. The workshops will be taking place on Saturday 26th July and Sunday 27th, I have some pamphlets made giving details if you would like some contact me at cujes@trinity.nsw.edu.auThe address to post your pieces to is:-
Susie Cujes
Trinity Grammar School
119 Prospect Rd
Summer Hill NSW 2130

Living Colour Debuts in Melbourne 10-13 April

The exhibition will premiere at the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne, 10-13 April 2014 and a comprehensive website gallery will be published at that time. Brenda has been sharing some preview detail shots of each of the selected works in a series of blog posts entitled A Glimpse of Living Colour. Brenda invites you to bookmark this blog feed (www.livingcolourtextiles.com/feed) in your preferred RSS reading app; subscribe by e-mail; or follow the Living Colour Facebook page to stay up to date.

Get togethers
AQC Melbourne

If anyone is attending the AQC in Melbourne there is an opportunity to catch up – contact Lisa by email if you would like to meet - it is a great way for us to connect face to face across our rather vast region.

Members of Brisbane (MOB)

The MoB meets on the first Saturday of the new season – at the Queensland Art Gallery café – from 10am. Bring something for show and tell and enjoy a relaxed chat and catch up. Please let Ali know if you are attending – and we look forward to catching up on 7 June, 6 September and 6 December 2014.

SAQA Trunk Show – Celebrating 25 years
We will be receiving a 25th Anniversary Trunk Show in late May 2014 – and I’ll be taking it to Perth (1-3 August) and Adelaide (mid November 2014). The first outing will be at the Scenic Rim Open Studios – on 24 and 25 May 2014 – at Aliquilts Studios (Tarome, Qld). As with last year’s exhibition, we are hoping for the quilts to travel with Expertise Events around Australia and New Zealand for the remainder of its time in Australia and New Zealand.

Artist Strength Training With Jane Dunnewold – A Review

Artist Strength Training is a ten week course run by Jane Dunnewold (author of Complex Cloth (1996) Improvisational Screen Printing (2003), and co-authored Finding Your Own Visual Language (2007). Interweave Press published Art Cloth: A Guide to Surface Design on Fabric in 2010; current President of the Surface Design Association). Each week artists are taken through a short video by Jane, an essay or reading, and an action or series of exercises. Participants share as much or as little of their experience as they like in the online studio – with individual feedback on posts, progress and development as an artist from Jane. This is not a traditional online workshop in any sense of the word. A commitment to self to fully participate in the weekly offerings can be challenging – in terms of demanding the investment of time (as much or as little as you are able or life allows) and being prepared to honestly evaluate self and your art, creative processes and who you are as an artist.

There were quite a few textile artists in the first group and not all participants are quilt makers or made art quilts. This is the type of course or workshop that stretches you each week and I described it as like having a regular, deep tissue massage. Sometimes it makes you wince, and occasionally is uncomfortable – but the benefit is amazing and lasts long after the hour on the massage table is over.

If you are ready to or want to make more sense and meaning of the myriad of techniques available to us in working with textiles then this might be the next step in your artistic journey. If you need a refresher or want to refocus on who you are as an artist and why you create – this might be a great investment in ten weeks of you – it’s all about you. For early bird registration the course works out at just over $20 per week – which represents great value for money and return on an investment in you. More information about Artist Strength Training with Jane Dunnewold, can be found at www.artiststrengthtraining.com

SAQA’s 2014 Artist Benefit Auction
It’s that time of the year again – please check the SAQA website for due dates – deadline for receipt is 1 June 2014. Last year’s auction saw 421 donated quilts which raised US $65 000– your 12 inch square donation helps SAQA raise essential funds – so spread the word and it’s not too late if you haven’t yet turned your thoughts to this annual event.

Help Needed
If you are able to assist without being officially on a committee - then Susie and I would like to hear from you. We need 3 or so members who could work towards getting approval of a SAQA Oceania exhibition (for 2015-16) and taking the first important steps. The SAQA website sets out the policy for holding a SAQA endorsed exhibition – and the exhibition committee aims to endorse requests in a very short timeframe to enable plans, themes, calls for entry etc to be released. If we are to host a SAQA Oceania exhibition it requires the commitment of a few – so I’ll leave it in your hands to think about whether the idea gets progressed.

If you have an hour or so spare each month, we’d love someone to review a different part of the SAQA site and write a very brief “how to access XXXX” or “did you know that XXXX is available on the SAQA website and this is how it works. This would be a regular contribution to our monthly newsletter – a great way to develop personal knowledge of what SAQA has to offer and maybe a foray into writing for publication about something you are passionate
about – art quilts.

OMG

We are looking for members to participate in an Oceania Mentorship Group (OMG!) where a theme, word, colour, idea or concept is chosen for the following 2 months and members develop those ideas to fruition in the form of a textile response. I would like to hear from any member who would like to lead a 2 month exploration – choose a concept or idea that we can explore for the time period and work with me to provide participants feedback and respond to the conversation on that particular topic. Beyond simply creating (and simple isn’t the best word for it) the intent is to leave egos at the door and work with each other creatively in a supportive and encouraging environment. I’ll have more details about the first session in April’s newsletter. Email me ali@aliquilts.com.au separately if you are able to share some of your time and expertise with the OMG!

Well that’s all the news and events for March. I’m off to the Blue Mountains for the week
proceeding Easter – a five day master class with Hilary Petersen at TAFTAs CONTEXTart
forum. Susie is currently on the water, cruising across the Tasman and visiting SAQA friends
in New Zealand – kia-ora and happy creating until next month

Ali and Susie

************************************************************************************************************ February 2014

Hi everyone and welcome to the (end of) February newsletter. Another season comes to a close and this weekend marks the beginning of autumn for those of us in the southern hemisphere. Personally, I can’t wait! Many of you will have had the opportunity to read our annual report on the State of the Regions – which is due each year in January. Thanks again for all your support and encouragement – of your reps and each other – and for the way we’ve grown as a group.

OMG! If anyone is interested in participating in an Oceania Mentorship Group – please get in
touch with me – depending on levels of interest we could look at having regular reviews / catch-up / discussions via a blog or other appropriate format. All ideas and suggestions welcome!

A big welcome to our newest members – I hope you are taking the opportunity to explore the
SAQA.com website and look at all SAQA has to offer. In our 25th year, there are many services available to all members and the new website ensures access to everyone – no matter where you are located. So if you haven’t been to the website lately, take a tour when you have a few minutes – perhaps you are interested in opportunities to exhibit and calls for entries, or meeting the featured artist of the month, announcements of upcoming events, conferences, and other resources.

Speaking of exhibitions - it is benefit auction time – and your 12” x 12” donation piece is greatly
appreciated. Last year’s Oceania Collection was hugely successful on several levels – a great
concept, a fabulous coordinator (thank you again Jenny Bowker)and a really imaginative way to
promote the Oceania region to the rest of the SAQA community.

Meet a Member
One of our newest members is Maureen Heywood from Auckland New Zealand who joined a few weeks ago. Here’s a little about her in her own words:
I have been a quilter for almost 35 years, purely traditional in the early days using the standard 5 or 6 co-ordinating fabrics, I very quickly changed to using 50 instead of 5! Been involved in shibori dyeing on silk, taught for many years, just love textiles and mixed media. Began a blog almost one year ago. Looking forward to being part of the group and "meeting" other members.
Welcome Maureen. You can view Maureen’s blog at
http://www.mysticquilter.blogspot.com.au/

“Out of the Box” - July 21 to August 3 2014
This exhibition is an opportunity for you to showcase your work – and we hope for a wide variety of entries from textile and fibre artists – works can be any size, shape and subject. You have absolute freedom to design and create a piece for display.

The exhibition will be held at the Delmar Gallery (in Sydney) which has hosted a range of wonderful fine art exhibitions, including the finalists for the Blake Art and Poetry finalists. Workshops are being planned for the weekend of Friday 25th July to Sunday 26th July, so if you are interested in being included in the workshop program, please let Susie know as soon as possible to enable advertising of the classes. There is flexibility here - you could offer a class for a half day, a full day or over two days. There is already interest from artists to provide day
classes of wet and dry felting, a two day mixed media and art cloth journal cover workshop as well as a photo shop class for printing on fabric.

There is no funding for this venture, so you will need to factor in the cost of transport for you and
your supplies into class costs. More details from Susie in our March newsletter.

Please contact Susie (cujes@trinity.nsw.edu.au) if you are interested in participating!

Congratulations!


