Catherine Whall Smith

Denver, Colorado - Vertical Orange Sculptures 2011

Denver, Colorado - Large Orange Sculpture

Denver, Colorado - Large Orange Chair

Recently I had an opportunity to travel to Denver Colorado for the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) meeting.  It was a great opportunity to connect with fellow Fiber Artists and  learn from their expertise.  My first time in Denver, so I tried to fit in visits to local galleries, the city’s sculptures,  public installations, as well as seeing  SAQA’s fabulous “Sightlines” Show. Here are a few of my pictures that show “art” that uses the color orange.

"The Butler Did it" - hanging the art

Tuesday afternoon I met up with Paula McNally, who was kind enough to assist in the hanging of my quilts.  Accompanied by my husband, Steve we quickly checked out the available wall space and had him up on this ladder. Later looking at my photos I was interested in how the ladder repeated the slashing angles in my quilts – especially the piece hung to the left – “Hay Bale with Blue Twine”. 

"My Turn . . Me First" - Roasting Marshmallows Series

 Equally interesting was the placement of the piece, “My Turn, Me First”  – it was hung on a wall outside the Ladies Room – at the time I didn’t make the connection – I think the title really fits the situation – what do you think?    The show dates for “The Butler Did it” at the Burton Leavitt Theatre 779 Main Street in Willimantic, CT  include: 8:00 p.m. perfomances on March 25, 26, April 1, 2, 7, 8 and a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Sunday, April 3rd – call (860) 423-2245 for tickets or go to www.windhamtheatreguild.org.  A portion of the sale of the art work will be donated to the Windham Theater Guild.  Thanks again to Paula -and Steve- for their help, and for a chance to see the crew working on the final stages of set production.

2011 Pearly Whites - 24HX24W inches (61x61Cm)

Akus Gallery –  “Home Grown”  : Celebrating 30 Years of Artistic Community – 83 Windham St. Willimantic, CT    On View – “Pearly Whites” 2011    Dates: March 24th – May 5th Reception Thursday – April 7th, 5-7 p.m. 

WINDHAM THEATER GUILD -“The Butler did it”  Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy this spoof of an English mystery, at the Burton Leavitt Theatre – 779 Main St. Willimantic, CT

– Show times 8:00 p.m. – March 25, 26, April 1, 2 ,7 ,8 

– Matinee 2:00 p.m. – Sunday, April 3rd, Tickets call (860) 423-2245 www.windhamtheatreguild.org

wWWw

Usually about this time of year I get the urge to work with RED.  Last year I was completing “Tribute to Truitt” https://catherinewhallsmith.com/portfolio/2010-2/ – this year I’m playing with a Black-White-Red palette – in a square format.

Red 2011 - work in progress (14x14 inches)

Red 2011 - in progress #2

This 14×14″ square is one of several that incorporates my “simple lines” stacked to create a visual image.  Since each section uses the same fabrics in varying ways I think I will call them -transformations. Each piece is a “small study” that may eventually work into something much larger.  My “Small Studies” are my way of continually working through ideas in my studio.  A new tab has been set up on my Home Page called “Small Studies” – were I hope to post more of these images. https://catherinewhallsmith.com/small-studies/

So, I guess my question is – “Is the RED about Valentine’s Day or is it something else?

2010 Hay is for Horses - 42X46 inches (107X117Cm)

Previously -( November 17, 2010 )- I posted a section of a quilt that I was in the process of creating and looking forward to quilting.  Here is the completed piece.

Though many of my pieces are hand-quilted from the back – the back of this piece with it’s amazing vintage color and cowboys on horses did not lend itself to the process. So after hand-quilting along the many seams on the quilt top, I then started to quilt the outline of the lasso lines – which I really liked – so I continued to draw that shape on the back and randomly quilt it over the entire surface.   (Due to some fading along the sides of this fabric, I have a feeling that at one time, this piece was actually a curtain in a child’s room. – Now due to my recycling – it will live on as the back of this piece, maybe destined to return to a child’s room.)

2010 Hay is for Horses (back - vintage fabric)

Yellow #1 - Lyme Disease - 51L X 45W inches (130 X 115 Cm)

A NEW year – A NEW beginning – NEW work – I’m posting Yellow #1, a piece that I constantly reflect on – completed in 2009 – it was sort of a transition piece of more pure color – little dots and my simple line. The first of the Yellow series, titled Lyme Disease – Babosia strain – hand quilted with 68,000 stitches in late July 2009.  I know the approximate number of stitches due to the fact that I hand quilt very methodical straight lines on my work. The hand stitching connects me to my work and allows me to feel the changes in the weight of the piece and it’s wonderful drape while sewing.

So looking forward to 2011 – one of my goals is to continue this Yellow Series, probably working in a small format of 18 X 24 or 24 X 24 inches; and continuing with the Yellow/Red palette. I still have some of the original fabrics – but I am in search of the Amy Butler – yellow/full moon polka dot fabric – yellow dot with a grey background.  I’ve emailed and searched on line, but I don’t seem to be able to find it. – SO IF YOU HAVE A PIECE IN YOUR STASH – please notify me – smith.catherine62@gmail.com ASAP -who knows YELLOW #?-could be named after you. May HEALTH and HAPPINESS follow you throughout 2011.  . . . CWSmith

Thought I would pass this information on to those of you who might be considering blogging. CYNWORKS , the company that designed my easy to use website just posted a note “The Reward of the Blog” by CYN@CYNWORKS.COM see link below.  Check it out when time permits.

http://cynworks.com/2010/12/10/the-reward-of-the-blog/#comment-25