SDA and SAQA joint conference “Identity: Context and Reflection"

The third semi-annual joint conference between the Surface Design Association (SDA) and Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) will be held in March 2012 in Philadelphia.

The conference will be Friday March 30, 2012 - Sunday April 1, 2012 at the Philadelphia Marriot West. 

The theme, IDENTITY, was chosen because "artists creating fiber and textiles often struggle with issues of identity, embracing their mediums while attempting to contextualize their meanings within the larger art world."

Members of both SDA and SAQA are invited to "meet and explore your own artistic identity."

You may register for the conference at either the SDA website or the SAQA website.

 Lorraine Glessner's class: Mark-Making Explorations for Surface Design

Conference Schedule:

Friday March 30 - Full day of lecture and panel presentations and Artist Speed Dating Icebreaker. Plus the Opening of Art Quilt Elements (10th juried exhibition) at the Wayne Arts Center.

Saturday March 31 - Full day of tours of the thirty-two exhibitions offered through Fiber Philiadelphia 2012. Plus the Opening of Outside/Inside the Box (juried exhibition) at the Crane Arts Building Icebox Gallery.

Sunday April 1 - Morning lectures and panel presentations. 

Conference Speakers include:

• Bruce Pepick - Executive Director & Curator of Collections, Racine Art Museum

• Bruce Hoffman - independent curator and writer

• Alexandra Rella - PT, DPT, Injury Prevention Specialist, U of Pennsylvania Health System

• Dianne Koppish Hricko - printmaker and educator

• Amy Orr - Executive Director of FiberPhiladelphia

• Kathryn Pannepacker - artist

• Sandra Sider - President of SAQA, art history professor, studio quilt artist, curator & critic

 Laura Sapelly's class: The Stitched Journal

Panel topics include:

• The Jurying of Art Quilt Elements 2012

• Where have I come from and where am I going?

Post-conference Workshops will be held April 2-4, 2012 and include:

Jan Myers-Newbury's class - A Pole and a Piece of Fabric

• Anne Vickery Evans: Hybrid Felt for Artistic Yardage

• Lorraine Glessner: Mark-Making Explorations for Surface Design

• Judy Langille: Cut, Slash, and Tear Your Way to Innovative Fabric Design

• Cameron Anne Mason: Beyond the Surface - Sculptural Explorations with Soft Materials

• Jan Myers-Newbury: A Pole and a Piece of Fabric

• Laura Sapelly: The Stitched Journal

• Adrienne Sloane: Knit Anything (Not Clothing)

Find a full description, images and bios of the instructors here or here.

We hope you will join us for an exciting conference!

an important message from Jane Dunnewold

It was an immense pleasure to have Jane Dunnewold at the 2011 Michigan SDA Holiday party. She spoke to us about the organization and our role in it with passion, it was very inspiring.

We asked Jane if she would be kind enough to convey the message a second time in written form so that we could post her words on the blog and she happily agreed. 

Below is her message - many thanks Jane!

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

SDA is transforming. The association (which means literally, a group of people who share a love of the same thing) has passed the 30+ years mark, and like so many other organizations, has been feeling a need for change.

What's change look like for SDA?

** More benefits for members. You pay dearly for your membership - we at the board level are looking very hard at what you get for these dollars. 

What do you need?

Based on conversations I've been having around the country, you need exhibition opportunities, exposure, enhanced website networking, mentoring and connections. It's disheartening to work in a vacuum - isolation saps energy and poignantly reminds us that we need other people to flourish.

SDA is committed to blowing vibrancy into your relationships with other artists, with top level board volunteers and staff, and with your work - which is the most important relationship of all. And we especially want to accomplish this by partnering with fiber arts organizations that already have a presence in Michigan. By working together, all boats rise!

** You need great opportunity at the local level. SDA conferences are great. The SDA Journal is renowned. But it's the monthly connections, exhibitions in local venues, small gatherings in the homes to critique work; sharing joys and frustrations - that means the most to working members.

Next year we intend to double the money we commit to local Small Event Grants, add a library of How To documents (accessible to any member) and mount a new initiative to build the Swatch Library (one of our most popular collections - and one available to any member who requests a loan of the samples.)

There are other big ideas and I know we can accomplish them. An online sales gallery. Online exhibitions. Regional symposiums.

But this is a two way street.

You in Michigan have the opportunity to be a model for other local / state organizations. You've got the numbers and more importantly, you've got the know-how and the enthusiasm. 

I was thrilled to meet with eighteen SDA members early in December, and to hear that there were many more who couldn't attend the holiday party, but were eager to be involved. Participation is the key. You may think you don't matter.

But you DO.

Because no matter how many big ideas I have, no  matter how many big ideas are floated at the national level, it all comes down to what we do together on the local level.

It's the start of a New Year.

The trick is figuring out what members bring to the table. What do you know how to do? How would what you know benefit SDA Michigan? That's all we have to do: share out abilities and our resources, decide what sort of project to tackle first and then GO FOR IT!

Symposium? Weekend workshop with a nationally know instructor? An open-ended retreat? Together you can choose a project, and together WE can accomplish it.

I am here, and all ears. Feel free to write me any time, but more importantly, speak with each other, and with Susie and your SDA Ambassadors. Let's raise a little energy and get a few good things going!

My best to you,

Jane

SDA Holiday Party

The 2011 SDA Holiday party was hosted by state rep Susie Krage at her beautiful home in Indian Village. Our gracious host offered a very welcoming environment where we all socialized and enjoyed each other's company.

Special guest Jane Dunnewold joined us to join in the celebration.

There was a wonderful array of food brought by the members and an exciting gift exchange of all manner of fiber art gifts.

The party is best described in photos - enjoy!

Photos by Susan Trovillion and Mary Valerie Richter.

Debra Danko (facing the camera), Kay Lister talking to Jeanne Pratt with  

Anne Flora and Cathy Beckwith in the background

                                               Anne Flora, Cathy Beckwith, Kay Lister & Jeanne Pratt                                                  Lynn Krawczyk, Lisa Jaros, Jackie Lams & Sandy Kunkle

 

What a spread!

Lynn Krawczyk, Lisa Jaros, Jackie Lams & Sandy Kunkle

Terri Voight, Michele Moensson, Susie Krage, Jeanne Sarna

Karen Turckes & Jane Dunnewold

Susan Trovillion, Anne Flora, Jeannie Pratt

Cathy Beckwith, Jane Dunnewold, Terrie Voight, Michelle Moensson

Michele Moensson, Jeanne  Sarna, Kay Lister

Jane Dunnewold, Terrie Voight & Michelle Moensson

Mary Valerie Richter & Jane Dunnewold

Michele Moensson

Sandy Kunkle

Mary Valerie Richter

Many thanks to Susie and Jane for a wonderful party!