Catherine Whall Smith . . . shares the BACK!

Posted on June 16, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

Since a lot of my hand quilting is completed using the design lines on the back of the piece, I thought I would share the back of my piece in Quilt National 2021 – “Transfusion . . . in TWO PARTS” (61H x 71W). Using the printed design on this vintage fabric I eliminated any pencil lines that might compromise the fabric. It took many months to hand quilt this piece. The enlarged image below shows the lines of hand-quilting. To see the quilt front and my video about the piece go to; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkt7tArAL7E . Enjoy!

Note: This year The Farmington Valley Quilters, Inc. will be sponsoring Connecticut’s Hang-A-Quilt-Day on June 19th (rain date June 20th). You can participate by hanging a quilt outside your house; on your garage, clothesline, fence, tree or chair. Post a PICTURE ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH #CTHangAQuiltDay. I usually hang a quilt on my side porch, maybe I will hang two quilts this year! So go find that quilt and hang it!

Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio!

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . will be at the virtual QUILT NATIONAL 2021 on Friday, May 28th at 5 pm.

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

If you are looking for something to do before the long Memorial Day Week-end then please consider joining the Quilt National 2021 virtual Watch Party and Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 28 at 5pm. Check out their website https://dairybarn.org/QN21/ and sign up for the event which will stream live on YouTube! Follow their channel to join the party where you can watch and comment live. (p.s. To see my piece “Transfusion . . . in TWO PARTS” in person, I plan to travel to Athens Ohio for the closing events on September 3rd and 4th, 2021.) Here is the link on YOuTube to my Artist Talk on my piece;

Though I won’t be in Ohio for QN21 this week-end, I might be able to visit Vernon, CT – Art Center East to view “A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words”. This all media show includes two of my pieces ; “Waiting for What” and, “At Ramone’s . . . on the Phone”. View this show at the Art Center East gallery or on line at https://artscentereast.org/1000-words/. Closing Reception: Saturday, June 12th 2- 4 p.m.

NOTE: Things add up. You learn one skill. Then another. You finish one project. Then another. OVER TIME, your accomplishments add up to form an impressive feat. Happy Memorial Day Week-end!

Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . NBMAA Auction pieces – finally!!!

Posted on May 7, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

CHECK it OUT! During 2020 – so many shows went virtual – but now it looks like we are heading to that NEW NORMAL. The New Britain Museum of American Art is reinstating their Art Auction – so check it out. https://one.bidpal.net/nbmaaonlineauction/browse/all Friday, May 07, 2021  —  Sunday, May 16, 2021. I have two pieces in this on-line auction. “How Did This Happen” can be viewed at this link: https://m.facebook.com/NBMAA/photos/a.10158904486030528/10158904398495528/?type=3&source= .

AND “GOLD HAY #5” can be seen here: https://m.facebook.com/NBMAA/photos/a.10158904486030528/10158904397555528/?type=3&source=54 . This (23H x 23W) piece inspired me to complete the larger piece “Gold Hay #6” (60H x 60W) shown below;

Enjoy the up-coming Mother’s Day week-end. I keep thinking about this quote “Sometimes I open my mouth and my Mother comes out!”. I wonder what she would say about what’s happening in our country. Born in 1913 she had a very full life, 4 children, a loving husband, intelligent, avid gardener, many many friends and the ability to sew and sell you anything. UP-DATE: Art Center East – New Hours: Thursday – Saturday 1pm – 5 pm. Check Out https://artscentereast.org/artist-members-exhibit/ and VOTE for your favorite three pieces from three different artists!

Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio!

 

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . Keep the OLD . . but add the NEW.

Posted on April 29, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

So when I was in college at the University of New Hampshire I signed up for a photography course to add credits to my Art Minor.  A trip to Boston, MA in the 1960’s allowed me to take many pictures including a man on a park bench – he was just “sitting and waiting”.  Recently I found that old photograph and now it spoke to me. My new work uses photo images of my paper Figure/Ground studies shown on the left in fabric – so the old park bench and the new figure/ground studies found their way into this piece now “perking” and almost complete on my design wall.  It’s title “Waiting for What!”

