Birds of a Feather

December 2008 | BY Christine Kloostra | February 2009, Issue 65 | NO COMMENTS

The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original is one of four fairs held simultaneously in July that together attract more than 500,000 visitors each year.

Our readers turned out the vote in 2008 to rank events for AmericanStyle’s fifth Top 10 Fairs and Festivals list.

The stamp of approval was given to events ranging from a small Midwestern town’s art-filled weekend to a sophisticated East Coast show held in a big-city convention center. Besides revealing an obvious passion for fine American craft, the poll also made another thing clear—Kentucky art fairs have droves of devoted fans. Three shows in Kentucky made this year’s list. Read on to learn why.

1. Wausau’s Artrageous Weekend

Wausau, Wis.
One weekend each fall, central Wisconsin transforms into an arts extravaganza. Wausau’s Artrageous Weekend combines three events. More than 120 artists show and sell their work at Art in the Park, held in Marathon Park, while the Festival of Arts brings 100 juried artists to downtown Wausau. The highlight of the festival is the opening weekend of the annual “Birds in Art” exhibition at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, showcasing more than 120 avian-centered works by international artists, many of whom attend a special “Meet the Artists” event during the weekend. The 2009 events return Sept. 12-13. For more information, visit www.wausaufestivalofarts.org.

2. Kentucky Crafted: The Market

Louisville, Ky.
Kentucky Crafted: The Market is something of a hybrid show. The first two days are only open to the trade. Once the weekend hits, the show opens to the public, who turn out en masse to purchase work made exclusively by Kentucky artisans. “It’s well-stocked with a variety of talented artists,” explains attendee Jennifer Escobar of Berea, Ky. “The entertainment is high quality, the city is lovely, and the food is excellent!” Kentucky Crafted: The Market reopens to the public Feb. 21-22 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For details, visit www.artscouncil.ky.gov.

3. Bayou City Art Festival

Houston, Texas
“The weather is always great, the music is always great, and the art is always great!” says reader Danielle Foulkrod-Chema of Pearland, Texas. The Bayou City Art Festival, held biannually in Houston, seems to be blessed with good weather; many of its supporters specifically mentioned it as a highlight of the festival. Food, atmosphere and children’s activities also earned raves, but the art is what makes this festival a perennial reader favorite. The Bayou City Art Festival returns to Memorial Park March 27-29 and will surround City Hall Oct. 10-11. To learn more, visit www.bayoucityartfestival.com.

4. Scottsdale Arts Festival

Scottsdale, Ariz.
Another show benefiting from good weather and a beautiful setting is the Scottsdale Arts Festival, a program of the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Held on the grounds of the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, it boasts nearly 200 juried artists, attracting visitors from across the country. “We saw the Scottsdale Arts Festival last winter for the first time and were blown away,” says Treasure Omdahl of East Grand Forks, Minn. “The artists were charming, and their work was exemplary.” The next festival takes place March 20-22. Visit www.scottsdaleartsfestival.org for more information.

5. Des Moines Arts Festival

Des Moines, Iowa
A definite favorite of the locals, the Des Moines Arts Festival attracts more than 200,000 attendees to downtown’s Western Gateway Park. In addition to the 175 juried artists, the free festival features live entertainment, food, arts activities and more. “It is a community-wide event that brings out the very best Des Moines has to offer. It’s not just the art—which is stupendous—it’s the environment, the ambience,” explains Jim Flansburg of Clive, Iowa. “It defies Midwest stereotypes.” Make the trip June 26-28. For details, visit www.desmoinesartfestival.org.

6. St. James Court Art Show

Louisville, Ky.
With a backdrop of historic homes almost as picturesque as the art on display, the St. James Court Art Show is among the largest in the country, with 750 juried exhibitors. “The vendors and visitors come from all over the U.S., and you have such a mix of wonderful items to view and purchase,” enthuses local resident Donna Wallace. The festival has grown significantly since its 1957 inception as a clothesline exhibition, and is still produced by a group of five nonprofits. The show returns Oct. 2-4. To learn more, visit www.stjamescourtartshow.com.

7. Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival at Midway College

Midway, Ky.
Another festival earning accolades for its idyllic setting is the still-young Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival, held on the campus of Midway College in Midway, Ky., a 205-acre working farm. “Francisco’s Farm is an outstanding art festival drawing artists and craftspeople from several states,” says supporter Jane Vancee of Versailles, Ky. “It is held in a beautiful setting … as pretty as any place in England!” The fifth annual event takes place June 27-28 in the heart of Kentucky horse country with more than 150 artists working in all mediums. Visit www.franciscosfarm.org for information.

