Geometric shapes

Developing Your Shape Vocabulary with Terry Jarrard-Dimond was a two-day workshop.


The first day we made geometric shapes - black on white, then colors. All cuts were made with a ruler. Terry gave us a choice to piece or raw-edge applique. I opt to try something new - appliqued.


Three initial sketches:

12" squares, black & white

Two of three enlarged:

18" squares, black &white

Translated into color:

18" squares in colors

The two squares satisfied the exercise. I went for a foursome: 

 four 18" squares with two black & white stand-ins

four 18" squares in color

Some re-arrangements:

  
Finalists:

Which one would you sew together?

 

Terry-fic

Terry Jarrard-Dimond was here. 

Terry

Ever since I saw The Big Red Dog at Quilt Visions Biennial 2008 I've followed her blog. I was smitten with her work in the exhibition curated by Nancy Crow, Color Improvisations (still touring in Europe). When I found out she would be teaching a workshop for my guild, I signed up immediately.

I rate this terrific two-day workshop - Developing Your Shape Vocabulary  - at the top of all EBHQ guild workshops I’ve ever taken. She graciously encouraged and engaged our creative eyes & minds as well as shared thoughts and insights of her own. I love having an artist as teacher.

She also enlightened us with her talk Self Critique - How Artists Critique Their Own Work. Wish I had taken notes. The questions she posed to artists are fodder for thoughts for any artist in any medium at any stage.

You can follow Terry's blog - see what she’s up to. She'll introduce you to other fabulous artists. Check out her website to find out more about her, her textile constructions, and where and when the terry-fic Terry Jarrard-Dimond will be teaching next.

I wouldn't hesitate to grab an opportunity to study with her again.

Developing anxiety

Time to clean up the studio. That means one of two things: it's an unbearable mess or project is done.  I am happy it's the latter. The nicknamed High Anxiety has been pieced! (This doesn't mean the former is not true.)

I'd finally determined a layout (see this post) nearly a month ago. 

initial layout

It was slow going assembling each of the six sections. I had to make more diamond modules.

three sections pieced

six sections pieced

More diamonds to fill in around the edges before sewing sections together.

two halves

Gap-osis at the bottom center half. Instead of trimming to create a straight edge, I deconstructed along the gap then filled it back in. Yes, more diamonds. Then sewed together the two halves, added more diamonds around the edges and marked a five-foot square.

finished top

At least this Potpourri workshop exercise is not in the ufo pile. Yeah! In another year or two or three I'll replace the nickname and quilt it up. 

Not to be missed: Mark Bradford

In May 2010 I was at the Crow Barn for two workshops - Best of Sets & Variables I & II and Sets & Variables III. If you've ever been in one of Nancy Crow's workshops, then you know how tired I was after week one.

Yet I went to the Wexner Center for the Arts in Columbus, Ohio and discovered the work of Mark Bradford. His inspirational work re-energized me and the second week went more smoothly.

I was back at the Barn again the following September and saw Bradford’s exhibition a second time. I enjoyed it as much as the first time and attribute my successes in Strip Piecing & Restructuring to that.

The exhibition toured and is now at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. I saw his exhibition for the third time.

Mark Bradford in front of Scorched Earth

Different venue, different art? Though I recognize some works, some are definitely new. Others may have been at the Wexner, but because of space, placement and order, I experienced them differently. I loved getting reacquainted. I was wowed again. Great works. Powerful show.

Don’t miss this! It has already been in Boston, Chicago and Dallas. San Francisco is the last venue. I’m going back for a fourth view!

Part of the exhibition at the nearby Yerba Buena Center for the Arts ends on May 27^th (admission to this auxiliary venue is included). Otherwise the bulk of the exhibition ends June 17^th at SFMoMA.

Spell relief

I had anticipated a month of jury duty. Weeks of public transit to the courthouse in downtown Oakland. Sit in the jury box and pay attention. Four days a week. I'm feeling antsy already.

Last Monday the judge provided some basic information: attempted murder, criminal case, but no capital punishment. Hmm, could be interesting.

The experienced one estimated a month for the trial. A soft collective intake of breath from prospective jurors.

Each of us filled out a lengthy questionnaire for the attorneys’ review. Then we were free until the following Monday. Unless we got a call otherwise.

Meanwhile I was advised by friends and acquaintances about how to avoid jury duty. Yet I resigned myself to be selected and serve.

The $15 per day would cover bus fare and lunch. I’d miss my free time – but hey! I’m retired! In exchange I get real experience – not a fictionalized dramatized televised version. I won't get rich, but enriched. My only time as a juror was for a prostitution charge. That was an education. 

I would have regretted missing one day out of each upcoming two-day workshops: Discover Your Shape Vocabulary with Terry Jarrard-Dimond and Deconstructed Screen Printing with Kerr Grabowski.  I really looked forward to these. Oh well. Half a workshop is better than nothing.

Terry Jarrard-Dimond



Kerr Grabowski

Nevertheless, I was much relieved when I got the call: excused from jury duty! I don't question why, just happy I can count on business as usual.

First Friday favorite photo - May