The European Patchwork Meeting at Ste. Marie aux Mines

On the second day of our vacation in the Alsace region of  France, we attended the European Patchwork Meeting in Ste. Marie aux Mines. I've had work at this show in a couple of previous years (with my Crossing Oceans group and with SAQA). SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) had the Canadian section of their "My Corner of the World" exhibition on display. While I did take photos, I realized afterward that photography is not normally allowed at SAQA Shows. For that reason, I am going to provide the link to a slide show of these quilts on the SAQA website. You can see them here.

I also knew there would be a get-together of SAQA members at the European Patchwork Meeting. The opportunity to meet other SAQA members, mostly from Europe, was one that appealed to me. I also had the opportunity of seeing our current President, Lisa Ellis, once again. That's Lisa on the right of me.

In addition, I had the pleasure of meeting incoming President, Lisa Walton, for the first time. If I am not mistaken, she is the first President from outside the US, and she clearly stated that her mission will be to increase international memberships.

It was also a huge honour to meet European member Elizabeth Nacenta de la Croix. Elizabeth purchased one of my auction quilts a few years ago, and I have been using an image of her work in my digital presentation on Composition and Design. Don't you just love mutual admiration societies?

Here are all the SAQA members that showed up for our lunch-time meet and greet.

While the European Patchwork Meeting takes place in several locations, I looked them all over and decided to focus on one location, that housed the SAQA exhibition, and the exhibition of a few other artists that I admire. I have to say that my very favorite exhibition was by London, UK artist, Ian Berry. Ian works strictly with denim and glue. A wide variety of values of denim create the depth and realism in his work. That is Ian on the left and his self-portrait on the right.

Ian says that the work in this exhibition is about ideas of home and urban dislocation.

Ian also has things to say about inside the home, and that is why he produced the series My Beautiful Launderette. This first piece is actually an installation.

God save the Jean?

A fun patchwork creation with all the things that have been said about artist Ian Berry.

It turns out I'll be seeing Ian again in March at Festival Internacional de Patchwork in Sitges, Spain (just south of Barcelona). We are two of the artists invited to exhibit there. The website is just in the process of being updated, but I expect all the information should be there soon.