Saturday, February 19, 2011

Making Connections


What do you do when you know what you want but don’t have it yet? It may be an object (to own a fabulous piece of art), an experience (a travel dream), a concept (to be an artist), or just knowing there is something out there that is different from what you have now and that is what you want. When is it that you know what you want, and how do you get from not having it (Point A) to having it (Point B)?
Some people are able to do this instinctively, knowingly. Talk about knowingly, they’ve known this desire since childhood and have consistently worked to achieve it. Or, they’ve had an epiphany as an adult that tied into childhood experiences and skyrocketed toward that newly defined goal.
Others determine their hearts desire and can discern the path to its attainment without need for external assistance.
The remainder of us has floated through life somewhat vaguely, hopefully blissfully. Objects, people, relationships, ideas…come in and go out of our realm. All is fine until – what? A shift in the hemisphere? A full moon? A birthday or a new year? Something sets off a deep, internal yearning. It germinates for a period of time then begins to grow and blossom.
Connections with others of similar goals and dreams can nurture, inspire, and stretch us to reach out for that wish; shared experiences are encouraging and helpful. Let’s do that this year as members of SDA Minnesota. Let’s put a hand out to one another, let’s share and make connections. Let’s step forth together on a path that leads to achievement of a desired dream. Volunteer with me to host a gathering of Minnesota members or to help with Confluence, the SDA conference here in June. Opportunities are plentiful! Contact me at sdarep.karie@karieamstutz.com

Monday, February 7, 2011

Call for entry deadlines extended: SDA, TCM

I've been busy, busy working on pieces to enter into the SDA Confluence and Textile Center exhibitions and have finally come up for air. I always seem to need to let my pieces rest before any final touches, so am glad for a delayed entry date. I trust you are all working on entries, too. It would be great to see a large number of entries from Minnesota members! I am looking forward to many of wonderful gallery visits.

The three  SDA exhibitions have full guidelines and entry information through Juried Art Services, http://www.juriedartservices.com/. Guidelines are also available at http://dev.surfacedesign.org/2011-SDAConference.php or through info@surfacedesign.org.


Currents, SDA Students’ Show
Event dates: April 21–August 12, 2011
Entry deadline: February 18, 2011

Merge and Flow, SDA Members’ Show
Event dates: June 9–30, 2011
Entry deadline: March 1, 2011

Bodies of Water, SDA Fashion Show
Event date: June 11, 2011
Entry deadline: March 1, 2011

The Textile Center has also extended its deadline for a special Community Gallery exhibition. Entries should represent a "watershed moment" - and can be historical, personal, political, environmental, or otherwise. For full guidelines and entry information go to http://www.textilecentermn.org/pdf/WatershedCFE.pdf

Watershed, Textile Center Member's Show
Event dates: June 6 - July 16, 2011
Entry deadline: March 1, 2011

Natural Dye Interest Group

Are you interested in learning about natural dyes and dyeing? Kit Eastman would like to start a natural dye interest/study group hosted at the Textile Center. This would be a community of weavers, spinners, dyers, surface designers, and quilters sharing resources and learning from each other about various ways to dye fibers, fabrics and surfaces using natural dyes, natural pigments, etc. To start, the group would meet 6 times a year. 


Potential topics: direct dyeing from plants, natural dye extracts, natural pigment dyes, indigo, mordants, thickeners, immersion, direct application etc.  Formats: discussion, show and tell, experiential wisdom, informal presentation, etc. Continue the community online between meetings with a group blog. 


There will be a small membership fee (i.e. $15-$20) to cover expenses (meeting room, group membership to Textile Center). If you are interested in this concept please contact Kit via email at eastmankm@gmail.com. We'd like to schedule the first meeting for sometime in February.