Artful Thoughts

Street Walking for Brownies

2011-05-09T13:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to an auction in Sun City, a perfect Mother's Day activity if you are in the mood to look for a green depression glass cake plate on the (hopefully) cheap. There's always treasure found amongst the box lots, whether it be Coca-Cola glasses from a past promotion or a red store scale with a candy scoop and ALL of its weights.

But before I even stepped foot on the asphalt of this collectibles wonderland, I spied a file card on a small square of ground outside the establishment's fence. Could it be that a recipe card had survived the fray that happens at the close of each week's auction? People toss stuff out from their bounty, eager to grab their treasure and to forget the rest. In their haste to rush home to list findings on Craig's List or ebay, things fall, blow, and otherwise make their way to the next life via dumpsters and the elements.

In short order I was close enough to see that the little card was NOT blank, and it beckoned me with the word "brownies." I looked the card over from a speculative height. No creases, no stains, and, remarkably, no weather damage. A small smudge at the top looked pretty innocent. It was if it had been dropped there just for me, a mid-century set of instructions for succulent dessert: Apple Orange Brownies.

I bent and picked it up, still wondering about its weeklong and other travels. Then I decided with the speed of an experienced bidder not to let it get away. It was a treasure. To preserve it, I stuffed it among papers in my purse and walked like a satisfied winner to claim my bid card for the day's activities behind the fence.

The dear lady who wrote the recipe out did not sign her name or give a source, just left behind a most tempting set of ingredients and easy directions. She might have been writing it out for her own daughter or a niece. It is written in the mid-century style of my mother, my aunts, and yes, even me who learned to love the craft that once went along with everything we did. Things like handwriting out a recipe in pencil on a single file card, both sides filled to capacity with everything you need to know. It it's not there, you should have been paying more attention in the kitchen when it was cooked in front of you, after all.

So, from me to you, here is a treasured Mother's Day find, delivered in the most modern of ways via my blog, but with the grace and good taste of a 1950s mom.

Apple Orange Brownies
2/3 cup margarine
2 cups brown sugar
1 - 8 oz. can (1 cup) applesauce
2 eggs
1 tbsp grated orange peel
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups sifted flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp baking soda

Melt butter or margarine, remove from heat.
Add brown sugar, stir till blended, cool.
Beat in applesauce, eggs, orange peel and vanilla.
Sift flour, baking powder, salt and soda.
Stir into applesauce mixture.
Stir in nuts.
Spread in greased 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 inch baking pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
Makes 48 brownies

Of course, you know she means Farenheit. What you don't know is that along with the recipe, the red scale with all the weights, the green cake plate and a perfect set of White Rotary sewing machine attachments in a black tin came home with me, too. Not so cheap, but I had already won the best thing at the auction before I even walked in: a good story.

A glimpse into the AQXV exhibtion

2010-09-17T08:42:00.000-07:00

Hello All,
I want to show off Terry Jarrard-Dimond's work, Corner Office, which was selected as the image for the AQXV promotional postcard. Enjoy! The post below this lists the selected artists.

Diane Howell

Art Quilts XV: Needleplay Selected Artists Announced

2010-09-16T12:28:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to all of the artists selected for Art Quilts XV: Needleplay, which will be installed at the Chandler Center for the Arts and Vision Gallery. This year 95 works were chosen from artists living in the United States and Canada. Following are the artists' names and abbreviated titles of the selected works. This list is being posted so everyone will know what to prepare for shipping and what is available for other shows; it should not be construed as the first draft for wall tags or other promotional uses. The gallery will send more information to accepted artists regarding shipping and key deadlines.

Further congratulations to Terry Jarrard-Dimond, whose work Corner Office was selected as the image for this year's promotional postcard.

It's been exciting to jury these pieces into BOTH venues this year. The final determination of where each piece will be installed is not yet available.

