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Tuesday, July 25, 2017

How About a Field Trip? Let's Go Where the Art Is...



If you live within driving distance of Dunedin, Florida, there is still time to see this wonderful Quilts & Textiles exhibit at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center. It's on until the 18th of August. If not, then enjoy an armchair visit with me. Happily the Center allows photos of the works exhibited. This piece is titled "Maria Rosa" and was made by artist Karol Kusmaul.






The DFAC entrance is inviting with a decorative tile wall and this appealing teapot outdoor sculpture.


But it's what is inside that will make your heart beat a little faster! Several themed exhibits of wonderful quilts and fiber art. "Shirt Tales: Portraits by Karol Kusmaul" is a solo exhibit of many quilts Karol has crafted using re-purposed thrift shop clothing. This one is titled "Elizabeth's Wishes".


In the "New Quits from an Old Favorite: New York Beauty" from The National Quilt Museum, this is "Gotta Dance" by Cathy Geier. There were so many fantastic interpretations of the curved and intricately pieced New York Beauty block.




Included was "Exotic Enchantment" by Jean Brueggenjohann. 




 Karol's quilts were a highlight for me because I loved the expressive characters and the source of her varied fabrics. "Song" is shown at top. All that wonderful shading is done with snips and bits of fabrics. This bottom photo is "Grandma Magic". Did you have a Grandma who mixed batter by hand and had chickens? I did, so this was a fond memory.



"SAQA Florida: Growth" was another exhibit. SAQA is Studio Art Quilt Associated. This piece is titled "Urban Maul" and is by Annette Boncek. Looking down from the top, you can see the inside is filled with park-like imagery in contrast to the buildings.



And one more by Karol- this is titled "Motherboard" and it has a background fabric that resembles circuitry. I am impressed by how prolific Karol is. There were many more of her portrait quilts on display, and that's not all she makes. Do visit her website to see more of her work. The quilt is also known as "Emerald". So many techniques and materials were a part of the quilts on display that it is endlessly fascinating to study them.



7 comments:

sonja said...
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sonja said...

What a wonderful tour of some great quilts!
Karol's take is refreshing in source and ideas generated by her POV! Thank you for reporting on a great quilt show!
now i am going back to reapply !

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

This was incredible. First, I thought the wall of tiles was actually a wall of quilts. I was amazed when I enlarged the image and saw it was actually tiles.

Karol Kusmaul appears to be a fabulous textile artist. Her expressions are wonderful. They are all so different, too. I like that uses repurposed thrift store clothing. What a fabulous art. And her quilting is so unique, too. It adds to the overall quilts because it actually creates the background.

I had a grandmother who mixed batter by hand, but mine didn't have chickens. She also weighed 98 lbs as long as I could remember.

I think my favorite might be the New York Beauty, though. Whoever cut and sewed that one deserves national recognition. Those points are incredible.

Thanks for taking us along on this trip to Dunedin, FL. It's a fun art center and I enjoyed seeing it through your eyes.

Robbie said...

First off, the Grandma quilt hit me as it looks just like my friend Sally!!!! Gosh...caught me off guard! Anyway, I'm sending Susan link to your post...she might be interested in seeing this exhibit. Looks wonderful...I think you mentioned this on FB.

Createology said...

I am always so in awe of quilts and these are uber amazing. I think the unusual round tube of buildings with the nature park inside just might be my favorite. Since I do not know how to quilt I am truly amazed by these Works of HeArt. Thank you for sharing them. <3

Lynette (NZ) said...

These are VERY cool - thanks so much for visiting my blog and commenting so I could discover yours. I have enjoyed the face quilts immensely and also seeing that you are torn (like me )between mixed media, quilts and paper projects. Aren't we lucky.....if we just had more hours in our weeks! Have a great weekend and I'll pop by again soon

creativelenna said...

Amazing, artistic Quilts!