I get emotional

My Light Green Heart by Judy Martin and Gourd (hulu) series by Lin Xu
at the Quest:Innovation 19 exhibition in Midland Ontario  

Help Me To Balance 2018 by Judy Martin (detail) upcycled flannel blanket and cotton hand towel

I went to two openings this month.  

Both of the exhibitions were juried fine craft, not just textiles.

Three Chairs made in 2018 by Amanda McCavour from thread and Bone 2017 by Wanxing (Samson) Wang (furniture) 

Last night I was at the Housewarming exhibition at Craft Ontario gallery in Toronto.
My flannel quilt Fields of Brown Grass was juried in.  Ned had a meeting the next day, so I came down with him and we both went to the opening.

Recipe Cards 2018 by Elycia SFA   handwoven silk linen with sewing thread inlay (group of 7)

Recipe Card 2018 by Elycia SFA handwoven silk linen with sewing thead inlay (from group of  7)

 

These two pieces are by Holly Fedida and Christopher Mendoza and the title of both quilts is
Interminable Fields (I am with you) made in 2018.  Painted, embroidered and pieced fabric quilts.
They were awarded a Design award from Design Toronto.

I am posting images of just the textile work in this show.
When people are at openings they look at the work a little bit, but mostly they meet up with other people that they already know and catch up.  I knew a  few people and talked to them.

Be Careful Where You Step  2018 by Vanessa Dion Fletcher   Trampa Mat and porcupine quills

Fields of Brown Grass 2018  by judy martin plant-eyed flannel and cotton, stitched with red thread

The other opening that I attended was in Midland, Ontario on January 11.
My daughter April is working in Toronto this winter in the ceramics studio at Harbourfront, and I asked her if she would meet me in Midland (2 hours north of Toronto) and she said yes.    Images are of ceramic and textile pieces in the Quest Art School and Gallery's juried show.

Gourd (hulu) series  2018 by Lin Xu from Brandon Manitoba, from local clay

Pillow 2017 by Lin Xu, woodfired Japanese clay started in Japan and completed in Brandon Manitoba, with bone beads and rachis from feathers

Maria DeGraff mixed textiles and thread by Fuzzy Mall

Inheritance by Charlene Colette   Hooked Kraft paper and projected image

We Talk About That Storm But The Ice Was Beautiful, 2018 by Victoria Carley, pieced mixed fabrics

 

The next day January 12, there was a symposium.  Susan Low-Beer was one of the panelists and also offered a hands-on workshop that April and I took part in.  That was fun.  Collaborative tea-pots that the class made in 12 or so  minutes shown below.

About last night.
David Kaye and I had arranged to meet at the Craft Ontario exhibition as his gallery is just around the corner and I needed to pick up my work.  I am so sad that David is closing his gallery.  He made the difficult decision in December, and Toronto will not be the same for me without that beautiful gallery.  I got so hot at the Housewarming reception and needed to leave so Ned and I just went to David's and knocked on his door.  He was there, packing up.  As soon as I stepped in, I started to cry.

patchwork by Susan Low-Beer

Why did I cry?
I don't know.  All the packed up boxes and wrapped textiles.  David in his denim shirt.  Realizing that I do not know the art community of Toronto.  My aching body that had stood and chatted for more than an hour.
.
Ned put my work in the car.
We also put the above sculpture, Patchwork, by Susan Low-Beer into the car as well.
I had admired it at David Kaye's during my show there in October 2017.
Now I give it to myself.  I deserve it.

My Light Green Heart 2017 by Judy Martin

 I get so emotional when my work is out there mingling with others.