Aloft, a SAQA Exhibit
Once upon a time, a long time ago, before Covid 19 really hit the US, the SAQA show Aloft premiered at AQS Daytona Beach (late Feb). I was able to see its debut. I didn’t have a lot of time to ponder the quilts as I was sneaking in time at lunch and after teaching. I particularly enjoyed Aloft because it was positive and, well, uplifting. I have grown weary of “statement” shows and craved a positive exhibit.
I got a chance to hang out the with my Florida SAQA peeps and it was wonderful to get to know them better.
From left, Candace Phelan SAQA Board Member, I believe a new member and Karol Kusmaul SAQA Regional Rep
The SAQA table was hopping each time I visited and the audience loved the exhibit.
Here we go:
Sliders, Karol Kusmaul, based on a photo of Karol with her son as a young child.
Ohio Fields, Carolina Seas, Patricia Kennedy-Zafred, based on Library of Congress photos of the Wright brothers in flight.
Ekko, Sara Bradshaw. Ekko is catching a treat!
Night Owl, Judithe Roderick, based on a late night encounter.
Dezi’s Joy, Julie A. Bohnsack, based on a photo of Julie’s grandson as he learned to pump himself on a swing.
Give Rise, Deborah Boschert. The ladder represents hope. I love the shadow quilting on this!
Detail, Give Rise, Deborah Boschert. I adore this detail.
Sky Lanterns, Margaret L. Abramshe. Sky lanterns are like mini hot air balloons. Margaret was inspired by a Taiwanese festival; people send their lanterns aloft, symbolically rising above earthly troubles.
Tambuzi Takeoff, Sue Sherman, based on a photo of a Tambuzi greenhouse in Kenya with over a hundred weaver bird nests like these.
Transient in the Sky, Jerri Penney.
Flight From Portland, Lisa M. Thorpe, based on a photo taken from a flight home as they left the Portland airport.
Squirrel Aloft, Carla A. White. Scotland’s flying Red Squirrels are threatened by a virus and this quilt commemorates its fight for survival.
Boundless, Jill Kerttula based on a photo Jill took from a parking garage.
Tornado, Marianne R. Williamson based on a photo by Gregory Case.
Mandapas, Naomi S. Velasquez, inspired by cave art architecture in India.
A Perch Above, Sue Colozzi.
Sky Gardens, Dan Olfe, inspired by 2 photos Dan took in Singapore, both inside and outside a greenhouse.
On the Wind, Betty Busby, based on her childhood memory of cicadas.
A View From a Different Kind of Room, Trish Morris-Plise. Trish is a “woman of the water” and Trish imagines herself perched atop a mast.
Mapforms #7, Michele Hardy. Michele wants to highlight the beauty of rivers running through various landscapes.
Hong Kong Taxi, Jean Renli Jurgenson. Jean imagines a toddler at the window looking down.
Milkweed and Hummingbirds, Sara Sharp.
Take Off, Jan Soules, a view from the plane.
Nocturnal Nectar, Christine Holden. Long-nosed bats seek out night-blooming flowers in the American Southwest.
Tree Singing, Wen Redmond. Can you hear the trees singing if you listen carefully?
I thought this was one of the best SAQA exhibits I’ve seen. I hope you enjoyed it too!
In this week’s newsletter I’ll write a bit about what’s happening in my studio and life during this time of crisis. If you’d like to receive my weekly newsletter there is a sign-up form at the bottom of the front page of my website. I hope all is well with you and you are weathering the storm. Blessings.
Linked to Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday.
Thanks for the photo tour. I hope your house is getting mended. Stay well.
You’re welcome Linda! We are currently in cease-fire mode, gearing up for the next onslaught of restoration: floors, paint and baseboards. Ugh. Thank you for caring and for your comment!
Thanks for the pictures of the beautiful quilts. But I’m wondering what are “statement shows”? Thanks Denise
Hi Denise; I made that term up, shows whose focus is on a particular societal issue.
Thanks for posting this. Hope to see it person in Ling Beach
Oh, you’ll be at Long Beach? I’d love to meet up with you – I’ll be teaching. Maybe we could meet for a brief lunch or chat.
These are magnificent, Jenny! Thanks for sharing them with us — so very uplifting, individually and as a group. Just what we need in these troubled times.
Yes, pretty stuff in these times of trial!
I feel like I write the same thing every week, thanks for sharing the show you visited that I wasn’t able to, I appreciate your effort. We are self isolating and I feel like I’m on vacation, time has no meaning in my day, like it should have when I retired. I may have to re-up my blog to show what’s been done in this isolation period. Saturday is International Quilt Day, hang a quilt outside, securely, to celebrate. Thank the goddess that we are creatives and know how to use this quarantined time.
Well I never get tired of hearing that! Yes, us creatives are blessed with something meaningful to do. This self-isolation is difficult for me. Thank you for your comment and kind words.
Thanks for sharing the SAQA quilts. I love them all!
This virtual quilt show brightened my day; thank you so much. I’m hoping to do something creative with the social distancing time.
Oh what a joy to read that Claire! Hope you do get some creative time.
local nursing homes and recovery hospitals can’t get the masks needed for staff. A local administrator called me this morn pleading that I help him get some made. Local sewing stores, quilt stores, and sewing machine stores are stepping up to encourage quilters to get this going during our stay-at-home time and to collect them when finished for rapid and local distribution. Some of these patterns allow for laundry and reuse.
Yes Carol, the sewing community has mobilized! I’m sewing for a specific need right now and will search for other needs once these are done.
Ty for the beautiful quilts you shared- they were sublime!
So glad you enjoyed them Roxane! We all need a smile.
Nice photos. So many canceled events…
Yes, sigh, so many cancelled events Jeanne. We can still enjoy pretty quilts though!