Quilt Not Quilt: The Afterlife (exhibition)

Cowles Literary Commons at Open Book at MCBA
On view October 12–December 2, 2018
Opening Reception Wednesday, October 17, 6–8 pm
Free and open to the public

Quilt, Not Quilt: The Afterlife is an exhibition of twelve artists who have turned tattered quilts into reflective and collaborative new forms including paper, poetry, and broadside prints. Participating artists contemplated connections to the original quilts and their makers, focusing on craftsmanship and labor, scarcity and plenty, and stories that can be recalled and stories never to be recovered. Responding to questions of social, cultural, and economic history, the resulting exhibition culminates in a multitude of diverse and unexpected transformations of material, story, and form. 

Rhapsody Quilt
Georgia A. Greeley
Mixed Media
2018

In my research I found that the word Rhapsody has a Greek root: Rhap=To Stitch, Sode=Song. I used pieces of our first test papers for the squares and the final base layer is paper from one of our quilts. The batting is a remnant which was not turned into paper. The thread is silk. The words are stenciled.

Jean Heidenreich Exhibit

Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
Free. Open to the public daily through October 3, 2018

Jean Heidenreich

From now through October 3rd an exhibition of a variety of artwork by Jean Heidenreich is on display at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, 511 Groveland Avenue, Minneapolis (where Lyndale and Hennepin cross).  Park on the east side. When a person at the desk inside sees you at the door, it will be opened for you. Or push a button on the post. The exhibit is in the large first floor room and extends into the hallway between that room and the sanctuary.

Jean Heidenreich

This exhibit consists of about one third calligraphy pieces and about two thirds a variety of multi-media works. Many are in the genres of Experimental Art and Abstract Art. If you want to know more about any painting, look in the Notebook About The Artwork In The Exhibit By Jean Heidenreich which is readily available at the desk. You can learn about the kinds of papers, inks, paints, tools and techniques used, as well as sizes, prices and additional information.

Diane von Arx

While there take special notice of a painting by Diane von Arx located on the elevator wall across from the desk. Enjoy the gold leaf letters “In the beginning was the word”.  Also, see the incredible slate carving created by Janey Westin and Charlie Hughes (next to the elevator door).

Janey Westin

A note from Janey Westin on the slate carving:

(detail) Janey Westin

The letter carved work at Hennepin Ave United Methodist Church is a quote that John Wesley, founder of the church, referred to often. When we were researching the quote with Jean Heidenreich, we found out that Wesley did not compose it. The author is unknown. Perhaps Wesley's mother had cross-stitched it and had it hanging on the wall when he was young?? Who knows?

It is carved in a 4' x 5' piece of Brazilian slate. Charlie and I both worked on the layout-- one of the most difficult layout challenges that I've ever worked on because of the multiple repetitions of wording. We wanted the content and message, not the repetitions, to be the focus of the piece. I did the carving and painting of the inscription. The Methodist Church symbol at the bottom is variegated copper leafed. It is permanently mounted in its space. We added the framing after the slate was mounted.

Kris MacDonald Wins in National Competition

QUEST FOR JEWELRY BRINGS CALLIGRAPHY SUCCESS

Here is Kris MacDonald’s story of entering the 2018 Graceful Envelope contest:

After Charlie Hughes' passing, I contacted the Washington DC Calligraphers Guild in search of any ABC/XYZ jewelry, which he had designed. They own the design and have sold necklaces and earrings with the design. I was hoping they might have some last item that was still unsold. Received a nice reply that no, there was nothing left, they even queried their BOD. A few weeks later I received an offer from Lorraine Swerdloff, one of their very active members and the coordinator for the Graceful Envelope contest. She offered to trade me a pair of ABC/XYZ earrings in exchange for promoting the contest to the Colleagues. Of course I agreed and she wouldn't take any money.

Kris’s winning entry

So, in 2017 I promoted the contest and dutifully sent in an entry. In 2018 I promoted the contest and thought about my entry for the theme "Whatever the Weather". I drew a blank, and had no appropriate stamps to spur my imagination.

The envelope before “weatherization”

It was a few days before the deadline and I had a promise to keep so I decided I would just simply do an envelope and be done with it. For those of you who follow the contest, you know there are a lot of submissions with fantastic illustrations, which I don't do. I grabbed two American flag stamps and decide to letter the address in waving lines echoing the waves on the flag. The large address was in gouache with small letters repeating the address with a waterproof micron pen. At the beginning and end of each line you can see my illustrative abilities. Final step, add the weather. I took the envelope outside and smashed it onto the spring snow, twice, which made the gouache bleed perfectly. It didn't look quite weather-beaten enough, so I laid it down in a muddy soggy spot. Couldn't decide if it needed more abuse so I stopped while I was ahead. I didn't care, but really I guess I did.

I mailed it off with a clean conscience that it was a decent enough entry and I had fulfilled my promise to Lorraine.

Later, I was shocked beyond belief when the certificate arrived stating my envelope was part of the Honorable Mention group. Never in a million years...did I expect that to happen. I will keep sending in entries each year as it was a small price to pay for Charlie's earrings. Will remind you next year when the theme is announced and it is time for you to submit.

P.S. I had no idea that the cancellation stamp would have the wavy lines on it. That is a design element that was a happy accident. Couldn't have planned that any better.

Kris MacDonald