So what are you waiting for: your stimulus check; your tax return; the daffodils and Spring-like weather; gun reform.  Do you keep waiting or take action?     

Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio

#1 – UP-DATE: “80@80” -The Art Works of Phyllis Small at the Windsor Art Center has been extended another week.  https://www.windsorartcenter.org/80-80/

#2 – UP-DATE: “Inches of Stitches” – Gallery 53 Textile Show. May 8th – May 28th. RECEIVING: Friday, April 30, 12 – 3 / Saturday, May 1, 10 – 2. OPENING:  Saturday, May 8, 12 – 2. PICKUP: Friday, May 28, 12 – 3 / Saturday, May 29. https://www.gallery53.org/textileshow2021.html .   

#3 – UP-DATE: Art Center East 2021 – Vernon CT. Annual Artist Member Show. Thurs, April 29th – Sat. May 15th. Gallery Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 1:00–5:00pm. “Hey . . . Hay!” (14Hx11Wx1.5D), and “Where Did I Put That Hay Round?” (14Hx11Wx1.5D) by CWSmith are included in this show.  SEE the SHOW and vote for your favorite three pieces from three different artists for the People’s Choice Awards. https://artscentereast.org/artist-members-exhibit/ .

#4 – UP-DATE – Sister in Cloth Quilting Art Show – ends May 8th. at the Guilford Art Center. Open Wednesday – Friday, 12:00-4:00pm and Saturdays 10:00 am-4:00pm. Free and open to the community. Mask wearing and social distancing is required upon entry.  https://www.facebook.com/SistersinClothQuiltingArts/

 

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . did the drop off – and is now doing some reading.

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

The drop off for the up-coming CWA* show was last Friday, and since I was in New Britain I stopped by the New Britain Museum of American Art and took in the Helen Frankenthaler exhibit ; https://nbmaa.org/exhibitions/helen-frankenthaler – as well as the Shantell Martin exhibit in the New/Now Gallery. https://nbmaa.org/exhibitions/new-now-shantell-martin. On the way out I stopped by the Gallery Store and purchased “Show Your Work” a 2014 publication by Austin Kleon. I especially liked Chapter 2 – THINK PROCESS NOT PRODUCT. If you get a chance pick it up and read it – there is something in it for everyone.

*CONNECTICUT WOMEN ARTISTS Invites You to its ANNUAL MEMBERS’ JURIED SHOW – Show Dates: APRIL 17 TO MAY 14, 2021 – at the ART LEAGUE OF NEW BRITAIN – 30 Cedar St., New Britain, CT Please Come to our COVID-SAFE, GALA OUTDOOR RECEPTION – Saturday, April 17,2021, 1-3 pm (Rain Date, Sunday April 18, 1-3 pm).  Juror: Roxanne Stachalek, Executive Director of West Hartford Art League. This annual exhibit features some of the finest work of the members of Connecticut Women Artists, a 90-plus year old organization of working women arts. This exhibit includes painting, mixed media, drawing, collage, printmaking, fiber art, photography, and sculpture. My piece “Herd Immunity (18H x 36W shown below) can be seen in this show. It includes all cotton commercial and artist hand-dyed fabrics along with my photo image of cows from a near-by farm digitally applied to treated cotton.

NOTE: Viewing hours begin on the day of the opening reception, Saturday, April 17, 2021, from 1:00 to 3:00, and thereafter on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. Speaking of viewing, I just noticed that someone from Uganda checked out my blog on Sunday, April 11, 2021. Hmmmmm!

NO APPOINTMENT REQUIRED. Bring Your MASK Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . had to re-think what she was doing!