Art Quilts XV: Needleplay
Selected Artists

Fran Cowen Adler
Circle; Semblance

Barbara Hall
For the Grandmothers

Sandra Branjord
Poem Fish

Shelley Baird
Cloth Mother Wire Mother; Twin Dreams

Adriene Buffington
Mojito; Rejected Redeemed

Betty Busby
Flow; Fungia

Lisa Call
Structures 97; Structures 99

Benedicte Caneill
Units 9; Units 14

Erika Carter
Orchid

Deanna Charlton
Self Portrait

Lisa Chipetine
Tunnel Vision; Target

Susanne Clawson
Hot, Hot, Hot

Gerrie Congdon
Sunset Composition; Scorched Earth

Denise A. Currier
Midsection; Rhythm Incline

Jennifer Day
Elegant Edibles

Marcia DeCamp
Jacob’s Coat; Jet Trails

Linda Engstrom
Web

Laurie Fagen
Art Feeds Your Dreams

Aniko Feher
Jerusalem Shadows; Kati

Susan Garrity
Fire, Trees and Water; One in Nine

Claire Gimber
Black Oil Blue Day; Tattoo Bird

A. Carole Grant
Dream

Virginia Greaves
Duodocin

Nancy Graves-Green
String Theory

Cindy Grisdela
Playing With Colors

Maude Haeger
Thinking Outside the Box III

Betty Hahn
Anticipation

Gloria Hansen
Blush Tri-4; Witley Decay

Georgia Heller
Saint Maries

Anne Hiemstra
In the Park

Terry Jarrard-Dimond
Corner Office; Joy and Sorrow; She Came Undone

Kathleen Kastles
Texting in the Food Court; Maury with Julia in the Kitchen; Akai

Sherry Kleinman
Date Night Drive In; Rehearsal

Terry Kramzar
Ravens 3; Leaves

Deborah Lacativa
Serpent of the Grove

Gay E.Lasher
Buffalo; Gunfight; Defending

Eileen Lauterborn
Writing on the Wall

Jill Le Croisette
Apart; Lost

Susan Lenz
Born an Angel; On Earth a Bud

Denise Linet
Random Thoughts; Random Ascent

Kathy Nida
Watch Me Go

Diane G. Nunez
Magic Box

Martha (Marti) Plager
Pages 1; Pages 2; Pages 5

Elaine Quehl
Forgiveness; Losses 2

Wen Redmond
Seeing Through the Fog; Capturing Moments

Sue Reno
Watt & Shand #7; Watt & Shand #10

Susanne M. Riggio
Five Star Sudoku

Lora Rocke
One Last Look

Elizabeth Rosenberg
Venetian Lace 1; Venetian Lace 2

Christine Sauer
Red House; Echo

Sandra Sider
On the Road: Road Rage; On the Road: High Water

Linda Syverson Guild
Architect

Hank Tusinski
Groucho; Carmen Miranda

Marilyn H. Wall
Love 2

Carol Ann Waugh
Fireworks

Barb Wills
Landmarks #34

Julie Zaccone Stiller
Woven Rainbow; Three Strikes

Vivien J. Zepf
Handprint II

Heidi Zielinski
Blackberries and Dandelions

Jury This Week

2010-09-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
The jury for AQXV: Needleplay was delayed. I will let everyone know the accepted artists by the end of the week. Thank you for your patience.
Diane

ART QUILTS XV Deadline extended...yippee!

2010-09-04T22:49:00.000-07:00

Due to the holiday weekend, we are extending the deadline for entries until Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 5 p.m. Thanks to everyone who has entered so far, and I hope the extension gives others time to find their best work to share with for the jury.

-- Diane

Art Quilts XV: Needleplay

2010-06-12T00:09:00.001-07:00

Hello all,
Here is the call for the next edition of Art Quilts in Chandler, Arizona. We have some key changes this year, so please read carefully. I look forward to seeing your entries, and more to seeing them up in our downtown Chandler venues -- that's right venues! This year we have one show in two different galleries.

-- Diane

ART QUILTS XV: NEEDLEPLAY
Chandler Center for the Arts & Vision Gallery
Chandler, AZ
November 5, 2010, through January 15, 2011

Entry Deadline: Friday, September 3, 2010Art Quilts XV: Needleplay will create a retrospective of today’s art-quilt world in all its diversity. This year’s theme encourages you to enter works at the top of your artistic game. Have you made a study of the games people play? Have you conquered unusual color combinations? Do your stitches skip across the surface of your piece? Does your entry compel us to stop and look, to challenge how we think about winning and losing? Submit your best original pieces to this juried competition for the opportunity to be part of our annual Art Quilts exhibition.