Brenda Gael Smith, Curator, Living Colour! Writes -
Thank you to all the Oceania members who submitted entries for the Living Colour travelling textile art exhibition. I am honoured that so many artists took up the opportunity to submit their work for consideration and deeply appreciate the time and creative energy that goes into such work. Here is a list of the selected artists (with SAQA members in bold):
Jenny Bacon (Australia)
Deborah Boschert (USA)
Betty Busby (USA)
Sandra Champion (Australia)
Sandy Corry (Australia)
Mathea Daunheimer (New Zealand)
Sue Dennis (Australia)
Christine Dowell (Australia)
Sue Duffy (Australia)
Robyn Eves (Australia)
Dianne Firth (Australia)
Di Flint (Australia)
Catherine Gowthorpe (UK)
Suzanne Gummow (Australia)
Kay Haerland (Australia)
Julie Harding (Australia)
Neroli Henderson (Australia)
Anne Jolly (New Zealand)
Linden Lancaster (Australia)
Alison Laurence (New Zealand)
Susan Mathews (Australia)
Roxanne Murphy(Australia)
Lois Parish-Evans (Australia)
Paula Rafferty (Maher) (Ireland)
Charlotte Scott (New Zealand)
Caroline Sharkey (Australia)
Sarah Ann Smith (USA)
Carolyn Sullivan (Australia)
Phyllis Sullivan (Australia)

The exhibition will premiere at the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne, 10-13 April 2014 and a comprehensive website gallery will be published at that time. Meanwhile, I will be sharing some preview detail shots of each of the selected works in a series of blog posts entitled Glimpse of Living Colour. I invite you to bookmark this blog feed
(www.livingcolourtextiles.com/feed) in your preferred RSS reading app; subscribe by e-mail; or
follow the Living Colour Facebook page (facebook.com/LivingColourTextiles) to stay up to date. will also be sharing some curatorial insights about the selection process that I hope will be helpful to those entering juried exhibitions.

Sue Cunningham has had a quilt juried into the Art Quilt Elements 2014 exhibition in the
Wayne Centre, PA, USA. The exhibition dates are March 21, 2014 – May 3 2014. This a
beautiful venue and I was fortunate to be at the opening of Art Quilt Elements 2012.
Fantastic effort and well done Sue!

Lisa Walton has been busy again! Her second video, about fabric painting, is now
available on you tube:http://youtu.be/nIwTD2UCdh8
This is Lisa’s second technique-based video. Her first covers sun printing, and can be
found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3TKb1XHUac&feature=youtu.be

Redirecting the Ordinary entry deadline 28 February
Exhibit Concept: We live in an environment we take for granted. We often miss the
essential and forget that we can make the routine so much more vibrant and interesting.
Turning things around, upside down, inside out, backwards or maybe even just a
minuscule course correction can charge up the humdrum, turn the common into the
uncommon, and make the expected unexpected. For example, look around your studio,
home or neighbourhood to pick out an object (a paintbrush, fork, tree branch, or chair) or a
phenomenon (light hitting a doorknob, raindrops streaming down a window…). Choose
something you see all the time but don't notice and make it special. Interpret the object or
phenomenon in cloth to bring attention and significance to the ordinary.
Juror: Alicia Merrett - Curator: Gül Laporte gulaporte@gmail.com
February 28, 2014 Online Entry Deadline at 11:59 pm EST (USA)
Venues - International Quilt Festival - Houston, Texas, October 30 - November 2, 2014;
International Quilt Festival - Cincinnati, Ohio, April 2015; International Quilt Festival -
Chicago, Illinois, June 2015; Additional venues may be added, through December 2017.

Don’t Forget!
Send small images wherever possible to go with your news or stories – we love to include
them! 

SAQA members who live in Brisbane, or are visiting, are very welcome at the seasonal
MOB (Members of Brisbane) get togethers at the Queensland Art Gallery coffee shop. The
next meeting will be 1 March from 10.00am. After that, we will meet on 7 June, 6
September and 6 December. Come along for some friendly chat and sharing!

Until next month,


Ali and Susie

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January 2014

Happy 2014 everyone!

We hope your holidays/break allowed some time for creativity, and that the creativity continues throughout the year. Welcome to new members Carol Croce, Maureen Heywood, Julie Herring, Jan Nottingham, and Sonia Solly – we look forward to hearing from you.

Meet a Member
We have such a diverse and interesting membership, we thought it would be great to start to know each other. To get the ball rolling, here’s Susie Cujes, and a a bit about her in her own words -

“My world of art and my world of sewing have exploded into the world of fibre art. I have worked as a portraitist and printmaker, but have since found great satisfaction in working with fibre. For me, working with fibre is all about texture. I create this by hand dyeing my fabrics, wet and dry felting, using fabric confetti to give a sense of depth to landscapes and, of course, what I call thread painting. I use the needle of my sewing machine as my paint bush: this not only gives me the tonal shadings but also the texture to add volume and depth to my work. I love to share my world of fibre art and have run workshops with both adults and children. On one such occasion a 12 year old boy commented “I never thought I was good at art but now I know I am.” An inspiring gift for sharing my passion.
 Susie”

 “Out of the Box” - July 21 to August 3 2014
This exhibition is an opportunity for you to showcase your work, and we look forward to a wide variety as entries can be any size, shape and subject. You have absolute freedom to design and create a piece for display.

The exhibition will be at the Delmar Gallery in Sydney which has hosted a range of wonderful fine art exhibitions, including the finalists for the Blake Art and Poetry finalists.

Workshops are being planned for the weekend of Friday 25th July to Sunday 26th July, so if you are interested in being included in the workshop program, please let Susie know as soon as possible to enable advertising of the classes. There is flexibility here - you could offer a class for a half day, a full day or over two days. There is already interest from artists to provide day classes of wet and dry felting, a two day mixed media and art cloth journal cover workshop as well as a photo shop class for printing on fabric.

There is no funding for this venture, so you will need to factor in the cost of transport for you and your supplies into class costs.

Please contact Susie (cujes@trinity.nsw.edu.au) so that planning can begin.

Congratulations!
Pam Holland was asked by the Art Institute of Chicago to stand with her quilt “American Gothic Revisited” next to the original painting by Grant Wood. It was a great thrill for her, and she shares the full experience on her blog -

Pam’s quilt "The sample, Bayeux to quilt” is to hang in the Houston Museum of Natural Science in the Magna Carta Exhibition and she is quite thrilled out it, as it’s 10th most visited museum in the United States so the piece will get a lot of exposure. If you’re in Houston between February 14 and August 17 this year, you’ll be able to visit the exhibition and the quilt.

Dianne Firth was selected as a finalist in the Infinity Art Gallery RED show, which is open to all mediums. Although most of the works were paintings, there were five textile works accepted. Dianne writes that she is “honoured to be in there with Mirjam Pet-Jacobs.”
An overview of the show can be found here –
www.infinityartgallery.com/red-showthe gallery of finalists can be found here –
www.infinityartgallery.com/red-show/gallery/

Ali George – My Father’s Shed, part of the Queensland Regional Art Awards touring exhibition for 2014, can be seen at the State Library of Queensland from next Saturday (1 February) and will travel to regional galleries around the State for the next year. As part of her prize, Ali is attending the ContextART Forum in the Blue Mountains for a five day workshop with Hilary Peterson and working on a solo exhibition.

Videos
Lisa Walton has been busy – making technique-based videos. Her first covers sunprinting, and the next one will be about more fabric painting techniques. Lisa very generously shares her tips for success and you get to see her in action in her own backyard (literally). She is hoping to come out with a new one every month, and the sunprinting video is already on youtube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3TKb1XHUac&feature=youtu.be

Calls for Entries
Petite Miniature Textiles

Entries are invited for this biennial exhibition, which is open to any Australian artist working in textile and/or fibre. The exhibition will be on display from 14 June to 27 July in Gallery 1 of the Wangaratta Art Gallery and will be complemented by a concurrent installation of fibre-based work by Melbourne artist Dana Harris in Gallery 2.

Enter via the website -
www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/recreation-leisure/art-gallery/exhibitions/images/Petite-2014call-for-entries-email.pdf

or write to
if you'd like to receive entry information via snail mail

Golden Textures
This Biennial Contemporary Art Quilt Exhibition at the Central Goldfields Art Gallery in Maryborough, Victoria, from 21 February to 5 April 2015. Artists who are Australian nationals are invited to enter a proposal, including a statement outlining the artist’s intention and proposed works, details of design and colours (including sketches, drawing and/or photographs), materials to be used, anticipated dimensions of the work. Please note that there is no theme, artists are free to explore any subject matter.

For the purposes of this exhibition, a quilt is defined as a layered, stitched textile with at least 2 distinct layers bound together by stitches throughout the piece. Works can be 2 D or 3 D. Entries will be juried on the basis of originality and innovative use of media.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted by 16 May 2014, with delivery of work (if accepted) by 13th February 2015. For further information and EOI Forms contact Jenny Bacon, Curator, 0409 189 143, jbacon@iinet.net.au

SAQA 2014 Anniversary Trunk Show
The aim of this exhibition is to give an up-close-and-personal look at SAQA artists' works. You can join in the celebrations for SAQA’s 25th year with your trunk show submission a 10" x 7" art quilt that showcases your artistic expression.

This is a travelling exhibition, starting with the premiere at the 2014 SAQA conference in Washington, DC, and then making its way across the United States and around the world. A group of quilts from this exhibition will be chosen by jurors Linda Colsh and Margaret “Peg” Keeney to become a permanent part of the collection of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky.

