Field trip to Oscar de la Renta exhibit

THE OSCAR DE LA RENTA “Five Decades of Style” exhibit at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas became the destination for a group of DAFA fashion enthusiasts in September 2014. The special exhibit featured a retrospective of the American fashion designer’s work from his early years through his recent fashions.

The gowns on exhibit included daywear and evening dresses worn by many U.S. First Ladies, including Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Reagan. Glittering evening wear on exhibit included gowns designed for American celebrities.

De la Renta is among the most famous recipients of the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion. The couture clothing was displayed in a special gallery that is part of the new presidential center on the SMU campus.

Left to right: DAFA president JoAnn Musso photographs colorful gowns showing cultural influences from places like Russia and India.  Elaborate embroidery on a white wool coat. The highly recognizable Oscar de la Renta signature and sketches.

Left to right: Among the fashions designed for members of First Families was Jenna Bush’s wedding dress (center). Detail of the wedding gown skirt and train. Visitors survey the central gallery, showing fashions designed for U.S. First Ladies. Suits created for Nancy Reagan are front and center in this frame.

Left to right: DAFA member Carol Regan photographs early fashions inspired by Oscar de la Renta’s time in Spain. A deep red gown worn by Hillary Clinton as First Lady. Detail picture of elaborate embellishments on an evening gown. One of many sparkling gowns designed to be worn on the "Red Carpet."

Posted by Carolyn Skei

Suzanne McNeill presents September '14 program

MIXED-MEDIA ARTIST AND DAFA MEMBER SUZANNE McNEILL was the guild’s guest presenter in September 2014. She shared, in depth, two of her favorite art techniques – Zentangles and Gelli Printing. Members learned some of the basics of “tangling” during the mini-workshop, when Suzanne led them in making unique peek-a-boo cards, using simple materials and intricate-looking Zentangle patterns.

The author of numerous books on all kinds of art techniques, Suzanne then presented a program focused on the recent use she has made of Zentangle techniques and Gelli plate prints in her colorful art. Sometimes the two techniques are combined in unique ways in her painted canvases and quilted pieces. She demonstrated for the crowd how she makes basic monoprints using the synthetic gelatin plate manufactured by Gelli Arts.

Left to right: Inspired by Suzanne’s samples, members try their skills at “tangling.” Suzanne displays a card with a peek-a-boo opening. Finished cards by several members.

Assisted by Tammi Daubenspeck, Suzanne displays a silk scarf with colorful Zentangle designs, an animal quilt with Gelli-printed fabrics, and a quilt featuring black and quite Zentangle threadplay.

Left and center: One of Suzanne’s painted canvases featuring Zentangle designs and a Zentangle-inspired portrait. Right: During Show & Tell, Leo Ransom displays two of his quilts, including a Jimi Hendrix portrait. Assisting are new members Charlene Lee and Vanessa Smith.

Posted by Carolyn Skei

Viewing "The Texas Experience" Quilts from SAQA

FOR DAFA'S AUGUST 2014 PROGRAM, Heather Pregger, coordinator of the North Texas unit of Studio Art Quilt Associates, brought DAFA members a touring collection of 12- x 12-inch quilts made by Texas SAQA members. The theme of the touring exhibit is “The Texas Experience.” The dozens of quilts will make the rounds to several venues around Texas and beyond. As the quilts were passed through the audience, members were able to examine the workmanship and design – admiring beautiful piecing, painting, applique, threadplay, image transfer and more.

During the mini-workshop timeslot, DAFA member Valery Guignon challenged participants to create “Spirit Dolls” from lovely scraps – many from her studio full of hand-dyed and hand-painted fabrics.

A bevy of beautiful Spirit Dolls made by members during the August mini-workshop led by Valery Guignon. Photos by Patricia Dillingham.

Left: Deborah Boschert holds up one of the small quilts as she assists Heather Pregger in displaying the collection. Photo by Patricia Dillingham. Right: Heather discusses specific techniques with DAFA members at the end of the program.

Three quilts that drew many admiring glances were (left to right): “Fixin’ Fence” by Suzan Engler, “Hereford Calf” by Sara Sharp, and “It’s Not 1836 Anymore,” a Houston skyline by Hope Wilmarth. (Protected by plastic sleeves, the quilts could be passed from one audience member to another.)

Posted by Carolyn Skei

Learning from the Judges

Left to right: Teri Muse, Julio Suarez and Cynthia Padilla.

LISTENING TO THE CRITICS was the theme of DAFA’s June 2014 program. DFW-area artists Teri Muse, Cynthia Padilla, and Julio Suarez were the panelists assembled by DAFA program chair, Vet. They discussed the elements they consider when jurying and judging an art show. (Two of the three – Teri and Cynthia -- have recently juried DAFA member shows.) 

The discussion gave members the opportunity to learn what excites and interests trained artists as they examine the digital photographs presented to them in show entries – and then what moves them as they select winners once a show has been hung.

DAFA Awards Two 2014 Scholarships

Josie Rodriquez and Abigail Elizabeth Sherrill became this year’s DAFA Scholarship recipients at the guild’s meeting in May. Josie is an undergraduate student at the University of North Texas who will enter the UNT Graduate Fiber Program in the fall.  Abigail, a current graduate student at the University of North Texas, will further her career in the fiber art field through working and teaching.

