Sponsored by Ace Hardware of Anacortes and Friday Harbor.

Hardware is a flexible, collaborative project by thirteen artists. The participating artists have worked independently with the goal of creating a piece that makes for a cohesive whole, while at the same time still allowing for individual flexibility. The subject matter, “hardware,” was loosely defined and up to the artist’s own interpretation – some took it quite literally, and other made a more individual connection. The materials used were left up to the imagination of the individual artist. Sandra Woock’s piece, Nails: Patina, at left, has the added elements of real nails.

The finished Hardware pieces include work from all artists who have chosen to participate. The goal of this process is a “lively cohesiveness” in the group work, which “gives a glimpse into the creative process of the artist who plans a project, and forces new ways of thinking for those who follow the plan.” Each artist’s piece is 15 inches high, at least 24 inches wide, and has vertical straight line on the far left and far right sides; however, each artist could make as many pieces as she chose and have non-vertical lines on any of the other edges within their own pieces.

The finished pieces can be arranged in many different ways to fit the display. Individual pieces may be sold and edited out or new pieces added in, and as there is no limit to the total width or amount of pieces that can be done by an artist, the possibilities are almost endless. As a result, Hardware evolves over time and will look different each time it is exhibited.

New Image Artists include:  BJ Adams, Mary Beth Bellah, Jeanne Benson, Sara Brown, Ardyth Davis, Candace Edgerley, Amanda Ford, Lesly-Claire Greenberg. Catherine Kleeman, Dominie Nash, Sue Pierce, Ginny Smith, Michele Vernon, Sandra Woock.

 Our journey began with a commitment to walk the nature trails that surround Boise, Idaho. We challenged each other to create quilt art using a depicted chosen theme. We were going to write in our journals and create a small square weekly/monthly for a year. Soon after this commitment, a roadblock instantly stopped all progress and enthusiasm. Commitment, challenge, and theme, boxed in the original creative power we were trying to set free. After weeks of frustration and failure, but good exercise walking the nature trails, we abandoned the initial concept.

We realize that our friendship and polar opposite personalities have created the real collaboration. We are Yin and Yang. Now our weekly walks are used to express our own creative vision to expand each other’s vision. We make many trips together with our journals now, not to limit, but to brainstorm, and mind map our visions with each other, always pushing the limit. Like Alice seeing into the looking glass, through each other’s eyes we can see the center we have been searching.

Our success has created an appreciation of the other’s opposite nature. Elaine: yin, controlled, plodding, the realist. Sharon: yang, flighty, erratic, the dreamer. Our work itself shows our progress. Sharon’s body of work, “Personal Shelter,” depicts how her work captures her flighty nature. Her work explores the kimono form; see Matisse Dissected, at right. Elaine’s body of work, “Unleashed,” depicts how she is allowing her earthy nature to reach for the sky. Her work encompasses the art quilt; incorporating fabrics, as well as wire mesh, metal shim, beads, and other ephemera into her work; see Slippa Quilt, above left.

For many years Lura has used fabric pastels, inks and markers to add images to fabric. With her husband, Kerby, Lura is now adding digital images to her art quilts. Lura and Kerby teach digital quilt classes and produce art quilts using digital imagery. They have just co-authored a book about digital quilting, which will be available through our Museum Store.

On the Surface aptly describes the work of members of the Surface Design Association. Their work encompasses a wide variety of media:  basketry, weaving, wall art, 3-D art, quilting, and wearables and the techniques used are as varied as the individual artist’s pieces. You will find felting, silk fusion, photo transfer, piecing and appliqué. Additional surface designs include collage, painting, printing, dyeing, air-brushing, stenciling, fusing, and burn-out. The artist may further embellish with beads, foil, fibers, and hand or machine piecing. Truly, one-of-a-kind works of art.

    Artists include:  Danielle Bodine, Marianne Burr, Debra Calkins, Fine Gelfand, Zia Gipson, Carys Ann Hamer, Carol Jerome, Lorraine Kirker, Nancy Luenn, Pat Morse, Natalie Olsen, Marie Plakos, Diane Reardon, Janet Steadman, Jo Van Patten, Ellen Vlasak, and Sande Wascher-James.

What can be more appealing than quilts and desserts? Sandy Bonsib creates both quilts and desserts based on the recipe which inspires the name. Delight in Strawberry Shortcake and Chocolate Truffles or Key Lime Pie; both the quilts and desserts can be found in Sandy’s newest books! While her quilts look complex, the quilts in the dessert series use simple blocks!

Sandy Bonsib is a teacher by profession and a quilter by passion. She has a graduate degree in education and has taught and lectured locally in the Seattle area since 1993 and and nationally and internationally since 1997. Sandy is the author of nine books, the last two featuring her delicious, very colorful, dessert quilts with recipes, and eight patterns, featuring smaller, still very colorful dessert quilts, with smaller dessert recipes.

As a special treat, Nancy has also included a quilt for exhibit with her students. Teacher, designer, & author, Chong has been teaching stress-free needleturn applique and Hawaiian quilting since 1982.

The 21 “Divas” whose garments were selected to be in this show are all members of the Fidalgo Island Quilters Guild of Anacortes, Washington. They come from diverse backgrounds and represent many different communities in the Skagit Valley, Fidalgo and Whidbey Islands. They share in common the love of color and cloth and creating wearable art clothing.

Fiber Optix, is a group of northwest artists whose chosen medium is the art quilt or quilted wall hanging. Although the work of art quilters is built upon the foundation of traditional and utilitarian quilt making, these contemporary artists use the tools of that tradition in order to achieve the same goals as all artists:  Self expression and the creation of visually stimulating and meaningful works of art. They seek to push the limits, to produce unique, original, individual designs that will speak to others eloquently.

Fiber Optix members include:  Sandra Altenberg, Teri Bever, Cher Cartwright, Nancy Cordry, Patricia M. Goffette, Louise Harris, Pat Hedwell, Janet Kurjan, Ellin Larimer, Barbara Nepom, and Janet Steadman.