Inaugural Craft NSW Emerging Artist - Craft Award
The Society of Arts and Crafts of NSW invites emerging craftspeople in any craft discipline to submit up to two entries for this aware. There is a major prize of $2000 and an invitation to exhibit work at Craft NSW for six months, and a minor prize of $1000 and an invitation to exhibit work at Craft NSW for six months. As well, there are two encouragement awards of $500 each. For selection purposes, only emailed digital images will be accepted and should be emailed or posted by July 31 2014. Entry is free. More information can be found on the Craft NSW website www.artsandcraftsnsw.com.au/award.htm

Other opportunities
To stay up with the opportunities SAQA has for exhibiting and sharing your work, don’t forget to visit the website “Call for Entries” section. At the top of the Home page of the website, click on “Resources” which brings up a menu including “Calls for Entry”.

Don’t Forget!
The Brisbane MOB (Members of Brisbane) meets at the Queensland Art Gallery coffee shop on the first Saturday of each new season. The next get together will be 1 March. After that, we will meet for 7 June, 6 September and 6 December. It’s a relaxed and friendly gathering, a good way to get to know what others are doing, and learn more about SAQA. Keep those dates free so you can come along for a chat, and some show and tell.

Until next month,

Ali and Susie

*********************************************************************
December 2013

Welcome to the December newsletter!

Housekeeping
One of Lisa Walton’s first jobs as SAQA Board member was to undertake a cleanup of the SAQA Yahoo group membership list. If you have a number of email addresses and use one for your SAQA membership profile and a different one for the Yahoo Group, you may have been inadvertently removed from the Yahoo group, as she just cross-checked email addresses to determine SAQA membership. If you find that you no longer have access to the group, but you are still a SAQA member, then you can rejoin, but it would be best to use your SAQA contact email. Rejoining is as easy as going to: groups.yahoo.com/group/SAQA/join.

Benefit Auction results
As you know, SAQA's Benefit Auction is its largest fundraiser and SAQA's biggest income source after membership dues. This year, for the second time, the quilts were auctioned directly from the website and bidding for some quilts was also done at Houston. Pinterest and other social media were used to maximise exposure. For 2013, 421 artworks were donated by generous members and over $53,000 was been raised for SAQA exhibitions and programs!  In case you’re wondering where all the money goes, the Benefit Auction supports SAQA's exhibition program. During 2013 ten exhibitions of SAQA member work travelled to Australia, Canada, England, France, Gabon, Italy, South Africa, and seventeen states across the U.S. They were displayed in 8 museums and 19 major quilt festivals and were seen by several hundred thousand visitors, many of whom had never seen an art quilt before.

Date Claimer - July 21 to August 3 2014
Sounds like a wedding – but it’s even more exciting! Susie Cujes and Ali George have put together a local exhibition opportunity open to all SAQA Oceania members. Entries for the exhibition – called “Out of the Box” – can be your choice of size, shape and subject. You have absolute freedom to design and create a piece for display.

The location has been secured – it’s the Delmar Gallery in Sydney which has hosted a range of wonderful fine art exhibitions, including the finalists for the Blake Art and Poetry finalists.


On the weekend of Friday 25th July to Sunday 26th July they are planning to run some workshops. If you are interested in being included in the workshop program, please let Susie or Ali know as soon as possible to enable advertising of the classes. There is flexibility here - you could offer a class for a half day, a full day or over two days. There is already interest from artists to provide day classes of wet and dry felting, a two day mixed media and art cloth journal cover workshop as well as a photo shop class for printing on fabric. There is no funding for this venture, so you will need to factor in the cost of transport for you and your supplies into class costs. Please contact Susie (cujes@trinity.nsw.edu.au) or Ali (ali@aliquilts.com.au) if you would like to exhibit a piece. You don't have to send any details of your piece yet just a note of intention so that we can start to get organized. We will contact you with further details in the New Year. This is our opportunity to put our pieces into the "fine art world", happy creating and hope to hear from you all soon.

MOB (Members of Brisbane)
The Brisbane MOB (Members of Brisbane) meets at the Queensland Art Gallery coffee shop on the first Saturday of each new season. The next get together will be 1 March. After that, we will meet for 7 June, 6 September and 6 December. It’s a relaxed and friendly gathering, a good way to get to know what others are doing, and learn more about SAQA. Keep those dates free so you can come along for a chat, and some show and tell.

Let’s Celebrate
Susan Matthews recently won the major prize in the Victorian Quilters Inc. contemporary quilt exhibition, One Step Further. Her quilt “Notations 2 (Musings)” was inspired by her mind’s ramblings while walking along the beach here in Ocean Grove (Vic). It is one of two pieces she has made in a very different palette to the one she usually uses (the other was shown in the Wangaratta Contemporary Textile Award exhibition in June/July). The techniques are an organic extension of those she has been developing over many years. The exhibition is on Oak Hill Gallery in Mornington Vic until December 29th. www.oakhillgallery.com.au

Congratulations to Judy Hooworth who was SAQA Featured Artist for November. Each featured artist talks about their work and there are images to enjoy. Judy reveals that walking along Dora Creek near her home is integral to her work as an artist. Access the page directly www.saqa.com/memberArt.php?ID=3122or you can go to archived pages via the “Artwork” link at the top of the SAQA website.

Calls for Entries
To stay up with the opportunities SAQA has for exhibiting and sharing your work, don’t forget to visit the website “Call for Entries” section. At the top of the Home page of the website, click on “Resources” which brings up a menu including “Calls for Entry”. There are a few important ones with submission deadlines approaching including Art Quilt Australia (deadline 14 July).

One of the deadlines coming up soon is for the SAQA 2014 Anniversary Trunk Show. Its aim is to give an up-close-and-personal look at SAQA artists' works. You can join in the celebrations for SAQA’s 25th year with your trunk show submission a 10" x 7" art quilt that showcases your artistic expression.

This is a travelling exhibition, starting with the premiere at the 2014 SAQA conference in Washington, DC, and then making its way across the United States and around the world. A group of quilts from this exhibition will be chosen by jurors Linda Colsh and Margaret “Peg” Keeney to become a permanent part of the collection of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky.

Living Colour!
There’s only about a month left to enter Living Colour! which will premiere at the Australasian Quilt Convention in 2014. The closing date for entries is 31 January 2014. Curator Brenda Gael Smith notes that monochromatic works in glorious colour are eligible for consideration, there is no need to have a rainbow of hues in your piece; just pick a colour you like and go for it! And don’t forget that there are two words to the title theme. Each work will be in a 100x40cm (L x W) vertical format and up to 30 works may be selected. To submit an entry, please review the Conditions of Entry and complete the Online Entry Form at www.livingcolourtextiles.com No entry fee is payable unless your work is selected. International entries are welcome.

Until next month,

Ali and Susie

*********************************************************************
November 2013

Welcome to the November newsletter – and it is hard to believe another year is coming to a close. This month we welcome new members Pam Malone, Tricia Smout, Veronica Jefferis, Mary Williams, Annik Andrews, and Linda Steele – a very warm welcome to you and we hope you will share your interest in art quilts with us on the ceania google group board. If there are any members who are not accessing the google group board and would like a fresh invitation to join, please email Ali (ali@aliquilts.com.au). Our SAQA Oceania blogsite can be found at http://saqa-oceania.blogspot.com.au/

What’s in it for me?
Every month I’ll be including more information on a number of resources available to members through the SAQA website. There is an extensive range of information, assistance and help available. Over many years these have been sorted into the broad categories of: art, business, exhibition and display, education, photography, and visioning. Many articles, such as “Acquiring your own voice” by June Underwood or “How to write a press release” by Carolyn Lee Vehslage contain food for thought – and have been written by members to help members. The resources page can be found at http://www.saqa.com/resources.php?ID=2240#art 

Get togethers:
The Members of Brisbane (MoB) will get together on the first Saturday of the new season – which is Saturday 7 December at the QAG Café at 10am. Bring some show and tell (or not) and enjoy a coffee, chat and general catch up. At our last get together we were joined by a resident lizard who kept some of our company on their toes! 
Contact Kate on 0402 699 476 or koszko@iinet.net.au for more details or if you have any queries about the MoB.

Travelling with the SAQA Trunk Show “This is a Quilt” and 2014 … 
It has been a fantastic opportunity to travel with Trunk Show C – most recently to Adelaide for their Festival of Quilts. The exhibition was well received and attracted lots of interest. It was wonderful to meet so many SAQA members and have Cath Babbidge fly in from Sydney on the Sunday. Many thanks Cath for packing up the exhibition! SAQA has offered Oceania the 25th anniversary trunk show in 2014. I intend to have the show travel on a similar schedule to this year – please get in touch with Ali (ali@aliquilts.com.au) if you are able to attend one of the shows and participate on a demonstration table or talk to people about the exhibition and SAQA membership.

SAQA Oceania members can “THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX” in 2014
This is a “heads up” on an exhibition opportunity for 2014. Thanks to Susie Cujes, SAQA Oceania members are invited to participate in a fibre art exhibition at the Delmar Gallery at Trinity Grammar School in Sydney from the 21st July to the 3rd August 2014. Delmar is a well-respected gallery in Sydney with a great following. Your work will be able to be for sale as well,

with the normal gallery commissions. This is a great opportunity to think outside the box. In short,” if you can post it, it will be hung or displayed”. 3D work is most welcome. On one of the weekends during the exhibition, there will be an opportunity to run a few workshops. If you are interested in running a workshop, please let Ali or Susie know with an outline of your proposal as soon as possible. This is not a SAQA approved exhibition but an opportunity created for SAQA Oceania members to exhibit in the Delmar Gallery space. 