As part of their presentations to the guild, Josie and Abigail displayed their artwork and received enthusiastic support from audience members. DAFA community services chair Brenda McKinney coordinated the awards and presented the two winners with their $500 checks.

Left: Josie Rodriquez receives her scholarship from DAFA community services chair Brenda McKinney. Right: Brenda presents the other scholarship award to Abigail Sherrill.

On left, scholarship winner Abigail Sherrill chats with DAFA member Traci Hutton. At right, DAFA members crowd around samples of the students’ work after the two winners’ presentations.

-- Brenda McKinney

Awards Conclude 2014 DAFA Member Show

DAFA artists and members celebrated the closing of the 2014 Member Show and Special Exhibit with a reception and awards ceremony at the guild’s April meeting. The juried show, The Fine Art of Fiber, included 34 pieces of art made by 17 artists and one group. The exhibit was on display at The Point on the C.C. Young campus from March 28 to April 28, along with a special exhibit, The Textures of Indonesia Challenge (details below).

The Best of Show award went to a large collaborative piece made by a group of eight DAFA friends whose months-long project yielded 72 fiber art “Tarot” cards inspired by a deck showing the work of Leonardo da Vinci. DAFA thanks our juror, DFW-area artist Teri Muse, and our hard-working Annual Show chair, Sherrie Tootle.

This year’s Member Show winners

• Best of Show – “The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot: A Wonder's Collaboration,” Connie Akers, Flo    Barry, Michelle Knoerzer, Sara Miller, Lu Peters, Carolyn Skei, Brenda Wyatt, and Gay        
   Young

• First Place – “Poule Aye,” Alisa Banks

• Second Place – “Big Figure #8,” Heather Pregger

• Third Place – “Modern Target Practice,” Robin Wiliiamson

• Juror's Choice – “Chaos III - Hoyle's Cosmology,” Connie Akers 

• Honorable Mention – “Blue Chair Mantra,” Deborah Boschert 

• Honorable Mention – “Flower Garden,” Janet Avery

Note: Watch the DAFA website for photos of all show entries.

Left to right: Val Guignon (center) chats with Deborah Boschert at the reception table. Annual Show chair Sherrie Tootle prepares to announce the winners. Artists and show visitors fill the gallery with excitement at the closing reception.

Left to right: Four of eight members who won a collaborative Best of Show award for "The Da Vinci Enigma," Carolyn Skei, Gay Young, Lu Peters and Michelle Knoerzer. Alisa Banks with “Poule Aye.” Heather Pregger with “Big Figure #8.”

Left to right: Robin Williamson with “Modern Target Practice.” Deborah Boschert with “Blue Chair Mantra.” Janet Avery with “Flower Garden.” Lu Peters (center) accepts the Juror’s Choice award on behalf of her friend and collaborator Connie Akers. Show chair Sherrie Tootle is at left, juror Teri Muse on the right.

Leading up to a special exhibit titled The Textures of Indonesia, DAFA veterans Mary Masal and JoAnn Musso challenged members to make art using a challenge fabric – pieces of a recycled quilt top with an Indonesian flavor. In addition to the challenge fabric, finished entries had to include “one button, one snap, and one bead,” as well as “something round, something square and something purple.” The inventive entries sparked the imaginations of show visitors and DAFA members alike.

This year’s Challenge winners

• First Place – “Daphne's Good Fortune Cookie” purse, Daphne Huffman

• Second Place – “Myriad of Journeys” vest, Sheila Hill

• Third Place – “Wildflower” quilt, Janet Avery

• Judge's Choice – “Long-Leg Rag Doll #3,” Binnie Tomaro

Left to right: Challenge winner Daphne Huffman with her fortune cookie purse. Sheila Hill with her challenge vest. Janet Avery with her challenge quilt. Binnie Tomaro with her Judge’s Choice rag doll.

Left to right: Challenge instigators JoAnn Musso and Mary Masal prepare for a light-hearted announcement of their winners. Jules Rushing’s “MRI Mirage” reminds guests of the seriousness of Alzheimer’s Disease. Artists and show visitors examine and discuss details of the work. Sculpture at right is “Wild Thing I” by Debbie Snider.

Contributors: Sherrie Tootle, Mary Masal, Carolyn Skei  

DAFA Meets the Public at ArtPark

Led by guild show chair Sherrie Tootle, a team of DAFA members manned a colorful display of guild members’ work at the annual ARTsPARK fair at NorthPark shopping center in Dallas in April. The event was the fifth such opportunity for area art organizations to connect with the public and to bring membership information, displays and demonstrations to those interested in the arts. 

Thanks to Sherrie and to Debbie Snider, Glynis Scott, and Janet Jelen, who manned the booth, and to a number of members who loaned items for the display.

Debbie Snider (left) and Glynis Scott tend the DAFA table at ARTsPARK. Debbie made the wrapped baskets on display, and Glynis made the felted items. Other items include quilts and quilt-like items made by Sherrie Tootle, and hand-dyed fabric by Jules Rushing.

Contributor: Sherrie Tootle