This is SAQA Europe/Middle East: Switzerland

Elizabeth   Michellod-Dutheil  

collects and dissects any object that suits her inspiration, be it vegetal, manufactured or industrial. She likes to explore new ways of using and combining those materials.

Elizabeth also makes use of photographs. She tries to capture the atmosphere and the emotions of a place, to later transcribe them in her drawings or her textile artwork. This way, her work can be seen as witnesses of nature, life and past times.

In some of her works, the thread is a guideline and the fabric becomes a support. By accumulating various materials, abstract figures are created that combine into a more complex design, not unlike a bas-relief.

Always searching for new colours, Elizabeth uses pasting, superimposition of fabrics and dyeing processes. This is probably one of the many singular aspects of her artwork.

mes autres moi

4 elements: web

memoir

Elizabeth   Michellod-Dutheil   is a multidisciplinary artist working on textile arts, drawing and photography. She is a juried artist of the SAQA group, an international selection of quilt artists.  She is also   a member of French and Swiss guilds. 

Her career is marked by several solo exhibitions and some of her quilts have been selected for traveling exhibitions or textile art festivals.

She participates to various European or international exhibitions (SAQA, USA, Taïwan (TAQS), H (OEQC), UK (Birmingham), Romania (TexpoART), EQA, EU, Japan, etc..) . Several of her quilts have received an award or have been published in prestigious catalogs.

 In the year 2000, Elizabeth opened a workshop/exhibition room called “la maé”, where she has animated cultural events for the last 15 years. In 2008, she was co-chairman of the “Fil en Patch” exhibition at the museum of Bagnes-Valais (Switzerland).

In 2015, she will move her workshop to a new  studio :

22 route de corberaye- 1934- Le châble/Valais –Switzerland  - Tél. 0041 27 776 14 00

Web-sites:

http://www.maaevalais.ch/

 www.elizabeth-michellod-dutheil.ch

This is SAQA Europe/Middle East: The Netherlands

Willy Doreleijers

My name is Willy and I live in Dordrecht the oldest city of Holland with my two cats Sam and Sjors and husband Herman.

I love to work with textile. My work provided the crucial link between my interest in textiles, art and architecture.

After years of making things in my free time, I decided to join an evening course on costume design. I learnt all the skills for pattern drawing, designing clothes and embroidery techniques. But somehow this still did not quite satisfy my abiding interest in textiles.

My husband is an architect and the foundation of my interest in design and art. My passion for quilting ignited after a visit to the Textile Museum in Tilburg, in the Netherlands, in 1997. This is where I saw my first quilt show, the European Art Quilt Exhibition, which for me solved the missing link between textiles and art.

After seeing this exhibition, I immediately started researching classes where I could learn patchwork and quilting. I was specifically looking for a class where I had the freedom to work on my own ideas rather than follow strict instructions. I took a two-year course called Quilting Special, designed especially for textile teachers. Despite the fact that I wasn't a teacher, I was still able to take the course and learned a lot about design as well as the techniques and processes needed to achieve them. After it ended, I had several years of personal guidance from a textile artist and teacher from the Art Academy in Maastricht. Here I learned to look critically at my work by asking myself such questions as, 'Is this good?' 'Is this the result I wanted to achieve?'

"Streetcar"

The greatest challenge so far is finding a way to make a graphic image with gossamer lines and soft colours on fabric. Textile materials are not easy to manipulate as they have a habit of stretching and pulling out of shape.

"Dunes with Grass"

People asked my ‘what inspires me?’ In response of this question I make a poem ‘My Images’.

I hope that this give you a impression of my way of working and thinking.

I live in this world,

in between things and impressions.

I observe

and take them in.

Everyday things.

I look for them,

encounter them

and show them.

A door, an alley, an animal,

a letter, a tree, a building.

Just the daily things, the everyday.

Small emotional monuments,

poetically magnified,

a stage for attention.

Accentuating, leaving out,

twisting, enlarging,

reducing, distorting, doubling.