There is no funding available for postage or transport so please take that into account if putting in a workshop proposal.

More details about the exhibition and workshop opportunities in early 2014. Put it in your diary, and start creating!


Lots of amazing things have been happening in Canberra with the Ozquilt Network conferenceearlier in the month and the opening of their members travelling exhibition 'Australia WideThree' at the Q Gallery in Queanbeyan and open exhibition 'Art Quilt Australia 2013: people, place, nation' at Craft ACT Gallery Canberra. There is a beautiful 20 page catalogue book for this exhibition which is available at $10 or $15 including postage and packaging. Email admin@ozquiltnetwork.org.au if you would like a copy.

Congratulations to Dianne Firth who has had work selected for Art Quilt Elements in Philadelphia and AQIPP 2013 exhibition Water, Warp & Weft in Melbourne from 14 November to 21 December, 2013 at the Whitehorse Gallery, Box Hill Melbourne. Dianne was also a finalist in the Australian Craft Awards for her exhibition 'Urban Forest'.

Congratulations also to Jenny Bowker who received an honourable mention at
Houston.

The Canberra based group tACTile (Jenny Bowker, Dianne Firth, Helen Gray, Beth Miller, Beth & Trevor Reid) held its sixth exhibition '100: Celebrating Canberra' in August at Belconnen Arts Centre (left). One of the special features of tACTile's exhibitions is its collaborative component. For this exhibition it was a reinterpretation of a cyclorama, a 360 degree view of the site which was used in 1913 to help the designers of the city better visualise the site. The ACT Legislative Assembly has purchased tACTile's 'Cyclorama' for its art collection and it is currently on public display. This is an absolutely stunning exhibition and congratulations to all the tACTile members.


From the Cove c1833
 

From the Cove c1833 (detail)
Congratulations to Sandra Champion whose art quilt “From the Cove, c1833” recently won the Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. The theme, What a Site, celebrated the TMAG’s 150th year on the site which houses some of Tasmania’s important historic buildings: Sandra’s quilt was based on Charles Atkinson’s lithograph showing the Cove escarpment (1833).

Congratulations to Judy Hoowarth whose quilt, Drawing #10 was selected for Quits = Art =Quilts at the Schweinfurth Arts Center in Auburn New York USA. The exhibition will be on display from until 5 January, 2014




Congratulations also to Sue Dennis whose quilt Roundel (above) was also selected for Quilts=Art=Quilts.




Another of Sue’s quilts, Water Net (detail image above) will be part of the AQIPP 2013 exhibition Water, Warp & Weft.



Calls for Entry reminders:
Don’t forget it’s our 25th anniversary in 2014. This traveling exhibition asks SAQA members to create a 10" x 7" art quilt that showcases their artistic expression. The 2014 Anniversary Trunk Show will premiere at the 2014 SAQA conference in Washington, DC, and then travel all across the United States and around the world. A group of quilts from this exhibition will be chosen by jurors Linda Colsh and Margaret “Peg” Keeney to become a permanent part of
the collection of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. If you have any questions about this traveling show, contact Eileen Doughty, 2014 Trunk Show Coordinator, at website@saqa.com

Living Colour


The exhibit will premiere at the Australasian Quilt Convention in 2014. ALL textile artists

are invited to submit an entry exploring the theme "Living Colour!" Each work will be in a
100x40cm (L x W) vertical format and up to 30 works may be selected. To submit an
entry, please review the Conditions of Entry and complete the Online Entry Form at http://www.livingcolourtextiles.com The closing date for entries is 31 January 2014. No entry fee is payable unless your work is selected. International entries are welcome.



In closing …
Many thanks to all of you for your continued support of SAQA and your regional reps (me, Lisa and Susie) throughout this year. Rebecca Staunton Coffey and a number of other members have offered assistance in developing our exhibition proposal for 2015/16 and this is greatly appreciated. 

There is a member’s webinar in early December which is all about exhibitions, exhibition policy and any member can participate. Check out your latest SAQA newsletter for details. If you have any problems registering (note the time difference before clicking the “join” button!) let me know.

That’s it for another month – until December, take care and may you all be
happy in your creative spaces. 

Ali and Susie

********************************************************************************************************

October 2013

Welcome to the October newsletter with two days to spare - for many of us it has been a busy time and another month has melted into our (southern hemisphere) spring. Not that anyone would have noticed with summer-like conditions prevalent for many of our group.  Welcome to Susie Cujes who officially commenced as your Oceania co-representative this month. Susie has reviewed Kari Chapin's "Grow your handmade business" which can be found below. Susie also takes over the newsletter from November so please send her your news, celebrations, congratulations and other items of interest for our group.

Changes to the SAQA website - have you had a look around the new SAQA site? If not, take a tour.  From November, each newsletter will contain a short explanation of a different part of the SAQA website - there is a wealth of information available and many of us do not seem to access the myriad of support available as part of our membership. The new site contains much of the information, ideas, resources and inspiration from the former site - visually it is easier to navigate - and please let Ali know if you have any problems navigating your way.

By now you should have received and had the opportunity to provide feedback on the membership types and proposed changes. The proposed changes were open for discussion as part of SAQA's member survey (earlier in the year). The poll was sent out in response to a number of concerns expressed about the new categories and proposed names. The Board is currently looking at the responses and what the membership wants!


Congratulations to Sue Dennis whose quilt Roundel (above) was selected for Quilts=Art=Quilts at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, NY and will be on display with the other entries from October 26 2013- January 5, 2014. 


Water Net (detail aboe) will be part of the AQIPP 2013 exhibition Water, Warp & Weft November 14- December 21, 2013 at the Whitehorse Gallery, Box Hill Melbourne. 


On a "congratulations" note,  Ali was awarded the 2013 Queensland Regional Art Award (in textiles) for her quilt "My Father's Shed" (above). This year's theme was "living change" . The quilt will travel with abound 25 other fine arts pieces  throughout 2014 in regional Queensland.

Calls for Entry:
SAQA's 25th Anniversary Trunk Show - create a 10 inch x 7 inch piece for this travelling exhibition - please read the submission details and if planning to put in a piece, make sure you leave plenty of time for US customs and inspections - what a great way to have some more of our Oceania works circulating the globe.

Brenda Gael Smith has posted details for Living Colour! on our SAQA Oceania blogspot. You can also access full details from the SAQA website under Calls for Entry.

Oceania gets another traveling trunk show
Oceania group has managed to secure a 25th anniversary trunk show for 12 months following the Capitolizing Fibre conference in 2014. What a great opportunity to be one of the first countries where the exhibition will tour. In addition to touring Australia and New Zealand on the quilt show circuit, your guild or group can borrow the exhibition or otherwise exhibit it - so please let Ali know if you are interested. More details as they become available 
Book Review by Susie Cujes"Grow Your Handmade Business"by Kari Chapin
If you want to clarify where you want to go next with your creativity, then this is the book for you. Perhaps you want to create an income from your "hobby", your passion, or perhaps you may find you would prefer to exhibit or even enter competitions. Kari Chapin encourages you first and foremost to understand exactly what your real passions are, and then she gives you steps to take to achieve your ultimate goal, by breaking down your goal into more manageable and achievable tasks. With small achievements comes success.

From the chapter on "Business Plans Basics" she says……"My objective is for you to create a clear pathway for your success. I want you to feel free to dream big and plan hard"….. Sometimes we get so caught up in the creativity of what we are doing that we miss deadlines for competitions or don't even know where we are headed with our finished pieces. This book attempts to keep you on track and gives you quite a few tools to begin a more organised creative plan.
I've found to work creatively I need to have my studio space organised, it certainly gets messy during the process of making a piece but before beginning a new task my space needs to be tidy …. tidyish!

Kari applies the same principles to organising your mind,and encourages you to head in the right direction for you. It retails for around $30 and worth every cent.

Welcome to our new members - and those rejoining after a brief absence - don't forget that as your representatives, Susie and I are here to support you in all things SAQA - please don't hesitate to get in touch!

Until next time,

Ali (and Susie)
********************************************************************************************************September 2013

Welcome to the September newsletter! We’ve got a few happenings early this month – some great exhibitions and meeting opportunities for members our region.

There will be a special representative’s call on 17 September (New York time) –  Ali will have all the information about changes to both the SAQA website and levels of membership to share with you after that date.

Welcome to new SAQA members Maxine O’Toole and Lucy Carroll, both from New South Wales, Australia.

Benefit Auction starts in less than one week
 A message from Martha Sielman about why YOU should take part in the Benefit Auction --
1. The artwork is gorgeous!
2. Prices range from $750 to $75 so there's something for everyone's budget.
3. They're small so it's easy to find a home for them.  I have a group in my hallway.
4. They make great gifts!  I bought three last year as Christmas presents.
5. 100% of the proceeds go to support SAQA's exhibition program!
And I’d add a 6th – the Oceania collection is simply superb – get in early to beat the stampede.
Get onto the saqa.com website and follow the prompts to participate in our annual fundraiser event.