8. American Craft Council Show in Baltimore

Baltimore, Md.
Held each February in the Baltimore Convention Center, the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore draws some of the most talented contemporary craft artists from across the United States. One of several shows produced by the nonprofit, the Baltimore show features nearly 700 artists. Highlights include the Searchlight Artists Gallery, an exhibition space for emerging artists, and the AltCraft section, comprised of artists from the DIY/ handmade movement. Catch it again Feb. 27-March 1. For more information, visit http://craftcouncil.org.

9. Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original

Ann Arbor, Mich.
When a fair needs to officially add the phrase “the Original” to its name, there must be some serious competition. Such is the case on a single weekend in July when the streets of this college town are taken over by four different art fairs. The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair celebrates its 50th year in 2009, and maintains its reputation as the most sophisticated of the four fairs. “The location is just wonderful,” explains local resident Anita Rabideau. There’s “no competition from stores or street vendors…to distract from the quality of the art that is there!” The next fair takes place July 15-19. Learn more at www.artfair.org.

10. Kentuck Festival of the Arts

Northport, Ala.
“I make a pilgrimage to Kentuck every year because I am guaranteed to find amazing work, and ninety-five percent of the time I get to meet the artist who created it,” says Ashley Day of Brooklyn, N.Y. “The quality is consistently outstanding.” Few other shows in the top 10 received so many votes from out-of-towners, singling this fair out as a particularly special event. With more than 300 artists in a wooded park, the festival features a wide range of work, from contemporary craft to folk and outsider art. The festival returns Oct. 17-18. For more information, visit www.kentuck.org.

Innovative Quilts: Ahead of the Curve

December 2008 | BY Sara Baker | February 2009, Issue 65 | NO COMMENTS

Cindy Vough’s quilts are inspired by the plant and animal life that surrounds her solar house on the edge of the Kentucky woods.

Who makes up the new generation of quilt artists? We asked Kate Lenkowsky, author of Contemporary Quilt Art: An Introduction and Guide, which emerging artists AmericanStyle readers should be paying attention to. She polled well-regarded curators, artists, professors and consultants in the field, and submitted these artists for our consideration.

With drastically different backgrounds, training, experiences and techniques, each of these eight artists have used the groundwork set by traditional quilters to find their own voices. Ai Kijima, for example, hopes to reveal her deeply personal vision of the world in her bold pop-art quilts, while Marianne Burr aims to soothe with her hand-stitched circular patterns. We hope you find one who speaks to you.

For more of  “Innovative Quilts: Ahead of The Curve,” pick up the February 2009 issue of AmericanStyle today!

Caring for Your Quilts

December 2008 | BY Kate Lenkowsky | February 2009, Issue 65 | NO COMMENTS

There is no need to be apprehensive about buying and displaying your studio quilts. If properly installed and treated with the same respect you’d give to your favorite paintings, they require little more care than a twice-yearly vacuuming.

Environmental considerations are essential when installing your quilts. Placement above heating vents, radiators and air conditioners may expose quilts to high heat and excessive humidity, making them susceptible to mold. Lighting should be indirect, as direct sunlight and spotlights cause fading and weakening of the fibers. The risk can be reduced by covering windows with a clear flexible UV filter. Install unframed art away from the path of kitchen fumes.

If you prefer to display your quilts unframed, attach a sleeve to the upper back, and slide a sealed wooden rod through it for wall mounting. (Instructions for this process, as well as one using Velcro, can be found on The Textile Museum’s website, www.textilemuseum.org.) This method of installation can enhance the viewer’s appreciation for the piece’s uniqueness, but using a frame can reduce the need for cleaning and protect fragile textiles.

When framing a piece, use archival materials and spacers to ensure that no part of the fabric touches the glass. UV filtered glass adds another level of protection. Frames are advisable for heavy pieces when displayed for an extended period of time; otherwise, gravity might distort their shape. The quilt should be stitched to a fabric backing and then mounted in the frame. Some experts advise “resting” large free-hanging quilts from time to time.

When purchasing studio quilts, always ask for care instructions and for a list of the materials and processes used by the artist. This makes any necessary professional cleaning or restoration much easier. Routine cleaning of free-hanging quilts is done by removing them from the wall and vacuuming both front and back through a vinyl screen. If the piece is especially dirty, or if you are concerned about embellishments, do not attempt to clean it yourself. You might cause irreparable damage. Ask the artist or a textile conservator for advice.

To store quilts, lay them on a flat surface and keep them free from contact with wood, paper, cardboard—unless it is archival—and plastic bags. If you are layering several pieces, separate embellished ones with a sheet. Never fold them. If space is a problem, large pieces can be rolled with the face to the outside. Remember to keep the storage area clean.

