thelmasmith

Kate Lenkowsky and I met at the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 2003. Lots of star power quilters to interview. The result is stunning.

This arrived by courier this afternoon. I have not had time to study more than the Table of Contents. The last quarter of the book, A Guide for Buyers & Collectors, is information that has never, to my knowledge, been put in one place. The information is extensive. Lenkowsky covers care, insuring and appraising as well as a long list of other topics in the guide.

Contemporary Quilt Art, An Introduction and Guide, by Kate Lenkowsky is published by
Indiana University Press. Extensive author’s commentary accompanies the large color photographs. The quality of the printing and binding are lovely. IBSN 978-0-253-35124-1

Here is a photo of my colleague, Tanya Watanabe. Although she lives in Japan she is one of those citizens of the world.

When I come back from a trip I empty the suitcases first. I put the art supplies and the dirty laundry in their place. That’s after sleeping for about twenty hours.

Today was my day for opening the mail from the last ten days. I paid the bills and shredded all the sucker bait mail including all the blank checks with my name on them. Then I got to the large, nicely wrapped package that I knew was from Tanya. I had saved it and savored it as the reward for getting all the boring work done.

I am totally blown away ! ! ! Look at the treasure trove that came out of that small box.

I folded each in half and pinned them up over other things on the pinning wall. The two shorter ones may be - - - oh, rats, I cannot find the John Marshall book on Kimono that gives the proper names. The orange has a lovely lining.

And look at the hand painting on the sleeve. The back has a much larger hand painted mountain scene. The front has a similar painting on each side of the front.

The lavender kimono in the back of the first picture is a lovely brocade. This floral pattern is either hand painted or print in an overall design. Although it has relatively short sleeves it is a much more formal kimono as the long length indicates it is designed to be worn with an obi that will take up some of the length.

This last detail is from the middle kimono. The color in the photo does not do it justice; it is a rich café au lait with delicate, restrained hand painted motifs.

Tanya, I do not know how to thank you enough. These kimono are magnificent. There is no way I can cut them to use in textile art; they are much too gorgeous. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Pictured above are Sonji Hunt and Rhonda Blasingame. Do go to Sonji Says for a much more complete description of the class. Rhonda, please contact me; I’m unable to find how to email you.

Among the things I firmly believe is the idea that textile art is not well served by being kept to itself. We use the words art quilt and wonder why no other artists are interested in our work.

I went to the Tougaloo Art Colony in Jackson, Mississippi, last week because the words said art colony. I have never spent a week so joyously.

Ceramicists, painters, enamelers, textile workers, all noted and acclaimed instructors, most who were professors at other institutions came together for a week of very intense study. Very intense study was combined with very intense discussions, meals, trips out here and there.

Adding to the mix of intelligent conversation and hard work was the multi cultural aspect of Tougaloo. Above are Debbie, Sonji half hidden, and Annie from Chicago. Sonji will have much better pictures and more details.

I think this was about the point when we had all painted yards and yards of fabric and were beginning the next step in Sonji’s process.

It was quite interesting; each of us immediately had a recognizable painting style. We were creating layer after layer of painted fabric. Each layer from the big stack related to the painting before it.

Rosalind, our teaching assistant, is backed by Rhonda’s rust dyed works just behind Rosalind and on the left. The bright multi colors to the right are all Sonji’s brought to give us some idea of what and how the process goes along.

Do not be fooled by Rosalind’s seemingly plain pink fabric; when done it was a gorgeous blue fabric with pink underlays.

I’ll be more on my game tomorrow and the next few days. In the last eight weeks I have made fourteen separate flights. The airlines are fourteen for fourteen. Every flight was either delayed, double booked, canceled, delayed for mechanical problems, delayed for lack of crew, or delayed by weather. In spite of the cost of fuel I think next time I will drive.

That means I plan to go back to Tougaloo next Art Colony. It will be an entirely different group of professors. I have no idea what I will sign up for. I do know that I wanted to get my hands in to every medium that was taught next week. I’m hoping they will extend the Art Colony beyond one week