MOB (Members of Brisbane)  7 September
The Brisbane MOB (Members of Brisbane) meets at the Queensland Art Gallery coffee shop on Saturday 7 September (Election Day) at 10.30am at the QAG Café. Please come along for a chat, bring some show and tell and we look forward to getting together!

Exhibition Openings

Stitched Dialogue

This weekend sees the opening of the Stitched Dialogue exhibition by Alison Muir and Trudy Billingsley. The exhibition comprises stitched textiles and opens at the Barometer Gallery, 13 Gurner Street Paddington NSW. The Official opening is 7 September at 2.00pm. Exhibition closes 22 September.

Khayamiya: Khedival to Contemporary
Opening in Wagga Wagga on 26 August, this exhibition features some really old and interesting tentmaker pieces, and just a few of the more recent ones. Dr Sam Bowker, son of SAQA member Jenny Bowker, has managed to pull together this rare and unusual collection. The exhibition surveys the art of the Egyptian Tentmakers from the 1890s to 2010. Visitors will see how the Tentmakers found new audiences as Egyptian society changed. Dramatic suspended tent panels, some covering entire walls, contrast with charming Egyptian souvenirs from the 1930s. A series of short films further explain the context of Khayamiya, including a preview of the Australian documentary by Kim Beamish, “The Tentmakers of Chareh el-Khiamiah”, to be launched in 2014. On show in Wagga Wagga in the HR Gallop Gallery (in Building 21 off Carpark 2), Charles Sturt University Campus from August 26 to September 12, 2013.

"Khayamiya: Khedival to Contemporary" is designed to become a travelling exhibition, so if you know of any galleries that may be interested in displaying spectacular textiles of this nature, please let them know about the availability of this exhibition.

There will also be a Canberra 100 exhibition by the Embassy of Egypt and Canberra Quilters on the 28th and 29th September (9am – 3pm) at the Embassy of Egypt, 1 Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla ACT. There will be demonstrations by tentmakers Hany El Sayed and Ekramy Hanafy. For more information contact embassy.canberra@mfa.gov.

Let's Celebrate!!!
Congratulations to Sue Dennis who has had two of her quilts from her flood series juried into the Art Quit Australia 2013: People, Place and Nation exhibition in Canberra November 1 - December 14 2013 at Craft ACT.



(Detail of Flood #1 River Rising)















Congratulations to new SAQA member Catherine Porter 
who has had her very first entry into juried into Houston!  ‘Mini Waves’ is A4 size and is entered in the Art- Miniature category.   Wavy strips of fabric were woven together, fused, and then quilted.   The quilt was also juried into Paducah earlier in the year - what a great acknowledgement! 

Congratulations to Hilary Metcalf. One of Hilary’s quilts in her “Boatshed series” has been juried into an exhibition “Local structures” at the Spiral Gallery in Bega, on the south coast of NSW.  The show runs from 20thSeptember to 16th October.  

The show is open to artists working in all mediums, so it will be interesting to see how many textile pieces are represented.  ‘Spiral galley Co-operative is an artist run space that aims to promote and support contemporary and innovative art practice through its frequently changing exhibitions.  The gallery is a not-for-profit organisation, promoting established and emerging artists through an exhibition program which reflects a variety of media and styles.  As well as solo shows, the gallery is community group shows and exhibitions by the spiral artists themselves.’

Congratulations Felicity Clarke who has pieces on exhibit at the Bird Gallery, Brisbane for the Fringe festival from the 13th of September. Felicity also has a quilt and triptych on display at the Brisbane Square library (Brisbane Square, 266 George Street, Brisbane)

Calls for Entries
 “Call for Entries” is located on the SAQA website under the “News and Events” tab on the home page. Searches can be undertaken by keywords, between certain dates and submissions for “Calls for Entry” can also be made from that page (http://www.saqa.com/calendar.php?ID=9). Always check eligibility guidelines for entry.  There are a few important ones with submission deadlines approaching including Art Quilt Australia (deadline 14 July).

 Don’t forget the 10” x 7” challenge for SAQA’s 25th anniversary in 2014 – full details on the SAQA website. 

Living Colour!

Following the fantastic response to "Beneath the Southern Sky” Brenda Gael Smith is curating another travelling textile art exhibition that will premier at the Australasian Quilt Convention in 2014.  All textile artists are invited to submit an entry exploring the theme "Living Colour!" Each work will be in a 100x40cm (L x W) vertical format and up to 30 works may be selected. To submit an entry, please review the Conditions of Entry and complete the Online Entry Form at http://www.livingcolourtextiles.com  Please note that the closing date for entries is 31 January 2014. No entry fee is payable unless your work is selected. International entries are welcome.

Our SAQA Oceania Blog and keeping in touch
 Our blog is there for everyone’s benefit and any news items, especially with images or updates on what everyone is doing can be sent to Kate Oszko who can be reached at koszko@iinet.net.au .  The blog hop has featured strongly over the last month or two – congratulations to everyone who participated and to those who helped make it all happen behind the scenes.

This is a Quilt!” SAQA’s Trunk Show C
 The Trunk Show has again travelled to New Zealand and will follow the Expertise Events circuit for the remainder of its touring life in the Oceania region. Again many thanks to everyone who has assisted in getting the Trunk Show to and from venues – it is greatly appreciated. Get in contact with Ali is you are available to attend Brisbane (16-20 October) or Adelaide (6-10 November).

Regional Representative Vacancy
Congratulations and welcome to Susie Cujes who has accepted the role of representative – Susie’s works will be well known to many of you. Susie will be transitioning into the role over the coming months and will officially take over when Lisa commences her term on the SAQA Board.

Judy Coates Perez visiting Queensland
Member Janet Jackson is also the Queensland Quilters Workshop Convenor and advises that 2Q is re hosting Judy Coates Perez in Brisbane in October and there are workshop opportunities available. Judy will be doing a 1 day class using acrylic inks in Peachester, this is being hosted by Bernadine Hine on October 9. Bernadine can be contacted at bernadinehine@westnet.com.au. Queensland quilters are hosting a 2 day workshop on October 12-13, which we have called an acrylic ink adventure, where students will explore surface design techniques using the inks as well as fabric collage using layering of images using prints, resists, etc, anyone interested in that one should contact Janet at email workshops@qldquilters.com

Until next month,

Ali, Susie and Lisa
********************************************************************************************************
August 2013

Welcome to the August newsletter – and it has been a very busy month with much activity still happening with the Oceania Blog Hop. Thanks to everyone who has or is about to participate – we’ve certainly increased our profile in the lead up to the Benefit Auction 2013. Welcome to our new members in Australia and New Zealand including Catherine Porter, Kerryn Taylor, Helen Baker, Sandra Kennington and Carole Sorrell. Feel free to get in touch via our google group and we look forward to you being a part of the Oceania group. I’ll be at the Newcastle Stitches and Craft Fair tomorrow (Saturday 17th) for a floor talk on SAQA’s travelling trunk show “This is a Quilt”. The talk is at 1pm and I’ll be catching up with Cath Babbidge before we travel back to Sydney in the afternoon. Floor talk is at 1pm and would love to catch up afterwards if anyone happens to be at the show. I’ll be in Sydney on Monday from early morning until just after lunch so let me know if you’d like to have a coffee anywhere between Hornsby and the Domestic Airport! My mobile is 0488 546 444.
The Oceania SAQA MOB (Members of Brisbane) 
The next meeting is planned for Saturday 7 September at the Queensland Art Gallery cafe for 10am. It's a chance to get to know some other local SAQA members, share experiences
and bring pieces (finished or unfinished) for show and tell. For anyone who hasn’t seen Quilt or Ruth Stoneley’s “A Stitch in Time” there’s the opportunity to have a look at these 2 exhibitions. Any queries please give me a ring on 0488 546 444. Or email ali@aliquilts.com.au

Invitations, exhibitions and events
Everyone is invited to the exhibition opening of Beautiful Australia at Gallery 159, 159 Payne Road, The Gap (Qld) to see the works of the Mexettes. The exhibition has returned from France. It comprises 16 quilts inspired by the Australian landscape, its people, fauna and flora by artists Sue Dennis, Margaret Edwards, Annette McRae, Diane Sheard, Jennie Short and Marilyn Tucker – opening is at 3pm on 1 September with the exhibition running from 31 August – 15 September 2013. Gallery is open on weekends 10am – 4pm or by prior arrangement with Janet de Boer at 07 33006491.

