DAFA artists present Mixed Media Mania

In an evening of hands-on art projects coordinated by Chuck Baber at the October meeting, four DAFA members shared their techniques with participants in this year’s Mixed Media Mania. Louise Schubert, April Soncrant, Denise Spillane and Beth Swider presented their four different fiber projects to members rotating from table to table at The Point.

Denise taught a Handbound Mini-Notebook, incorporating her Gelli-printing fabrics and papers; Louise taught Zipper Roses, constructed from colorful recycled zippers; Beth coached participants in designing a mailable Double Duty Doodle postcard; and April led everyone in assembling Embellished Name Badges from wood, chipboad, fabric and precut letters.

Here are a few pictures of the jam-packed evening.

Left to right: Mixed-Media Mania boss Chuck Baber models one of the new DAFA aprons, which will go on sale at the November meeting. Denise Spillane demonstrates the pamphlet stitch. Beth Swider (standing) shows Mary Lou Smith how to package the doodle postcard for mailing.

Left to right: Take-home projects for the evening included name badges, zipper roses, notebooks with Gelli-print covers, and double-use doodle postcards. Louise Schubert smiles for the camera In the midst of happy chaos. April Soncrant and Chuck Baber confer at the name badge table.

                                               

                                                                                                                                            --Carolyn Skei

Gay Young Presents Thread Paintings, Quilts

ART QUILTER GAY YOUNG demonstrated various methods of thread painting and presented a trunk show of her art quilts at DAFA’s meeting on Monday, Sept. 23. Among a number of DAFA’s members who exhibit their work widely, Gay explained ways in which she thread paints over original photos printed on cloth and sometimes uses free-motion techniques to thread paint on double layers of water-soluble stabilizer. Video projection by board member Chuck Baber enabled mini-workshop goers to watch closely as Gay demonstrated at her machine.

Left to right: Gay Young prepares to demonstrate thread painting “live” to her audience. Gay’s thread-painted butterfly. The video projection of Gay’s demo.

During the trunk show that followed, Gay showed some of her early work, followed by a variety of recent quilts that have been juried into shows and publications. Her landscape quilts, including a series of Aspen Quilts, have attracted the attention of gallery owners and show jurors in several states. Her quilt “Portland Reflection” was featured in the February 2012 issue of Quilters’ Newsletter magazine, and “Headwaters” is included in Lone Stars III: Texas Quilts Today, 1986-2011. She has been a devoted contributor to the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative.

Gay describes her “Nebula” quilt. Carol Regan and Chuck Baber perform duty as Quilt Vannas, displaying Gay’s Mesa Verde-inspired quilts. Audience members gather after the presentation to get a closer look at textures and quilting techniques.

-- Carolyn Skei

The Mind's Eye Is Live!

You have heard a lot about this special show over the past several weeks. Thanks to all the artists who submitted pieces to Let’s Make Alzheimer’s a Distant Memory: The Mind’s Eye’.

The windows make the colors of the baskets "pop." Debbie Snider puts the finishing touches on the show.

With a lot of work from many volunteers, the show was hung Sepetember 4 at the Lover's Lane United Methodist Church.   A portion of each sale will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Dallas Chapter for research and caregiver support.

A luncheon was held September 8 celebrating the artists and the opening of the show. It was a fun afternoon and chance for some of the artists to meet with members of the congregation.

The DAFA artists clean up for the luncheon. L-R Jules Rushing, Deborah Boschert, VET, Gay Young, Sherrie Tootle and Carolyn Skei.

There is still time to see the show. The exhibition runs through October 17, 2013 at the ArtReach Gallery, Lovers Lane United Methodist Church, 9200 Inwood Road at Northwest Highway in Dallas. The show can also be viewed on DAFA's website.