By exercising good judgment about the placement and care of your studio quilts, you can ensure your continuing pleasure of them for years to come.

Kate Lenkowsky is the author of Contemporary Quilt Art: An Introduction and Guide, published by Indiana University Press in 2008.

Innovative Quilts: Painting with Thread

December 2008 | BY Pat Worrell | February 2009, Issue 65 | NO COMMENTS

Quilts by John Lefelhocz are known for the artist’s unconventional use of materials.

Quilts are out from under cover. They first moved from the bed to the wall more than a quarter century ago, when artists became dissatisfied with simply re-interpreting traditional patterns. Classically trained as painters or sculptors in fine arts programs, they began to look at fiber constructions, or quilts, as a new way to express their ideas. The best of today’s studio quilts blend fine craftsmanship with fine art.

“People always comment that they didn’t know a quilt could be something other than a bedcover,” says Michele Hardman, who has been collecting studio quilts in her Illinois home since 2004. “They are surprised that they can be art, just as much as any painting.”

“Quilting is practiced as a craft by millions of people, simply for the fun and satisfaction of making something with their hands,” explains quilt artist Caryl Bryer Fallert. “In the hands of a skilled artist, however, the same fabric and thread can become a piece of fine art.”

The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York started the contemporary revolution in 1971 when it mounted quilts on the wall. The exhibition, “Abstract Design in American Quilts,” showed pieced quilts from the 19th and 20th centuries. “Some antique quilts are very modern in their use of color and design principles,” says Hardman, whose contemporary collection includes two traditional quilts with sentimental value.

The country’s bicentennial ignited a new enthusiasm for quiltmaking. The feminist movement also spurred women, and men, to express themselves with nontraditional quilts, and pressured galleries to show what was previously viewed as “women’s work.”

For more of “Innovative Quilts: Painting With Thread,” pick up the February 2009 issue of AmericanStyle today!

Online Exclusives:

Caring for Your Quilts
Read On
Studio Quilts for Everyone
Where to Go, What to See

Editor’s Note: Voting (Again) On the SOFA Show Floor

December 2008 | BY Hope Daniels | February 2009, Issue 65 | NO COMMENTS

Studio quilt collector Michele Hardman, “Barack’s Girl,” turns up as a detail in the intricately drawn and colored “Obama: Two Guys and a Pie,” an approximately 5×4-foot machine-quilted work by Susan Shie. The full quilt is shown below.

The crowds on the show floor at this year’s edition of SOFA Chicago—the exposition’s 15th anniversary event—were unequivocally divided between the had’s and the had not’s: those exhibitors, artists and attendees who’d arrived early enough to join the tens of thousands of people gathered in Grant Park on Nov. 4 to celebrate Barack Obama’s landslide win for the presidency of the United States, and those who hadn’t.

The AmericanStyle contingent—Merle Porter, Alex Rothstein and I—were ruefully among the latter group, but it was thrilling nonetheless to hear the tales about how electrifying it all was. No matter what your political persuasion, it was a transformational event.

It seemed to have a transformational effect on SOFA, as well. From what I could see (and feel) from the moment we arrived for the V.I.P. gala on Thursday night, the show was getting a triplecharged “bounce” from the Obama victory. This was, after all, Chicago, election central and the president-elect’s hometown. But this time around, attendees were casting their votes for art by way of myriad little red “Sold” stickers here, there and everywhere.

Quilt Images by James Prinz

Need I mention that on the show floor, there were smiles all around?

And what a show it was! Many of AmericanStyle’s recent featured artists were exhibiting, including Paul Stankard, David Bennett, Charlie Miner, Bill Zweifel, David Lewin and Randy Strong. The exhibition hall was jammed on Thursday evening and no less crowded on Friday, with a range of contemporary art and craft that was astounding.

As founder/director Mark Lyman noted in this year’s lavish exhibition catalog, SOFA at 15 has indeed come a long way from “that small, precocious art fair held in the basement of a hotel with just 40 galleries exhibiting.” We congratulate him for his success in creating such a phenomenal marketplace for artists, enthusiasts and collectors.

If you still think that quilts are something you throw over a bed, think again. Just read what contributing editor Pat Worrell and our own AmericanStyle staff have assembled in this issue on contemporary studio quilts and the artists and collectors behind them. It’s a fascinating look at a traditional art form that’s been reworked, repositioned and revitalized by visual arts visionaries for the 21st century.

And for those of you eager to start filling in dates on your 2009 calendars, we present the results of AmericanStyle’s 5th annual Fairs & Festivals readers’ poll. There are some interesting upsets this year, based in part on a change in the ballot to allow every fair to compete on its own rather than sometimes bundled as groups of fairs under a single promoter.

Hope Daniels
Editor-In-Chief