100: Celebrating Canberra — tACTile
Until 25 August 2013 -
The tACTile group comprising Jenny Bowker, Dianne Firth, Helen Gray,
Beth Miller, with Beth and Trevor Reid working in partnership, are well known throughout Australia and internationally for their innovative art quilts. They have created 20 art quilts each, a total of 100 altogether, to provide a range of perspectives on Canberra as people, place and designed city. Additionally, tACTile has created a collaborative work that was inspired by the
cycloramic panorama of the site of the future capital city painted by Robert Coulter. Visit this spectacular exhibition at Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen, ACT 2617. Gallery hours: 10:00am–5:00pm Tuesday–Sunday or contact (02) 6173 3300
Twelve by Twelve’s Colorplay Series tours next to:
·        AQS Quilt Show, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA 14 – 17 August 2013; and 
·        AQS Quilt Show, Des Moines, Iowa, USA 2 – 5 October 2013.
All 60 quilts from the 2012 series will be on display at Northwest Quilting Expo in Portland, USA 19-21 September 2013. For more details about the Twelve by Twelve exhibition program, contact info@twelveby12.org or sign up for the Mailing List.
Beneath the Southern Sky is a travelling exhibition of contemporary textile works curated by Brenda Gael Smith. The exhibition finishes it international tours at the International Quilt Convention Africa from 6-8 September 2013. View the textile works in the Online Gallery and see the Exhibition Program for a complete listing of exhibition venues. Check out the Beneath the Southern Sky Facebook page for extra insights into the exhibition.
Calls for Entries
There are many opportunities to submit works for SAQA and non-SAQA exhibitions. Many of these appear on the saqa.com website – search for “Calls for Entry”. 

Brenda Gael Smith is curating another travelling textile art exhibition in 2014/2015. This is an invitation to all textile artists to submit an entry exploring the theme Living Colour! Each work will be in a 100x40cm (L x W) vertical format and up to 30 works may be selected. To submit an entry, please review
 the Conditions of Entry and complete the Online Entry Form. The closing date for entries is 31 January 2014. International entries are welcome.

Update on SAQA’s Oceania Exhibition – proposed for late 2014 – 2016
Thanks to everyone for their ongoing feedback and suggestions. I participated in the Regional Representatives webinar on Thursday morning to hear Betty Busby (the new Exhibitions Coordinator) talk about changes to the rules / policies for SAQA endorsed exhibitions. The process seems to have been made easier and certainly for a region outside the USA there is a lot of support and assistance available to us. I will be hooking up with her next week when I get back from Newcastle to go through the requirements for the Oceania proposal. Once Betty has given feedback I’ll get the information out to all of you (perhaps as part of the September newsletter). We are now looking at a maximum of four week turnaround on approval and if SAQA endorsed, our quilts are automatically covered by SAQA’s insurance while they travel. We have three proposals / suggestions for an exhibition name and I’d appreciate your opinion (if you don’t feel strongly about the title, that is fine and there’s no need to respond).
Possible names are: (a) SAQA: Oceania Revealed (2) SAQA: Oceania Unveiled or (3) SAQA Down Under. I taken on board feedback about not using “II” or “2” as in this being Oceania region’s second exhibition (the first being while Sue Dennis was Oceania representative).
I’ll provide an update on juror status for the September newsletter. Dimensions are going to be a minimum and maximum size in total and on a single side and there will be no specific theme.
SAQA is most interested in how we are funding the exhibition (including catalogue requirements) and that we maintain a high standard of work while ensuring all our member feel encouraged and supported to submit work. More on that after the approval process is underway. All offers of assistance, no matter how large or small, are appreciated. There are many skills and opportunities – if you are able to offer services in publicity, writing, assisting with the entry forms and related material for our blog site /online presence and generally being involved in some way – let me know (ali@aliquilts.com.au) 
Let's Celebrate!!!
There is much to celebrate and many congratulations to a host of SAQA Oceania members. Thanks for sharing news and providing images to share with others in our region.
Congratulations to Sue Dennis – her quilt Jali received a third at the Royal Queensland Show’s “Quilts Across Queensland” this week. The Quilts Across Queensland is in its 12th year – congratulations Sue.











Congratulations again to Brenda Gael Smith
Brenda’s quilt “Eclectus Parrot – an Eclectic Pair” from her Flying Colours series received second place in the art quilt category in the Canberra Quilters exhibition 2013. Another two of Brenda’s works have been juried into Dare to Differ, Gallery M, Adelaide, from 24 September - 21 October.






Congratulations to Lisa Repsevicius who entered three quilts into the Quilt Alliance Twenty Contest and won one of twenty honourable mentions and a judges choice award for her work "RAWR #3". The quilts are a donation and will be auctioned on ebay from November 11 to raise funds for the Quilt Alliance. The quilts are currently touring venues around the USA. For a better look at the quilts follow the link with Lisa’s quilts about halfway down the page. www.allianceforamericanquilts.org/projects/galleries/TWENTY/gallery/

A huge congratulations to Jenny Bowker who won Best of Show at Canberra Quilters - with a her art quilt entry also winning its section. The main colours are greys. The quilt is Earth, Air, with a Memory of Water. We are as thrilled as Jenny at this prestigious win. 






Trunk Show C – This is a Quilt
 A huge thank you to Julie Brunton in New Zealand for getting the “This is a Quilt” Exhibition to and back from the Symposium in Taupo. The exhibition arrived Perth just 48 hours after it left Taupo. Well done New Zealand’s postal service. The exhibition in Perth drew much admiration and praise – and it was wonderful to meet so many WA SAQA members. Thanks for the chance to catch up – and the help with the exhibition table. The exhibition is now in Newcastle, at the Stitches and Craft Fair.

New Member Discount
 If you or your members teach or lecture, Martha, marthasielman@saqa.com, can give you a discount code to encourage new members with a 10% discount for their first year. More than 150 SAQA brochures were taken up at the WA Craft Fair! Congratulations to Sue Dennis and Lisa Walton for their part in recruiting two new members each in the latest membership drive announcements.

Co-representative opportunity for 2014-2015
If anyone would like to join me as co-representative for 2014 – 2015 please get in touch with either me, Lisa Walton or Sue Dennis who would be happy to talk about what is involved. It is a great opportunity and a richly rewarding experience. The commitment is a few hours a month (or a much as you choose to put into the role).

Just a reminder
Celebrate SAQA’s 25th anniversary in 2014 – attend the very special conference Capitolizing on Fibre (May 1-4) in Alexandria, Virginia (adjacent to Washington DC) and consider making an 10” x 7” piece for the SAQA 2014 Anniversary Trunk Show. This will be an up-close-and-personal look at SAQA artists' works. Join SAQA in celebrating our 25th amazing year with your trunk show submission! This traveling exhibition asks SAQA members to create a 10" x 7" art quilt that showcases their artistic expression. The 2014 Anniversary Trunk Show will premiere at the 2014 SAQA conference in Washington, DC, and then travel all across the United States and around the world. A group of quilts from this exhibition will be chosen by jurors Linda Colsh and Margaret “Peg” Keeney to become a permanent part of the collection of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky.

Portfolio19 is now available online @ saqa.com – check out the Oceania members Ruth de Vos, Sue Dennis, Judy Hooworth, and Susan Mathews

All the best to everyone and until next month,

Ali and Lisa 
********************************************************************************************************
July 2013

Welcome to the July newsletter for the SAQA Oceania group and best wishes to you and yours from me and Lisa. It is hard to believe that we have been co-representatives for around 18 months and with Lisa’s acceptance of the invitation to become a SAQA Board member, we would be most appreciative of having someone to “co-rep” with me from January 2014. Becoming a representative is a rewarding experience. Both Lisa and I have enjoyed our time representing you and your interests as SAQA members. Lisa, as a Professional Artist Member (PAM) has brought different ideas and thoughts to our collective thinking and I’ve valued the input and discussion where both types of membership are represented. If anyone is interested in sharing the role, especially an existing PAM, please contact Lisa or me direct. In the absence of a volunteer I will continue as solo representative for Oceania region for another two years.

Celebrations and Congratulations:

Lisa Walton’s quilt Crisp Apples has appeared on the cover of the Summer issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited.  The quilt is based on the design concepts discussed in Lisa’s book “Beautiful Building Block Quilts”.

Lisa will also be travelling overseas and teaching at FOQ, Scotland, Luxembourg and South Africa in the coming months. 

Congratulations to Hobart member Sandra Champion whose quilt “Tracks through the Button Grass #1” won an Award for Excellence for Best Use of Mixed/Decorative Media and Third Prize in Art Quilts at the Island Quilts 2013 Exhibition at the Hobart Craft and Quilt Fair last week. 

100: Celebrating Canberra
The tACTile group comprises Jenny Bowker, Dianne Firth, Helen Gray, Beth Miller, with Beth and Trevor Reid. They work in partnership and are having an exhibition at the Belconnen Arts Centre (A.C.T.) from 9-25 August. They have created 20 art quilts each, a total of 100 altogether, to provide a range of perspectives on Canberra as people, place and designed city.  As well, they have created a collaborative work that was inspired by the cycloramic panorama of the site of the future capital city painted by Robert Coulter. A print of this painting was sent out to competitors in the Federal Capital Design Competition in 1911, including Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. An exhibition not to be missed.