Posted on April 3, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

Pictured left “Hey . . Hay” (14Hx11Wx1.5D) is complete, as well as “Where did I put that Hay Round” (14Hx11Wx1.5D) below right. Both of these mounted on canvas pieces will be shown at the Annual Member’s show of Arts Center East, in Vernon CT. Exhibit Dates: Thursday, April 29th – Saturday. May 15th, 2021.

So I decided to re-think the “Ruth Snow Bowen” quilt, which has been on one of my studio design panels for awhile. – THE PROBLEM: I was having trouble visually connecting to my Black & White Log Cabin format. Coincidentally at that time a neighbor dropped off a 1981 college course Folk Art paper that included information about Ruth. The paper also had a few colored photos of Ruth, which made me think – “Grandmother’s Flower Garden” – so colorful – so not Black & White! So I changed my thought process and started thinking FLOWERS. Which led me to the idea of a Flower Block quilt that I remembered Phyllis Small had posted many months ago on Facebook as part of her “Quilt of the Day” posts. Revisiting that simple block format I came up with a couple of different sizes to consider.

So moving in a new direction – Color – Color – and more Color! – I repurposed the original Black and White Squares into individual finished and bound blocks that I will use for a presentation in May of 2022 as part of my Town’s Bicentennial Celebration.

Born in Willimantic, CT on January 4th, 1895 Ruth Snow Bowen died on October 10th, 1983. She lived a full 88 years and made at least 269 bed size quilts, family clothes, and lace handkerchiefs.

Interesting how artists and quilt-makers live on in their art. – Speaking of artists – I did find time to get to artist Phyllis Small’s “80 at 80” show at the Windsor Art Center. Fabulous! I purchased the show book and plan to go back before it ends on May 1st 2021. Hope you get there as well. Happy Easter Week-End! Don’t forget that Easter Hat and Mask!! Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . so how many have you made – Phyllis Small has made 80!

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

Yeah, you read it correctly “80@80:The artworks of Phyllis Small” – Opening Weekend: Saturday, March 20, 2021 – 10a-4p & Sunday, March 21, 11a-4p. Grab & Go treats! FREE  From March 21 through May 1, 2021, The Windsor Art Center will present 80 @ 80: The artworks of Phyllis Small. Turning 80 years old is a huge milestone, and to celebrate it, Phyllis Small will be exhibiting 80 artworks, one to mark each year of her life. Spanning Small’s artistic career, the works in this exhibition will vary from extra-large wall hangings drifting down from the gallery rafters to notecard-size pieces. This retrospective highlights the variety of Phyllis’s media over the years as well as the thread that is consistent throughout her career. Her textile creations include paper quilts, fabric on paper, 12”x12” quilts, small and large wall hangings, bed quilts and – influenced by the pandemic – quarantine quilts. Quilting may seem like a big shift from her early works, but this exhibition makes it apparent that her approach to assemblage, color and pattern in her quilts is really an elaboration of her instinct to collage!  https://www.windsorartcenter.org/80-80/ .

UP- DATE:  Artist Bisa Butler – On Sunday, March 21 2021, the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum will be co-hosting a talk by American fiber artist Bisa Butler in partnership with the James Renwick Alliance and the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center. Trained as a painter in Washington, D.C., Butler reimagines historical photographs of Black subjects — the famous and nameless alike — as life-size quilted portraits that explode with bold patterns and colors.  https://museum.gwu.edu/artist-talk-bisa-butler – – How to Participate in the Bisa Butler Talks – This program will be hosted by the James Renwick Alliance. Please register with them to receive links and information to join the program.

WOW – this is going to be a busy week-end! Don’t forget your mask.

Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio! https://catherinewhallsmith.com/

 

 

 

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . Reminder ART CENTER EAST Drawing.