Art Quilts has grown from a local and regional quilt show to a respected vehicle for contemporary works. The exhibition draws entries from around the world and allows thousands of visitors each year to experience quilting as an art form. This
year, the exhibition is once again expected to be one of the finest collections of art quilts in the Southwest. The Chandler Arts Commission will review the exhibition for a potential purchase of artworks for inclusion in the City of Chandler's Public Art Collection.

The exhibition is presented by the Chandler Cultural Foundation. It will be displayed at both the Chandler Center for the Arts and nearby in Vision Gallery’s new home, the community’s new City Hall facility. The exhibition is overseen and installed by the City of Chandler's visual arts staff, housed at Vision Gallery. It is juried by Diane Howell.

ELIGIBILITY
Quilt artists who want to share their art with a broad based arts audience are invited to enter. Two or more people may have worked on the pieces. The works must not have been previously displayed at the Chandler Center for the Arts or other downtown Chandler venue. Works should have been completed within the last three years. Works must be original designs, not created from patterns or in a workshop where the work product is heavily influenced by the teacher’s patterns or style. Wearable art and works less than 10" wide will not be accepted. Also, the number of accepted works in excess of 48” in width will be limited this year.

JURY FEE There is a non-refundable fee of $25 to enter up to 3 works. No entries will be considered without payment of this fee. Make checks payable to Vision Gallery or contact the gallery with credit card information. Accepted images will be retained for the archives and possible use in future promotions or catalog production. Slides and CDs will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope with correct postage.

SHIPPING/DELIVERY
All delivery and shipping costs are the responsibility of the artist. To ensure your shipping and insurance needs are met when we ship your quilt(s) back to you, we ask you to include a FILLED OUT return-shipping form with pieces sent to Arizona for installation. This does not mean you must pay for shipping in advance. We are requesting you include a form with your shipping account number on it (this is NOT your credit card) so we can efficiently process shipping at the end of the show. A completed label saves us LOTS of time.

If you are new to shipping, the easiest way to do this is to go online and open a free account with FedEx. Postage stamps will NOT be accepted as payment for shipping. More detailed shipping info will be included in communication to accepted artists. Please remember we cannot predict what shipping–company franchisees across the country will state as “rules” for return shipping. The bottom line is: Do not prepay outrageously high fees to get a return form/label from a shipping company. If someone tries to charge you several times what you are paying to ship to Arizona, we’ll find another way to get your quilt back to you.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
The above rules are for U.S. artists. While shipping costs remain the responsibility of the artist, accepted international entries are handled on an individual basis to assure efficient and cost-effective return delivery.

INSURANCE
Works are insured while on display at the Chandler Center for the Arts and Vision Gallery, but not before or after. Please insure your works through other means for these time periods.

ENTRY RULES
For each $25 fee, you may submit up to 3 artworks on slides, a CD or via email. There is NO form, but entries MUST be accompanied by the following information:

1. Your name, email address (included with your other contact info), physical mailing address and day and evening phone numbers.
2. For each submitted work, include a full and detail view. You may submit images on 35mm slides or as digital jpeg images. Digital images should have a minimum 300 dpi resolution for an approximate picture size of 3 x 4 inches. The digital images can be either on a CD or submitted via email to vision.gallery@chandleraz.gov
3. With each image, the name of the artist(s) and title of the quilt must be included. Title digital files so that this guideline is followed; you may abbreviate information so that it fits. Example: leaf1detqartist.jpg would indicate “Leaf 1” detail view by Quilt Artist. In the case of slides, write artist name and title, and indicate TOP on the slide frame.

4. A separate list, or document file, describing the images needs to provided, to include: artist(s) name(s), quilt title(s), dimensions (width x height), types of fabrics/materials used and a short statement about the piece(s).

5. Statement declaring whether or not photos may be used and/or taken to promote current and future shows, including on a promotional postcard, on the Internet, in brochures and a possible catalog. One image will be chosen for use on a promotional postcard. If you give permission for these uses, you also give full permission to use image(s) of your work(s) and your artist’s statement(s) without payment or royalties. During the exhibition, the Chandler Center for the Arts and Vision Gallery limit photography to the Center staff, juror, select media and artists taking photos of their own work(s).

6. Statement declaring insurance value(s) and, if you want to sell your work(s), sale price(s). A 50 percent gallery commission will be charged on all sales, so remember to state sale prices that include that percentage.