Sue Dennis is one of ten artists invited to dress the Jumpers and Jazz Festival 10th anniversary 10 trees in Warwick, southern Queensland, later this month. Sue is sewing a dress for her tree, ‘The Leaf of the Party’. The trees are painted black and made of plywood. They will be on display during the Festival July 18-28 in the Warwick Town Hall

“This is a Quilt” – tour dates
 Trunk Show C is currently in New Zealand and about to make its NZ debut at the Taupo Symposium – thanks to Julie Brunton.  From Taupo, the quilts will travel as follows: 
* Perth - (2-4 August) WA Craft Show, Claremont Showgrounds, Claremont, Perth 
* Newcastle (August 15 – 18) Stitches & Craft Show, Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Broadmeadow)
* Hamilton, New Zealand (September 5 – 8) Craft & Quilt Fair Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton)
* Townsville (October 3 – 6) Stitches & Craft Show, Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, Breakwater Island) 
* Brisbane (October 16 – 20) Craft & Quilt Fair, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank) 
* Melbourne (October 24 – 27) Stitches & Craft Show, Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne) 
* Adelaide (November 7 – 10) Craft & Quilt Fair, Adelaide Event & Exhibition Centre, Wayville)




Feel free to help promote the touring exhibition and use the above logos appropriate for the show type.  Any members wanting to help out with the exhibition or who can attend / support with a few hours supervision – please get in contact with Ali.

Ali will be presenting floor talks at Perth, Newcastle, Brisbane and AdelaideThis is a Quilt – Makers, Methods and Materials”.

Congratulations to Lisa Walton and Brenda Gael Smith – our star recruiters!
Congratulations and many thanks to both Lisa and Brenda for being “star recruiters” for SAQA this quarter. We now have nearly 100 members in Oceania region. Under the “star recruiters” program, new members receive a 10% discount on joining by using a special code on their membership application. Our PAMS and non-PAM members can arrange their own code through SAQA and make it available to anyone they recruit to SAQA membership – full details on the SAQA website.

Blog hop for SAQA Donation pieces
The SAQA Oceania Region blog hop is yet to be announced. Brenda Gael Smith is putting the “button directions” together and it is preferred that the button does not go onto blogs until being announced to the public. Kate and Brenda are doing the follow-up / finishing off on the schedule and we can’t thank them enough for the work they and Jenny Bowker have done to make this Oceania showcase a reality – and, of course, those contributing the art works! A separate announcement will be sent out to blog participants shortly. Can’t wait to see this kick off next week.

Calls for Entries
 “Call for Entries” is located on the SAQA website under the “News and Events” tab on the home page. Searches can be undertaken by keywords, between certain dates and submissions for “Calls for Entry” can also be made from that page (http://www.saqa.com/calendar.php?ID=9). Always check eligibility guidelines for entry.  There are a few important ones with submission deadlines approaching including Art Quilt Australia (deadline 14 July).


Living Colour!
Following the fantastic response to "Beneath the Southern Sky” Brenda Gael Smith is curating another travelling textile art exhibition that will premier at the Australasian Quilt Convention in 2014.  All textile artists are invited to submit an entry exploring the theme "Living Colour!" Each work will be in a 100x40cm (L x W) vertical format and up to 30 works may be selected. To submit an entry, please review the Conditions of Entry and complete the Online Entry Form at http://www.livingcolourtextiles.com  Please note that the closing date for entries is 31 January 2014. No entry fee is payable unless your work is selected. International entries are welcome.

SAQA 2014 Anniversary Trunk Show
Open to all SAQA Members – join in celebrating SAQA’s 25th amazing year with your trunk show submission This travelling exhibition asks SAQA members to create a 10" x 7" art quilt that showcases their artistic expression.. The 2014 Anniversary Trunk Show will premiere at the 2014 SAQA conference in Washington, DC, and then travel all across the United States and around the world. A group of quilts from this exhibition will be chosen by jurors Linda Colsh and Margaret "Peg" Keeney to become a permanent part of the collection of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. Full submission details are available on the SAQA website.

Get togethers:

Taupo Symposium get-together
Any SAQA members attending the Taupo Symposium, Taupo, New Zealand who would like to get together, please contact Lisa direct by email to arrange a time to catch up.

Perth Craft Fair get-together
Anyone wanting to catch up while Ali is in Perth – please make direct contact with Ali by email – Ali will be available 1 – 4 August and contactable by mobile 0488 546 444. It would be wonderful to see as many SAQA members as possible during this visit.

Members of Brisbane (SAQA MoB)
The Brisbane and near-Brisbane SAQA members get together on the first Saturday of the season. The next get together will be 7 September at the Queensland Art Gallery Café – more details next month. Contact Kate Oszko for more details.

Take care everyone and all the best for an artistic and creative month
,
Ali and Lisa
********************************************************************************************************
June 2013

Welcome to the June newsletter and there is so much happening with our group – we are an amazing and talented bunch, bringing different perspectives and practices to SAQA. The biggest news this week/month/year is that Lisa Walton has accepted an offer to become a SAQA Board member. Congratulations Lisa – it is a great honour to have been asked and well deserved. I know our group is excited to see “one of our own” engaging at the Board level.


Catch up with Lisa at the upcoming Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair which runs from June 12 – 16 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.  Last year’s catch-up resulted in the Oceania Collection idea coming to fruition – so bring your ideas along on Thursday 13th June at 3.00pm – meet at the food area found at the back of Hall 2. Who knows where it will lead, although I have an idea it may involve Oceania region members showcasing our talents in a new and exciting way?


A reminder in case you don’t have it – the Oceania Collection can be viewed at http://saqa-oceania.blogspot.com.au (this is our blog address). A huge thank you to Brenda Gael Smith for the brilliant production work and a big thank you to the Oceania members who donated works for the 2013 benefit auction – just follow the link and click on the top row tab for Oceania Collection. The collection catalogue can be downloaded at http://serendipitypatchwork.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/oceaniacollection20133.pdf


The Oceania Collection is only part of the story for this year’s benefit auction – our blog hop is being organised through Jenny Bowker and Jenny has already posted updates and information about the hop. Please contact Jenny direct if you have any queries or concerns about being part of the hop – and let me know if I can assist in any way if you are not a blogger or want help in getting your process documented.

The Brisbane MOB (Members of Brisbane) got together on Saturday at the Queensland Art Gallery coffee shop – it was a delightful way to spend a few hours catching up on our recent activities – thank you to Kate Oszko, Rebecca Staunton Coffey and Mel Forrest for making Saturday very uplifting. Rebecca showed us her interpretation of St Pauls Cathedral in Wellington (NZ) through a textile art book, and a  myriad of processes used to reinterpret elements of the cathedral leading to her own fabric design (through spoonflower.com) of some of the hinges on this beautiful building.  









More images of our get together have been posted by Kate on our SAQA Oceania blogspot.


Calls for Entries
“Call for Entries” is located on the SAQA website under the “News and Events” tab on the home page. Searches can be undertaken by keywords, between certain dates and submissions for “Calls for Entry” can also be made from that page (http://www.saqa.com/calendar.php?ID=9). Always check eligibility guidelines for entry.  There are a few important ones with submission deadlines approaching including Art Quilt Australia (deadline 14 July).


Living Colour!
Following the fantastic response to "Beneath the Southern Sky” Brenda Gael Smith is curating another travelling textile art exhibition that will premier at the Australasian Quilt Convention in 2014.  

All textile artists are invited to submit an entry exploring the theme "Living Colour!" Each work will be in a 100x40cm (L x W) vertical format and up to 30 works may be selected. To submit an entry, please review the Conditions of Entry and complete the Online Entry Form at http://www.livingcolourtextiles.com  Please note that the closing date for entries is 31 January 2014. No entry fee is payable unless your work is selected. International entries are welcome.


Congratulations to the following Oceania members:


Helen Beaven’s quilt 'Colour Full' was accepted into the exhibition 'Colours of New Zealand'.  The exhibition is organised by NZ Quilter (www.nzquilter.com) and Nutex fabrics (www.nutex.co.nz).  The 20 quilts will spend about a year travelling around various venues in NZ.  It opened this week at Minerva Gallery in Wellington.


Congratulations also to Kerrie Anne Riles whose exhibition of pictorial art quilts will open at Timeless Textiles 7 Beaumont St, Islington (NSW) on June 20th and will run till the 14th July. Kerrie Anne uses fabric paints, hand dyed fabrics and machine quilting in her works. Kerrie Anne will also be giving a free talk on Friday 21st at 5.00pm talking about the way in which she translates her photographs into detailed appliqué quilts.

Congratulations to Jenny Bowker who is this year’s recipient of the Rajah Award. Jenny was widely considered a most deserving winner of the award, earned in no small way through her tireless efforts in creative textiles and her support and promotion of quilts and quilt making around the world.  The large number of supportive posts are indicative of the esteem and respect we have for Jenny, her work and her art. Well done just doesn’t seem to cover it.


Congratulations to Diane Firth who was awarded the McCarthy Memorial Award at Quilt National 13 for her quilt “Storm.” Quilt National is a prestigious, biennial art quilt exhibition in Ohio, and is arguably the premier event in the contemporary quilting calendar. In 2013 "there were 851 quilts submitted by 458 artists from 44 states, 17 countries and five Canadian Provinces. Jurors Linda Colsh, Penny McMorris, and Judith Content selected 85 quilts by 85 artists. The exhibitors represented 27 states and 7other countries. In this exhibition 20 percent of the exhibitors were first time Quilt National artists”.