My image in line, form and colour,

I am a monuARTal thinker.

To see more of my work, visit my website: www.willydoreleijers.nl

Special requests to SAQA UK members: SAQA table, and dinner meeting

Hello SAQA UK member,

This is a reminder of the invite to help with the SAQA stand for the Festival of Quilts – 7^th to 10^th August 2014. I realise many of you are very busy with other responsibilities at FOQ, and some of you have replied already, so thank you for your help. I have attached the rota for stewarding as it stands. Martha and the Co-reps suggested I email UK members to see if there were a few more who may help. I don’t mind being with the stand most of the time, but really could use a bit more help. It is a special time when you can talk with the public about SAQA, about the exhibition, and even talk about design and technique with the people come to view. And, too, it is a chance to get to know other SAQA members who pop in from time to time throughout the show.

Additionally, As you may know, Martha Sielman, SAQA Executive Director, will be at the Festival of Quilts this year. The exhibition will include some of the works which are included in her recent book "Art Quilt Portfolio: People and Portraits".  Martha will also be giving lectures in the lecture room, so check your Show schedules to be sure to catch at least one of them.

Martha would like to meet with UK members sometime at the show. As you may know, many UK members have commented on the idea of wanting SAQA to do more here in the UK. A few attempts have been made to meet and discuss ideas, but these were not found to be the most convenient times for everyone. So, since she is going to be at FOQ, where the majority of UK members will also be, Martha would like to meet with us on Friday evening. She will be here with her family, so is only available for the show on Friday and Saturday. She suggested the possibility of arranging to meet for a meal ...perhaps at a hotel or something similar. I will be involved with the Fashion show which begins at 5:00pm. I can’t arrange the meeting, but would be able to come if the meeting was set after the show. Would one of you please be willing to make some arrangements and then let us know? This is an attempt by SAQA to address some of the concerns which have been expressed over the past few years.

Please let me know if you can help to steward the exhibition. and please consider meeting to discuss SAQA in the UK.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you so much,

Sandy Snowden

Bracknell, Berks.

snsnowden@harmonyinformation.com

"Fragile Networks" connect SAQA members

An unexpected and un-planned meeting happened when several SAQA members attended the "Fragile Networks" workshop by Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn in the picturesque town of Staufen, Germany from June 11 to June 15, organized by quiltstar Freiburg. Also a way of building textile (artists) networks!

Kirsten, Steffi, Isabelle, Jan & Jean, Heidi, Hildegard (back row from left),
and Uta and Geneviève (front row from left)

This is SAQA Europe/Middle East: The Romance countries

MARIALUISA SPONGA ARCHI

My creative work stems from the world of architecture having been an editorial co-ordinator for architect magazines.  As an assistant to my husband, a professional photographer of architecture and art with the SPONGAdiffusione, 1972/92,  I followed out the creation and realization of textiles.  This past experience helped stimulate my imagination and the desire to explore and experiment with textile materials in order to create new textures.

It was my encounter with Marina Giannangeli, architect and textile designer, 1990/94 which brought about a turning point towards a new direction: a casual and rational use of the most diverse kinds of flexible materials, creating three-dimensional works made with different materials.

“Chromatic Fields n. 4”

 168 x 165 cm.

"Chromatic Fields n.4" is an assemblage of materials on three layers, with free machine sewing with transparent and metallic thread. Cotton and polyester cloth, plastic, PVC, gauzes, pirkka paper ribbons, copper cloth, treated cloths and threads.

My continuous encounter with modern art over the years has allowed me to build up an entirely personal language.

“Wavering Landscapes n. 4”

168 x 78 cm.

"Wavering Landscapes n.4" is an assemblage of hot-manipulated polyethylene and plastic nets onto a three-layered base, with free machine sewing using transparent thread. Cotton cloth, fibreglass, polyethylene and plastic nets.

I have been invited to national and international exhibitions and symposiums.  My works are also part of public and private collections.