DEADLINES Entries (not the quilts) are due by 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, 2010, either by email at vision.gallery@chandleraz.gov or by delivery to Vision Gallery, 80 S. San Marcos, Chandler, AZ 85225. A list of accepted artists will be posted on www.visiongallery.org, www.chandlercenter.org and sweeteasyfeeling.blogspot.com by midnight on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010. Correspondence to accepted artists will follow.

Completed quilts accepted into the exhibition must be delivered by Friday, Oct. 15, 2010. The delivery address will be given to accepted artists. For ease of installation, quilts must have top and bottom sleeves appropriate to their sizes. These sleeves should be at least large enough for 2-inch slats. If your piece has a hanging system other than a sleeve, please contact Vision Gallery prior to entering to ensure it will be compatible with the gallery’s hanging requirements. Please provide slats unless they will not fit in your shipping box.

Quilts from local artists MUST be picked up at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 North Arizona Avenue, Chandler, AZ on the day the exhibit is taken down, unless other arrangements have been made. Accepted artists will be notified of take-down date. Nonlocal works will be shipped; see Shipping/Delivery subhead for details.

GALLERY HOURS
Vision Gallery hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Chandler Center for the Arts hours are Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays noon – 4 p.m. In addition, Chandler Center for the Arts patrons enjoy the artworks before shows and during intermissions. Vision Gallery patrons will view the works in the evenings that special events are scheduled at the facility. Call 480.917.6859 for holiday hours at either gallery space.

QUESTIONS
Contact Eric Faulhaber at 480-917-6859, eric.faulhaber@chandleraz.gov

Or Diane Howell, sdihowell@aol.com

2009-10-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Here are the accepted artists for Art Quilts XIV: Significant Stitching, and a sneak peek at the image for the promotional postcard. The postcard image, shown above, is "I Spy" by Lora Rocke. It's the perfect balance of message and significant stitching.

Thanks to everyone who entered. This was a very difficult show to judge, for the theme truly spoke to you in your own unique ways. The result is a show with vertical lines (often in the form of trees) a concentration on moving forward and colors to fill a rainbow, yet with a fascination toward black, green and blue. It will be a show that's talked about, to be sure as the works deal with death, loss of job, change and sin and redemption. Then there's the fun factor, too, provided by artists such as Deb Lacativa.

The competition was particularly tough this year, with new participants adding their talents to the challenge. No one should feel bad about not getting in. I can't tell you how hard my job was, and how I miss some of the quilts that didn't make it.

A letter to accepted artists with shipping details will follow tomorrow evening. It will be delivered to individual email addresses.

Again, thank you for a good turnout and a great show.

-- Diane Howell

Art Quilts XIV: Significant Stitching

Artists Roster

Pamela Allen
Pat Budge

Betty Busby

Benedicte Caneill

Lisa Chipetine

Gerrie Congdon

Denise Currier

Marcia DeCamp

Linda Engstrom

Marilyn Gillis

Claire Gimber

Ginny Greaves

Betty Hahn

Marla Hattabaugh

Margaret Hunt

Peg Keeney

Cathy Kleeman

Deb Lacativa

Linda Laird

Eileen Lauterborn

Linda McCurry

A. Munoz

Sylvia Naylor

Sharon Nemirov

Kathy Nida

Marti Plager

Christine Predd

Elaine Quehl

Suzanne Riggio

Lora Rocke

Norma Schlager

Brenda Smith

Mary Ruth Smith

Sarah Smith

Virginia Spiegel

Cynthia St. Charles

Margarete Steinhauer

Carol Suto

Glen Taylor

June Underwood

Barb Wills

2009-10-05T19:18:00.000-07:00

SOON is the answer to your question, which of course is: When is that woman going to post the accepted artists for AQXIV?

Blogger wasn't letting me sign on, and after about the 500th time of typing the same info into the little blanks, here I am! I don't know what the deal was with my fingers or the system, but my next post tonight will be the accepted artists.

I will try to stay signed on so I don't spend another few hours getting back on...the technological things always happen during this week. It's like clockwork.

Thanks!

Art Quilts XIV: Significant Stitching Call Is Here

2009-07-14T18:10:00.000-07:00

The call for Art Quilts XIV: Signigicant Stitching at the Chandler Center for the Arts has been going out, but here it is in an easy-to-find spot -- my blog!

