Counting Down

We are counting down to the "Award Winning" Exhibit With only 25 days until it opens on July 23, I am working hard to be ready. I'm putting the finishing touches on most.

This exhibit features seven African American award winning men in motion pictures: Jamie Foxx for the movie Ray, Cuba Gooding for the movie Jerry McGuire, Morgan Freeman for the movie Million Dollar Baby, Sidney Portier for the movie Lilies of the Field, Forest Whitaker for the movie The Last King of Scotland, Louis Gosset, Jr. for the movie An Officier and A Gentleman and Denzel Washington for the movie Training Day. More info at www.obaquilts.com and www.ebonystitchersquiltguild.org

This quilt is called Predictable. It is a traditional pattern callled Square in a Square.

Award Winning Quilt Exhibit

The Ebony Stitchers Quilt Guild featuring Aisha Lumumba's "Award Winning" A Quilt Exhibition

About the Exhibition

Ebony Stitcher's Quilt Guild, in partnership with The National Black Arts Festival, will host a quilt exhibition at the Porter Sanford Art Center and the Woodruff Arts Center beginning July 23 through August 1, 2009.

A collection of works authored by Aisha Lumumba, "Award Winning" highlights and celebrates African American Academy Award winners in the areas of motion picture and music. This premier artistic exhibition will also feature traditional and contemporary art quilts and dolls from artists and quilt makers. Structured around a them of natural living, there will be several activities such as quilting classes, workshops and lectures for adults and children to participate in throughout the weekend.

About the National Black Arts Festival
National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) is one of the premier national and international
celebrations of the art, music and culture of people of African descent. The mission of the NBAF is to engage, cultivate and educate diverse audiences about the arts and culture of the African Diaspora and provide opportunities for artistic and creative expression. http://www.nbaf.org/
Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners through the Fulton County Arts Council, Georgia Council for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Zeist Foundation, City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, Georgia Tourism Foundation, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Nonprofit Finance Fund/Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Woodruff Arts Center.

Calendar of Events

July 23, 2009
Opening Night Reception
Porter Sanford Art Center
Rainbow Drive, Decatur, Ga.
6:30pm—9:30pm

July 24—26, 2009
Porter Sanford Art Center
Rainbow Drive, Decatur, Ga.
10:00am—5:00pm
July 29—August 1
Woodruff Arts Center
Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Ga.
10:00am—5:00pm


FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact: Ebony Stitchers Quilt Guild
www.ebonystitchersquiltguild.org
Email: ebonystitchers1@bellsouth.net

This quilt is called, "My Reflection". It features Jamie Foxx, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "Ray" (2004) It is one of the 13 quilts that I made for the 2010 Art Quilt Calendar, 12 of them depicting an actor or musician plus the cover. Everyone that got the 2009 calendar is probably excited to get this new one. The calendar will be available for sale by September but pre-order info will be available soon on my website www.obaquilts.com

See you at the Festival!

Traditional Patterns

Thanks for asking about the quilt on the last blog entry. Sometimes I search my old quilt magazines for inspiration, or to see what kinds of names others use on their quilts. That quilt with the circles was one I found in a magazine. I forget what exactly drew me to that one but it seemed like something I wanted to do. Maybe it was one of those times when I was experimenting with curves. I added the circles around the border because I felt it helped pull all the colors together and added a little flair to a traditional quilt. I can't remember what I named it and the label didn't turn out right so I took it off. I was sure I would remember that name. I have it written down on my inventory list just need to look it up. But glad you enjoyed it.

This one is called Starburst. It is from a pattern as well. So many people liked this one that I have made three of them. I think I fell in love with star patterns early in my quilting career. I started a blue one just like this one about 3 or 4 years ago. Don't know when I'll get back to it.

I like the repetition of making a traditional pattern because it allows me to slip into a slight state of meditation while I am repeating the same task. Life gives me plenty enough excitement, so I take it slow whenever I can. It's like giving my brain a rest.

Overwhelmed

Some days I wake up so incredibly overwhelmed that it makes me almost inactive. Then other days I wake up ready to go and take on all quilt projects. Today I seem slightly overwhelmed by all the deadlines I have coming up for events in July.

The Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild is having a Quilt Show the weekend of August 1st. I am almost ready for that.

Vending at the Artist's Walk at Midtown Saturday, July 18th. Just half ready for this one.

I also have an exhibit at the Birmingham Public Library July 23 to August 1. I have those quilts ready.

Lastly, I plan to enter a quilt in the East Cobb Quilt show. That image is due to be mailed by June 30. Not quite finished quilting that one.

I'll make it though and post the pictures here for all to see.

How Long Did It Take?

I find thinking about a project to be an important part of the making of it. Sometimes it takes months for the idea of a quilt to stew in the back of my mind. It is hard to count that intangible part of the process when people ask, "how long did it take you make that quilt." Sometimes I just say a long time but when they look like they really need a time frame then I round out the physical hours that I put in.

Honorable Mention

I often get "call for artists" emails, usually for entering quilt shows. The call for artists at Florida A&M University Pinnacle Exhibit was strictly an art show. So it is always special to mingle with visual artists of other media.
The exhibit opened Friday June 5 and runs through June 26.
The call for artists had been out for 4 months and 43 works were accepted. At first I was just excited to be accepted, but when I got the notice that I received Honorable Mention excitement turned to ecstacy. Wow! I was in the top 5.
Thanks FAMU!