To see more of my art, go to www.sponga.com

"Radiation" exhibition in Geneva, June 21-27

Exhibition „Radiation-Strahlung“

In the context of the 4th European IRPA-congress

June 21-27, 2014 in Geneva

A one-of-a-kind invitational exhibition of textile art is building bridges between science and art.

Quilters from several countries took the topic "radiation" as inspiration for art works from various perspectives. 80 Quilts and textile objects will be on display at the congress center in Geneva. Topics range from 'big bang' to 'CERN' with many variations inbetween.

Heidi Förster (Germany): Half Rotation, detail

Location: CICG (Centre International de Conférence)

17, rue Varembé

CH-1211 Genf

opening hours: June 21: 14-18 o'clock

                                            June 22-27 : 8-18 o'clock    

Barbara Lange (Germany): Radiation protection shield (detail)

                                      
The following SAQA members are included in this show: Vineta Cable, Heidi Förster, Cecilia Gomez, Rita Berghuis-Ensing, Barbara Lange, Uta Lenk, Alicia Merrett, Elisabeth Nacenta de la Croix, Jana Sterbova, Grietje van der Veen, Isabelle Wiessler

Info:quiltgeneva@gmail.com

This is SAQA Europe/Middle East: the Middle East

Cindy Richard

I worked in high-tech before turning textile artist and landscape quilter. I’ve always been intrigued by color. Before moving to Israel I worked in publishing, supervising the printing of children’s books created by master illustrators. After immigrating to Israel, while working as a technical writer in hi-tech, I sought a creative outlet and started quilting. At first I was attracted by the structured, triangles-and-squares simplicity of traditional designs. It was only later that I branched out to create contemporary designs of my own.

Today I prefer creating fabric landscapes using raw-edge appliqué to traditional quilting. I particularly like creating handmade quilt art that reflects the people and places of the Holy Land. I am drawn by the beauty of the landscapes and the unique colors of Israeli society. I have built a repertoire of landscapes of the natural wonders here like the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. Currently I am working on a series of “moments in time at the Jerusalem marketplace”. One of these pieces is hanging at the Jerusalem Theater.

Color Palette

Copy of Kibbuz Shlochat

Jerusalem, Old and New

There is so much material to work with here, I will never be bored. I am still finding my way and my voice and loving every minute of it.

I teach private students from my studio at home and sell my designs at my on-line store, cindyrquilts.etsy.com. My work can be found on my website, cindyrquilts.com.

Cindy was featured in the Jerusalem Post recently.

This is SAQA Europe/Middle East: The Netherlands

 Nienke Smit

born in 1967, living in The Netherlands.

In daily life, co-owner of a company running several niche jobboards in the financial industry.

In a parallel universe ;-) I am an artquilter, with a profound interest in dyeing and painting fabric. I love colour. I love textiles. Dyeing fabric combines both worlds in such a unique way that I spend many hours exploring all possibilities, granting these fabrics a major role in my artquilts.

I frequently share my journey in fibres and dyes, both online and off-line, enrichening my life with lots of 'dye and colour loving' friends. Being a SAQA member helped me developing my skills, and increasing my knowledge on artquilts. 

You can find me online at www.nienkesmit.nl  (english) or at my blog: www.verfvirus.nl (dutch but with a translation button). I am also a regular contributor to the international blog And then we set it on fire (experiments in fibre).

Some of my work:

Arabic spring:

Dreamcatcher:

Bird's eye:

  

"Occasionals" - exhibtion by Frauke Schramm in Dinkelsbühl (Germany)

SAQA member Frauke Schramm has been showing her quilts in her first solo exhibition at the "Galerie im Hechtzwinger", a gallery owned by (new) SAQA member Martina Unterharnscheidt.

More pictures of the opening here.
Read Frauke's report on the opening here.

Opening hours: Thursday, 15 - 18
Show is on until June 12.

Exhibition by Elisabeth Nacenta de la Croix