This is a beautiful quilt and a richly deserved award.


Congratulations are also heading to Ruth de Vos who has been honoured with the Acquisitive Prize for her artwork 'Trike' at the Australian Cotton Fibre Expo in Narrabri, NSW.  Ruth also received a Highly Commended for 'A Joyful Heart' at the City of Melville Art Awards. Ruth has described receiving this level of award and positive recognition of her work as a truly motivating experience. Congratulations Ruth.


Congratulations to Sue Dennis whose quilt “In the Moonlight” has been selected for the 2013 Hands all Around touring exhibition. It will premiere at the Houston International Quilt Festival.


Out and About
Sue Dennis is one of the three judges for the Sydney Quilt Show which runs from June 12-16 at Darling Harbour (see above re: catching up with Lisa during the show). Sue will be giving a talk  ”Quilting Adventures from Mt Isa to Mongolia” on June 14 at the Quilters’ Guild of NSW dinner, 6.30pm at the Rockford Novotel Darling Harbour.  Sue will be talking about her travels and if anyone is interested in joining her on one of these events, Sue will be visiting India for the Wilderness, Wildlife and Weaving 11 day tour, from 27 November to 7 December 2013. Sue is returning to this fascinating, colourful country to gather more inspiration.  Full details of the itinerary and cost is available at www.textiletraditions.com.au


If a trip to Italy is on your travel itinerary, Sue is also tutoring a class in Textile Souvenirs at the Abruzzo School of Creative Arts from 10 – 14 June 2014 (www.abruzzoschoolofcreativeart.com) - there is currently an early bird special discount of 20% until December 31, 2013.

In print:
The Australia Patchwork and Quilting magazine Vol 22 No 8 features 5 of the 13 Australian entries from the 2012 World Quilt Show, pages 67-72.  Apologies to SAQA member Carolyn Sullivan whose quilt Three Views was incorrectly labelled as the Traditional Best Hand Workmanship, when it was the Innovative Best Hand Workmanship award.


Our SAQA Oceania Blog and keeping in touch
Our blog is there for everyone’s benefit and any news items, especially with images or updates on what everyone is doing can be sent to Kate Oszko who can be reached at koszko@iinet.net.au .


“This is a Quilt!” SAQA’s Trunk Show C
Last weekend saw the first official showing of “This is a Quilt – Trunk Show C” at the Garage Gallery, Aliquilts Studios at Tarome. Around 100 people visited the studios over the weekend – no mean feat when it involved crossing the creek after the Villis bridge was swept away earlier this year in floods.


The Trunk Show will now travel to New Zealand to the Taupo Symposium before rushing back to Australia to continue its travels to Perth, Sydney and Adelaide. More venues are being finalised  making this Trunk Show’s final year of being “on the road” a memorable Oceania adventure. Thank you to everyone who has assisted in getting the Trunk Show to and from venues – it is greatly appreciated.


Ali will be travelling to Perth (31 July – 5 August), Sydney to present to the NSW Guild  (17 and 18 August), Brisbane (16 – 20 October) and Adelaide (6 – 10 November) and would love to catch up with SAQA members – more details in the July newsletter.


Regional Representative Vacancy
Once Lisa takes up Board duties, there will be an opportunity for someone to be Co-representative with Ali. The commitment is for a few hours each month (it’s never predictable and there are times when it is more, and less). The term for another co-rep for Oceania would commence from January 2014 and SAQA requests a minimum commitment of two years.  I am intending to stay  in my current role for at least another two years. When I started as co-representative with Lisa, I knew almost nothing about the vast world of SAQA (a classic fence sitter for the first few years of membership) and was able to use the extensive resources available to representatives – it has made the learning process so much easier – so much support is available, online and in person.


If anyone would like to take up the challenge or gain experience in this incredible organisation, please contact Ali or Lisa. SAQA is an organisation that gives as much as it gets – the more we put in, the more we benefit and the opportunity to be a regional representative or co-representative is an exciting part of being SAQA.


Until next month,


Ali and Lisa
************************************************************************************************************
May 2013

It has been a busy month for the Oceania group.


The Oceania Collection was on display at the SAQA Conference in Santa Fe and received many great comments. Here are a couple of photos but apparently it was hard to get good clear ones as there were always people in front of them having a good look. Most of them are now on the SAQA Website (mainly on pages 3a and 3b) now and the ones that are not will be soon as they catch up all the uploading. I have asked that they are labelled as part of the Oceania Collection but this has not been done yet but may be done soon. It would be good to have them at least labelled together. It is a great collection everyone and you should all be very proud. Jenny will be working on a blog hop schedule soon.






Speaking of blogs - Kate Oszko has designed a blog for us so we can use it to promote ourselves, put the blog hop on it as well as individual blogs, post interesting things etc. 
It's not a replacement for googlegroups chat, but more a central location for all things Oceania.  Newsletters will be archived there (just click on "Newsletters" in the sidebar). 
The blog contact is Kate on koszko@iinet.net.au.  If you have something to share on the blog, let her know.

SAQA CONFERENCE 2014
SAQA's 25th Anniversary Conference is   May 1-4, 2014 - that's 52 weeks to plan a fantastic trip to the East Coast.
Capitolizing on Fiber will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Alexandria, Virginia (adjacent to Wasington DC).
Any Oceania members who are  interested in attending can get in contact with Ali (ali@aliquilts.com.au) who would be happy to coordinate an Oceania trip - expect airfares return Brisbane/Sydney - New York to be $1300 - $1900 and twin share accommodation in Virginia to be less than $100 a night. The idea would be to fly to New York, spend a day or two then Amtrak to Washington / Alexandria for the conference. It's just an idea - would love to know if anyone else would be interested in attending.
MEMBER NEWS
At the recent AQC in Melbourne SAQA Oceania Members really shone.

Jenny Bowker was awarded the coveted Rajah Award which acknowledges the outstanding contribution by an individual to quilting in Australia. Jenny is an outstanding quilter, teacher and mentor and definitely a worthy receipient.
Helen Godden won the AQC Challenge - Free - with her amazing quilt  ‘Galloping Wild and Free’ the runner up was  Gillian Shearer with her emotive ‘I Am Nujood and I Am Free’. Both were amazing quilts and definitely deserving of the awards.
We had a great dinner with 16 members in Melbourne during the AQC and it was great to catch up with so many of you. There will also be a gathering during the Sydney Show in June but it will probably be an afternoon coffee at the show (possibly Thursday) as people tend to spread all over Sydney during Quilt Show week. Let Lisa know if you are interested in meeting up.
The State of the Art Quilt 13 exhibition juried by Lisa Walton, opened in Brisbane recently with quite a few SAQA members included. http://queenslandquiltersartquilters.blogspot.com.au/p/sota13.html


Linda Robertus' quilt Zebra was selected as a finalist in the Black and White Expo 2013 at the Infinity Art Gallery:
http://www.infinityartgallery.com/black-and-white-2013/gallery/

This online gallery has an Art Quilt Exhibit coming up soon, for which submissions are now open:http://www.infinityartgallery.com/upcoming/art-quilt-2013/

Linda is also the new editor of Down Under Quilts and part of the editorial team for Down Under Textiles. She is happy to receive ideas for articles, news about exhibitions, photos from exhibitions etc at linda.robertus@practicalpublishing.com.au





Ali George’s studio space, Aliquilts,

has been selected as part of Scenic Rim Council’s Open Studios program for 2013. Each weekend in May and early June, artists of the Scenic Rim in south-east Queensland open their studios to the public. Ali’s studio will be open on the 25th and 26th May. Joined by fellow SAQA artist Mel Forrest as artist-in-residence Ali and Mel will be demonstrating a range of mixed media and textile art techniques. The Studio is open from 9am each day – and all visitors are most welcome. Come out for the day or play for a weekend. Contact Ali  at ali@aliquilts.com.au or on 0488 546 444 for more information. Visit the entire Open Studios program at http://www.liveatthecentre.com.au/Open-Studios-Region-Boonah-and-Kalbar-pg20727.html

Play day at the studio with  Jane, Ali, Suzanne and fellow SAQA member, Sue Dennis


The Beneath the Southern Sky exhibition  curated by Brenda Smith and containing many works by SAQA Members continues on tour to Gosford Regional Gallery: 25 May to 26 June 2013. Official opening Friday, 24 May 6.30-8.30pm.  It has just returned from AQS Show in Paducah and it will also be on display at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham and International Quilt Convention in Johannesburg later in the year.

Twelve by Twelve Colourplay exhibition continues at Pinnacles Gallery, 20 Village Boulevard, Thuringowa Central, Townsville until 2 June  Gallery hours Tues - Sun: 9am - 5pm.  Free admission.




I AM SAQA CAMPAIGN
It's is so great that Felicity Clarke is part of the I am SAQA campaign. You can be part of it too - just send a photo of yourself, a jpg of your art, and the completed form to Allison Reker - IAmSAQA@saqa.com


So you can see that SAQA Oceania is certainly making it's mark on the art quilting world. 


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