Lisa Call

Butler Institute of American Art, Ohio

I have been invited to participate in an exhibit at the Butler Institute of American Art this fall. My first invitational museum show. Yay. The show is being curated by Mary Lou Alexander, a woman I met several years back in an artist workshop.

Depth and Breadth: Quiltmaking in the 21st Century

Curator’s Comments: In an attempt to demonstrate the breadth of approaches to fine art quiltmaking today, I have invited five accomplished, well established artists to exhibit their work. Each is asked to submit 5 or 6 pieces that illustrate the depth and variety of of her/his work. Each artist approaches quiltmaking in a singular way, and each brings superb craftsmanship and distinctive imagery to her/his work. In this way I hope to inform the viewer of the depth and breadth of fine art quiltmaking as exhibited by 5 contemporary masters of the medium.

October 12, 2008 through January 4, 2009.

Participating Artists:
Bob Adams, Lafayette, IN
Lisa Call, Parker, CO
Jan Myers-Newbury, Pittsburgh, PA
June O’Neil , Cleveland Heights, OH
Jen Swearington, Asheville, NC

An Artful Weekend

Travel Diary, Saturday, April 5th:

1. Stayed up past midnight chatting and laughing with Pam. Notable topic of conversation was powdered sugar donuts, a favorite of Pam’s on road trips and her aliens (see her comments on her blog). Surprisingly we hear little noise from the high schoolers sharing the hotel with us as the evening goes on.
2. Earplugs in I sleep until 8am. Unfortunately the high school kids played a round of volleyball in the bathroom next door so Pam enjoyed the early morning taking great photos of the sculpture at the International Quilt Study Center.
3. After a yummy breakfast it’s off to galleries to see an exhibit of Michael James new work at Modern Arts Midwest. This work seems more saturated to me than some previous pieces. Could be my memory but I liked these richer colors better. My favorite was from 2006 and is not on either the gallery or artist’s website.
4. Next we went over to the brand new International Quilt Study Center and Museum to see a show of Nancy Crow’s work. It was good to see a collection of her work from over the years.



5. The building for the Quilt Center had some cool architectural features. Including a large reception area with very cool windows.



 


6. They also had a really cool mesh screen on wheels. Love the feet.


 

7. It’s my daughter’s birthday so I pack up and head back to Colorado for a 6:30 dinner reservation. The sharks are ready to hit the road.



8. Looking for something to do I phone up my friend Kelly and we have a 2+ hour chat as I drive down I-80. In addition to fabric dyeing the topic of powdered sugar donuts comes up as we were huge donut fans growing up. My car is in need of a gas so at a bargain $3.69 I fill up the tank and go inside in search of some fine pastries. I’m shocked and dismayed to discover there are no donuts and not even a twinkie in the entire convenience store.
9. Fortunately this is America so I drive over to the next store and find exactly what I’m looking for. I have a hard time deciding between the powdered sugar and those yummy plastic chocolate coated ones so select a package of both and head to the counter. The worker guy has just hit some magic button and the register is spitting out a very long tape of recent purchases and I’m told I’ll have to wait 5 minutes. Not wanting to look desperate I opted to walk out of the store empty handed.
10. All is well until I hit I-76, a stretch of road that makes driving across Nebraska seem exciting. It’s just me and a bunch of huge trucks and some tumble weeds. Realizing I’m darn close to falling asleep I stop and buy myself some sunflower seeds. Not being a caffeine drinker, food that requires effort to eat seemed like the next best option for staying awake. And really, why not, a pack of powdered sugar donuts ends up in my hands also.
11. The universe was clearly trying to send me a signal as there was a huge line at the cash register (in the middle of nowhere eastern colorado) - yes - it’s shift change and mr. manager is counting the pennies. I can hide my desperation no longer, I ignore the universe, and I stand there a good 10 minutes to purchase a pack of stale donuts. Happily I was in good company. It was kinda funny watching us. We’d look at what we wanted to buy. Look at the line. You can hear the wheels spinning "am I really standing in line to buy this?" Then we’d realize noone we know is watching - so yep - sure enough we did.



12. Yummy!
13. I was 20 minutes late picking up my daughter for our sushi dinner date. I blame it on the traffic.

May all your art adventures be inspiring and fun. And enjoy the donuts on the drive home.

An Artful Weekend

Travel Diary, Friday, April 4th:

1. Awake at 5:30am to pack and print out maps.
2. Have daughter help load car. Apparently BAHO and BDHO will be joining me on the road. I insist on driving. BAHO cries but finally moves over. BAHO = Bite Alex’s (brother) Head Off. BDHO = Bite Dad’s Head Off (pronounced Baa-ho and Bid-ho). To date there is no BMHO. Mom rocks (and is in charge of shark shopping).



