Lisa Call

Structures #10    ©2004    35" x 52"

Depth and Breadth: Six Quiltmakers in the 21st Century

The preview party for this invitational museum show, curated by Mary Lou Alexander, is Saturday, October 11 from 5-7pm at the Butler Institute of American Art/Trumbull. I will be in attendance so if you can make it to the opening please come introduce yourself. We won’t be doing artist talks but all artists except Jen will be in attendance and happy to talk about their work.

About the show, from the invitation (which I failed to send in mailing labels for - big oops cause they are nice invites):

This exhibit explores a variety of approaches to fine art quiltmaking today. The show features six accomplished, well established artists:

Bob Adams, Lafayette, Indiana
Lisa Call, Denver, Colorado
Jan Myers-Newbury, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
June O’Neil, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Jen Swearington, Asheville, North Carolina
Kathleen Loomis, Louisville, Kentucky

Each artist will display works that illustrate the depth and variety of her/his work. Each artist approaches quiltmaking in a singular way, and each brings superb craftsmanship and distinctive imagery to her/his work. This exhibition was organized by the Butler and curated by Mary Lou Alexander.

Museum Contact Information:
9350 East Market Street
Howland Township, Ohio
330-609-9900

The show runs from October 12, 2008 - January 4, 2009.

My Artwork

I’m beside myself with excitement for having this first chance to exhibit a nice selection of my work in a museum setting. One of my big dream visions for my career is to have my work in permanent museum collections and this feels like a first good step in that direction.

I’ll have 6 large textile paintings in the show, including the 2 shown in this post, with work from both the Structures series and the Markings series.

I’ve rarely shown Structures #10 in public and until this year it hasn’t really been for sale. I’ve now decided it’s time for it to find a new home. This is probably one my best pieces and certainly a personal favorite. The quilt is about personal growth and my divorce and was started only a few months after my ex-husband moved out of the house and not completed for a couple of years. Much healing went into this piece of artwork. My hope is for the textile painting to find a home with someone that will love it.

Structures #33 was made during my days as a runner, training for a half marathon. These are the colors I would see each morning - gray sidewalks, blue sky and mountains, green trees and bushes and the pink sky of dawn. I no longer run but every time I look at this piece I think of my favorite spot on my running path through some willows.

Structures #33    ©2006    53" x 67"

 
Time to get packing and then to the studio

 
I want to thank everyone who left a comment on my previous post or sent me email. They were all very much appreciated.

I returned home Friday after my dad’s memorial service in Arizona. I had to rush back home to attend my son’s black belt test in taekwondo today. I was torn between staying and spending time with my family when it is much needed and being here to support my son in his triumph after he put in 4 years of hard work to achieve his goal. Watching him today I know I made the right choice but it’s hard to not be with my brother, sister and dad’s wife right now.

My dad was an incredible person and the loss is going to take some time to get over but life goes on and I have numerous wonderful memories to comfort me. Letting go is never easy but it’s time.

 
In January I posted my very optimistic list of goals for the year. When I wrote those goals I knew it would be very difficult to meet them as my dad was diagnosed with cancer in October and I lost my 2 grandmothers in September and December 2006. But we were very optimistic and sure my dad would beat this and I new that goals and structure would help me through these difficult times and keep me motivated and focused. I was thinking positive and looking to move forward.

Then in January my mom’s husband passed away (it’s not been a very good year for my family). So things got off to a rough start. After a bit I was able to refocus and I muddled through the year meeting some goals and completely blowing others. The worst was sending out a postcard to the press as a teaser for an upcoming press release. Then I went to visit my dad and all motivation for writing the press release disappeared and it never happened. Probably a serious crime in the world of dealing with the press for an unknown artist but so be it. It wasn’t meant to happen.

My studio newsletter is still non-existent and in general most of my business plans didn’t come to fruition due to neglect. I’ve come to terms with it all and accept that things will happen when it’s time. This was not the year for some of these things.

There are some bright spots in the year, such as being asked to curate a show at an art center in 2008 (more on that soon), and I have no regrets. I focused on my family and that was what I needed and wanted.

This fall I realized the year didn’t pan out as expected so I entered some juried shows for the emotional boost those acceptances provide. So far I’m running 3 for 3 in acceptances with 4 more still to hear from. While these juried shows aren’t my future they seemed like just the right fit for the year I’m having.

I’m chalking this up as a year of experimenting and learning (ie etsy is not for me).

And letting go.

And most importantly - moving forward even when things are difficult. The direction may not be as planned but moving forward and thinking positively has helped me keep on going.

 
Again - thank you for all of your support this past week.

The above photo is of an agave that bloomed this spring in my dad’s yard.