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

Art Center East’s Fashion show will end soon – but you still can enter their one day drawing. – – Donations made by Saturday March 13, of any amount over $5 will be automatically entered into the drawing!  CLICK on the LINK:  https://www.paypal.com/donat/?hosted_button_id=SFTXM4KZVFSDJ

Prizes include jewelry, artwork and more! GO TO:   https://artscentereast.org/virtual-fashion-show/and SCROLL DOWN to see the raffle prizes including my Mixed Media Art piece “Marshmallows at Joshua Trust”.

STUDIO UP-DATE:  “HEY . . HAY” (14H X 11W)  below left just came off my design wall and is ready to be hand quilted. AND, “Where Did I Put that Hay Bale” (14H x 11W) below right is ready for mounting. I’m trying a new size rather then the standard (12H x 12W).

                                

NOTE: Don’t forget to sign-up to line-up to get your Covid Vaccine.  But, still Stay Safe by social-distancing and wear your mask!

               Smith Stitch Studio!

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . is a Completer!

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

I am  a completer . . . no matter how long it takes! Artists refer to unfinished work as “Works in Progress” (WIP’s). My “Barriers” and “Ruth Snow Bowen” quilts are still “WIP’s” I ask myself “Why?”.  Since starting these pieces I have completed many, many other pieces of Fiber Art. Some large, some mid-size, and some small – so what is it about those “WIP’s” pieces that keeps them that way?  . . . Maybe they need a deadline? . . . Maybe due to their size I need more fabric?  . . . Maybe I just don’t feel like doing the work, as I know to finish these pieces it will take a lot of WORK.  Hmmm so art is work!

But there is hope – right now on one of my studio wall panels – there are new ideas ready to complete.  Hand-Dyes by Susan K. Ober; a bird print sent to me by fellow Fiber Artist Christina Blais; some of my photo images and a Figure Study in black/white/blue transferred to fabric.

So what do you do to complete a “WIP”? And what will you take the time to complete this week?

         Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio!

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Catherine Whall Smith . . . use to MAKE CLOTHING, not anymore!

Posted on February 26, 2021 by Catherine Whall Smith

I grew up in a home where my mother Rose, was usually making something like curtains, clothes, etc. I too did the same when I had my own home. curtains, clothes, etc. But in the mid 1970’s when quilts were put on walls and the art of Nancy Crow had a huge impact on what was happening in the quilt world;  I started to think about quilts in a new way.

A previous blog post suggested that my next “Transfusion” piece. would have lots of reds, oranges, and a touch of green.   The idea of using my own sized pattern that I created in an Advanced Pattern Making class in the 1970’s came to mind as the shapes – the bodice and skirt – that I would use in this piece.  My present “Transfusion” series relates to my father and his sudden heart attack, then why not have this piece relate to the sewing skills “transfused” in me by my mother.  I choose three “dresses” to be the focus of this 60×90 piece (see in progress section on right). Title  “I use to make CLOTHING!”.  My goal was to complete the top and have it ready for hand-quilting by February 11th the date of my 2nd vaccine shot. – BUT, actually this quilt grew – became more complicated and I just took it off my design wall on February 23rd.   So my question; “If I used these pattern pieces to make a dress for me now – would it fit? Hmmmm – do I want to find out – maybe not!  

For a look at more quilts with a clothing theme check out Bisa Butler  – Her large scale works are textile portraits of people of color fabricated from layers of brightly colored fabrics with a multiplicity of meanings. “I quilt because this was the technique that was taught to me at home. I could sew before I ever painted on a canvas.  My grandmother and mother while not quilters, sewed garments almost every day.”  Check her out: https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/9324/bisa-butler-portraits. OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCkNMK2QtUY&feature=emb_logo

Stay Safe . . . Smith Stitch Studio     https://catherinewhallsmith.com

 NOTE:  If you haven’t had time to check out the 2021 – Art Center East – 2nd Annual Wearable Art Exhibit – February 19th – March 13th. Fridays & Saturdays 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Here is your chance:  Arts Center East is having a fashion show watchable online! (My piece – “Marriage is Seldom Black & White but many Shades of Gray” has been juried into this exhibit.)

 

 

 

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