Articulation Textile Group is an Industrious Bunch.

         Articulation members are an industrious bunch.

Our forest exhibit was barely packed up and Lesley's houseguests out the door when she headed off to lead the hanging of the VISDA show at the Cedar Hill Gallery in Victoria.

 Cedar Hill Gallery, Victoria.

The process of hanging a show is no simple task. It takes time and energy and usually benefits from the helpful hands of volunteers and a generous estimate of time to get from the prepping stage above to a mounted show of works successfully on display.

"Dialogue #1" By Lesley Turner

VISDA is a branch of the Surface Design Association to which 4/6 of our group are affiliated. This exhibition titled, "CONNECTIONS" runs from April 17th to May 5th, 2019. Lesley's piece above reflects her affinity for historical handwork and her collaborative efforts with the environment. "Dialogue #1" will also be shown in Winnipeg during the Dualities exhibition before heading west to its new owner in Edmonton.

VISDA'S Opening Reception was held at the Gallery on April 17th, 2019

As a by-product of our "Forest and Sea and the Place Between" exhibition in the Portals Gallery in Duncan, BC, Articulation members were invited to contribute work to the Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show. Both Wendy Klotz and Lesley Turner managed to submit works that were selected to be a part of the Arts Council's upcoming show to be held April 30th- May 11th, 2019.

 "Battle Fatigue/s" by Lesley Turner came from the catalogue of our "War" work to participate in the Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show at Portals Gallery.  The deconstructed military uniform reflects the laid bare state of personnel affected by PTSD and the repetitive triggers those suffering from PTSD find constantly in familiar environments.

Wendy Klotz submitted "Safely Gathered In" shown above. This piece is based on the harvest hymn where the farmer has persevered another year despite rain, flood, and pestilence. Wendy's focus was on the pattern and the contrast between the concentric circles of the hay bales and the horizontal lines of the field, 12" x 24". I am told it shimmered beautifully behind the cellist on opening night.

We are very proud to announce that Lesley Turner won an Award of Excellence for her work in the Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show, that also included "Soldier's Heart", shown seated with " Battle Fatigue/s" above. Congratulations Lesley!

Other member news includes Wendy Klotz and Donna Clement, both Calgary residence, being accepted to do a three-month stint with the Contextual group's self-directed summer residency program from May 25th through to August 11th. That is 11 weeks of concentrated fun to be spent in the  Fibre Department at Alberta's University of the Arts. The textile department is well stocked, I am told, with lovely long print tables, a dye room and dark room, and personal locker space for residents. This year Wendy understands they will also have access to weaving looms.

Donna Clement is also looking forward to her residency but in the meantime can be found with a suitcase and camera in hand. I love seeing travel pics. The above door knockers she unearthed during her recent travels in Malta. I will look forward to seeing what great things they each discover during their summer spent experimenting.

Lesley meanwhile, has again been building boxes, this one above sadly too big for Canada Post to handle. Contained within is her work for a show with Articulation's Ingrid Lincoln and a complimentary pair of West Coast and Prairie artists, Louise Lamb and Laura Feeleus for a show called "Dualities". This show opens next week at the Cre8tery Gallery in Winnipeg and runs from May 9-21, 2019. It includes a variety of works in paint, print, photography, and textiles.
                              
 I too have been juggling life and a studio practice. Last month I mounted a solo show at the newly reopened Adelaide McDermot Gallery conveniently situated just two floors below my studio. I always love connecting with people through art and that weekend was no different. It was a lovely way to welcome spring into a Manitoban climate that still appears a little reluctant to change.

I have been hard at work on many projects, among them, my water-themed projects (above) for Articulation's summer show at the Icelandic Heritage Museum in Gimli, Manitoba. I thought I was close to finishing three large quilts, each approximately 4 feet square but a couple of events involving a rotary cutter and experimental plans have challenged my considered process. The evolution of an artwork can sometimes be a journey through frustration and disappointment but we are hopeful to resolve it in the end with possible life lessons learned along the way. (i.e. don't cut up a perfectly good art quilt!) I will keep you posted as to how it turns out but for now, I think I will put them on the back burner and spend a block of time completing the painting commissions I have as a result of my show.

Like many Articulation members, I find myself spending a lot of time adding works in progress to bags to take along with me just in case I get a minute to work on some hand stitching. And like many other creatives, I am lobbying for extended daylight hours as 24 is just not enough time for most of us with so many balls in play at any given time.

Last weekend, for example, was spent not stitching, but at the University of Manitoba celebrating a successful Honours thesis completed in Psych and a year-end exhibition for the Architecture faculty. The above sisters now fully grown were the subject of our inspiration on those occasions and I was very happy to put aside my creative hat for the proud mother version.
Our Saskatchewan member, Lean Clifford knows first hand the time commitment of family, especially with newly minted twin grandbabies. I think we are all looking forward to hearing of her progress through familial and creative activities.

For all of us, a days work is never limited to purely production time. Last night instead of sewing in a cosy corner I was a guest of the Headingly Public Library sharing a presentation on my first book "Wisdom at the Crossroads". A lovely group of people attended and I am very grateful for all of the support I have been shown since the publication arrived in my hands in October of 2018.  Should you be interested my book is available online for those not able to shop in Winnipeg. Find "Wisdom at the Crossroads" by Amanda Onchulenko at McNally Robinson Booksellers. Please see the link below.

Homework...

Finally, this weekend I will be at the Creative Manitoba offices during The Exchange District's First Friday event along with other WAVE Artists to launch the 2019 Brochure. The  "WAVE INTERLAKE ARTIST'S STUDIO TOUR" is the longest running studio tour in Manitoba. Now in its 15th year, the tour takes place two weekends each year in June and September. There will be a group of artists from the tour coming into the city to help kick off the brochure launch and to encourage those not familiar with the creative treasures of the Interlake to take a short, inspirational road trip this summer. During the WAVE, I will be encouraging visitors to my summer venue in June to also take in Articulation's exhibition, "Connected Heritage", while visiting Gimli in Manitoba's Interlake. 

If you are in the neighbourhood for any of the above-mentioned Articulation events we hope you will stop in to say hi and get a first-hand look at what inspires us and how this inspiration evolves through our industrious hands.

Amanda'Book

Amanda's Instagram 

Donna's Blog
Lesley's Blog

Lesley's Facebook

Wendy's Facebook

Donna's Facebook

Articulation's website