3. As I back out of driveway I notice brake light warning is on. Frantically flip through car manual as I drop ACEOs off at post office. Discover it means my brake light is out (clever how the warning is called that). Relax, no need to fix before leaving, car is running fine, who needs brake lights anyway.
4. On the road at 7:45am. I thought it was 6 hours to Lincoln as a quick scan of mapquest said it was six hours a few weeks ago. Apparently I should have looked at the details - it said 6 hours and 56 minutes. Oops. Good thing the car goes faster without brake lights.
5. Arrive in Lincoln 6 hours and 30 minutes later. I was right about the brake lights.
6. Stop by hotel procured via Priceline. It was cheap - the large number of high school students loitering in the lobby and in front of the hotel gives me warm fuzzy feelings (translation - I’m glad I packed my earplugs).
7. Quick change of clothes and I arrive at the brand spanking new International Quilt Study Center to say hello to Nancy Crow who is teaching a class.
8. Nancy asks me to give a quick talk about how I can focus on my work while also a fulltime cube worker and single mom. I have no idea what to say but once I start I don’t shut up. Rambling might be a good word to insert here.
9. I head over to the Lux Center to check out the show and take some photos before the crowds arrive.



 

Overview from front entrance (both shows are in one room)

 

Overview from front entrance (Two pieces of Deidre’s work is on the wall behind me in both of these pictures, my work is in the back left corner.)

 
Distinctive Directions

 

Deidre Adams and Joanie San Chirico

 

Deidre Adams

 

Jeanne Williamson

 

Pam RuBert

 
Fencing In or Keeping Out - Lisa Call


Structures #42

 

Structures #95 and Structures #59

 

Structures #39

 

Structures #96

 

10. It’s 4:40 - time to prepare my gallery talk. I think I should have done this earlier. Good thing I printed out notes on the artists in Distinctive Directions.
11. It’s 5pm - show time. The next 2 hours are a blur. I talk, Pam RuBert talks. We had a great turnout. (Deidre Adams, Joanie San Chirico and Jeanne Williamson are in Philadelphia at the Art Quilt Elements Opening.)
12. Dinner with my Aunt Myrna from Omaha, which is apparently quite close to Lincoln. Who knew!
13. And finally back to the hotel to chat with Pam.

 

The sharks have settled in

Tomorrow - gallery hopping with Pam, the drive home, donuts and high school kids.

Structures #42    ©2006    81"x 33"

Fencing In or Keeping Out

In conjunction with the 2008 Fiber Invitational (see below), Denver, Colorado textile artist and curator, Lisa Call (me), will display her own hand dyed and stitched quilts textile paintings. Call employs the use of abstraction, geometry, and the color pallet of the Southwest within her work. Interest in both geological formations and man-made structures such as fences and walls manifest themselves within her Structures series. Visible delineations suggesting containment and boundaries also allude to the psychological boundaries we set.

 
Lux Center for the Arts
Lincoln, Nebraska
April 4 — 26, 2008
Lux Center Website

 
Opening Reception
Friday, April 4, 2008, 5:00-7:00 pm

I will be at the opening reception and will be giving a gallery talk at 6pm. Please introduce yourself and say hello if you are in attendance.

Distinctive Directions

Lux Center’s 2008 Fiber Invitational, curated by me, brings together diverse and talented regional and east coat artists: Deidre Adams, Joanie San Chirico, Jeanne Williamson and Pam RuBert.

See our website and blog at distinctive-directions.com

Structures #42

The above piece will make it’s public debut at this show. Although I completed it 2 years ago it has never been shown or even entered into any juried shows. It reminds me a lot of bamboo. Although bamboo might not be blue.

Detail of surface stitching:

Macky Auditorium, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

The last of the photos from my show, which closes to the public tomorrow. These are the photos of the opening reception. I put the camera away as soon as people started showing up so it’s pretty much just the food and a few of me.

I asked my wonderful friend Amy to join me at the opening and she was an huge help. Setting up the food table and getting things looking fabulous. She was also the official photographer - this is me - doing something. I can’t recall what - but it was entertaining.

The tulips on the table were my solution to the ‘um - what should we do with the flowers since I didn’t think to bring a vase’ problem. The artful placement was Amy’s doing.

The only picture I took of Amy - doing her helper duties. Thank you Amy - I couldn’t have pulled it off so effortlessly without you.

Macky Auditorium, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

Installation images from my show, Markings: Repetition and Pattern. The last day the show is open to the public is this Wednesday, March 19, from 9-4pm. The lighting makes for difficult photography in the gallery - apologies for the unevenness.

 

Markings #22, Markings #11, Markings #15, Markings #24, Markings #12, Markings #10, Markings #14, Markings #19

 

Markings #10, Markings #14

 

Markings #2, Markings #9, Markings #7, Markings #22, Markings #11, Markings #15, Markings #24, Markings #12

 

Markings #9, Markings #7

 

Markings #2, Markings #9, Markings #7

 

Markings #1, Markings #8, Marking #2

 

Markings #19, Markings #4, Marking #16

 

Markings #4, Marking #16

Front Wall Installation Photo - Markings: Repetition and Pattern

 
It’s been a wonderful week with my kids home and I haven’t felt motivated to blog. When I found a bit of time a few days ago I processed the above image in photoshop and just started laughing. Anyone want to guess why?

 
The postcard for my show opening next week. The image on the postcard is of Markings #7, which measures 64" x 72".
 

(you can click on the images for a larger view where the text is larger and more readable).

Finishing Touches

I decided to take a couple days off work to finish up last minute details for the show. I deliver the artwork on monday and thought completing the last few pieces I want to include would be fun. Although taking some time off work was the real goal. What a luxury to take off work and hang out in my studio.

So as it’s snowing outside I’m happily at work in my studio stitching lines back and forth on Markings #22 and listening to the new Kinsey Millhone Mystery - T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton. I’ve been reading this series for years and am always happy when a new one comes along.

 
Happy Valentines Day everyone. Chocolate for everyone!

Structures #47    ©2007    61"x76"

Contemporary Crafts Exhibition

The 29th Annual Contemporary Crafts Exhibition opens this friday in Mesa, Arizona. This is one of the juried shows I entered last fall. Structures #47 will be part of the show.

They do a wonderful job hanging the show, which is curated by Michael Monroe, and the building and grounds are beautiful. A few images from last years show are now on smugmug here.

They’ve created an online invite shown below (click for larger image).

 
In case the image is difficult to read:

29th Annual Contemporary Crafts
January 25 - March 9, 2008
For hours, location and more info: www.mesaartscenter.com

My Solo Show at Macky

Yesterday I scheduled the opening reception for my solo show opening next month in Boulder Colorado. It will be Saturday, February 23 from 2-4pm with an artist talk at 3pm. I have 1 month to get everything ready for this show. So time to stop uploading images to smugmug and get to my studio.

Tomorrow I’ll photograph artwork and create a postcard invitation and write the statement for the show for the press release. If you’d like to receive a post card you please email me your name and address and I will add you to my mailing list.

You can also sign up for my email newsletter. The first one will be mailed out in the next few months.

Structures #55    ©2006    33" x 74"

Stuck

I’ve talked about them before. On and on. Saying I won’t enter them, or limiting how many I enter. All the drawbacks, etc.

Then I went and entered a bunch last fall in the midst of me feeling like I wasn’t getting anything done in my life and I was feeling pretty down. Given that my dad was sick and passed away in October and my boyfriend of 2+ years broke up with me a few weeks before the funeral, I am going to say in hindsight I was probably WAS being way too hard on myself.

But enter the shows I did, and as usual, I got accepted, which is, of course, why I entered. I knew I’d get in, I knew it would boost my ego and I’d feel better.

So I ask myself - If I knew I would get in - why was I entering these shows? It sure sounds like the behavior of someone that is stuck in an easy comfortable place and not challenging herself.

I know, I’ve said it before. This time I’m going to listen. A few weeks ago I was ready to swear off every juried show out there and declare that I would never again enter any juried show ever.

I decided to let these thoughts sit for a while and see how it feels.

Selling Art

I came to the conclusion that there are a couple of juried shows that might still be worth the expense. There is something that seems so wrong about the artist paying to exhibit their art, but if the benefits out way the costs it can be worth it.

Today, for me, that means the show needs to sell a lot of work, and more specifically my work. If I believe the show can do that, then I will enter it. Right now there are 2 shows that I have this faith in - one is Quilt National and the other is Art Quilts Elements. And I’m open to the shows I entered this last fall giving me the same faith by selling my work during the show.

The above piece is currently traveling with Quilt National 2007. It didn’t sell at the opening but I’m ready for it to sell now. I think this is one of my really excellent pieces so I believe it will find an owner that will love it enough to purchase it.

I love being an artist but I am done paying to be an artist. My art is going to sell, and I am going to get unstuck and move my art career forward.

Other Thoughts on Juried Shows

I’ve been planning on this post for a few weeks, waiting for my thoughts to gel. Then today Alyson’s newsletter and blog post over on art biz blog were on this exact topic. Some of the very questions I was asking myself about juried shows. A highly recommended read.

[The newsletter link will only be current until Jan 21, 2008 - read it quick because it’s a really excellent list of questions to think about when entering juried shows. Her weekly newsletters are an excellent source of art business advice - worth much more than the price - free! You can sign up through the newsletter link above.]