Remember, there is no form to fill out. Just follow the entry guidelines to provide requested information and images. Odd as it seems, when there was a form, people made up their own anyway. Yes, it's true.

-- Diane

ART QUILTS XIV: SIGNIFICANT STITCHING
Chandler Center for the Arts
Chandler, AZ
November 20, 2009, through January 2, 2010
Entry Deadline: September 25, 2009

Art Quilts XIV: Significant Stitching will create a retrospective of today’s art-quilting world with all of its diversity. This year’s theme encourages you to explore what makes your work significant. Is it the statement your piece makes? Is it quilting lines made meaningful by placement? Surface design which speaks to the soul? Amazing quilting or appliqué? Submit your most significant work to this annual exhibition of contemporary artworks, once again expected to offer one of the finest collections of art quilts on display in the Southwest.

Art Quilts has grown from a local and regional quilt show to a respected vehicle for contemporary works. The exhibition draws entries from around the world and allows thousands of visitors each year to experience quilting as an art form.

The exhibition is produced and juried by Diane Howell and is presented by the Chandler Center for the Arts. It is overseen and installed by the City of Chandler's visual arts staff, housed at Vision Gallery in downtown Chandler.

ELIGIBILITY
Quilt artists who want to share their art with a broad-based arts audience are invited to enter. Two or more people may have worked on the pieces. The works must not have been previously displayed at the Chandler Center for the Arts or other downtown Chandler venue. Works should have been completed within the last three years. Wearable art and works less than 10" wide will not be accepted.

JURY FEE
There is a non-refundable fee of $25 to enter up to 3 works. No entries will be considered without payment of this fee. Make checks payable to Diane Howell or remit through PayPal to sdihowell@cox.net. Accepted images will be retained for the archives and possible catalog production; slides and CDs will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope with correct postage.

SHIPPING/DELIVERY
All delivery and shipping costs are the responsibility of the artist. To ensure your shipping and insurance needs are met when we ship your quilt(s) back to you, we ask you to include a FILLED OUT return-shipping form with pieces sent to Arizona for installation. This does not mean you must pay for shipping in advance. We are requesting you include a form with your shipping account number on it (this is NOT your credit card) so we can efficiently process shipping at the end of the show. A filled-out label saves us LOTS of time.

If you are new to shipping, the easiest way to do this is to go online and open a free account with FedEx. Postage stamps will NOT be accepted as payment for shipping. More detailed shipping info will be included in communication to accepted artists. Please remember we cannot predict what shipping –company franchisees across the country will state as “rules” for return shipping, but we are always able to find a solution to return shipping. In the Phoenix area alone, I have had different franchisees a mere six miles apart quote me different “rules.” I also cannot predict what price I will be charged to ship to you; often the return price is different from the send price, even from the U.S. Post Office.

The bottom line is: Do not prepay outrageously high fees to get a return label. That is not the goal here. If someone tries to charge you several times what you are paying to ship to me, that’s not right and we’ll find another way to get your quilt back to you.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
The above rules are for U.S. artists. While shipping costs remain the responsibility of the artist, accepted international entries are handled on an individual basis to assure an efficient and cost-effective delivery system.

INSURANCE
Works are insured while on display at the Chandler Center for the Arts, but not before or after.

ENTRY RULES
For each $25 fee, you may submit up to 3 works on slides, a CD or via email. There is NO form, but entries MUST be accompanied by the following information:

1. Your name, email address (typed along with your other contact info), physical mailing address and day and evening phone numbers.

2. For each submitted work, include a full and detail view. You may submit images on 35mm slides or as digital jpeg images. Digital images should have a minimum 300 dpi resolution for an approximate picture size of 3 x 4 inches. The digital images can be either on a CD or submitted via email to sdihowell@cox.net. With each image, the name of the artist(s) and title of the quilt must be included. Please title digital files so that this guideline is followed, even if in an abbreviated manner. Example: leaf1dethowell.jpg would indicate “Leaf 1” detail view by Diane Howell. In the case of slides, write artist name and title, and indicate TOP on the slide frame.

3. A separate list or document file describing the images needs to provided, to include: artist(s) name(s), quilt title(s), dimensions (width x height), types of fabrics/materials used and a short statement about the piece(s).

4. Statement declaring whether or not photos may be taken to promote current and future shows, including on the Web and in a possible catalog. One image will be chosen for use on a promotional postcard. In addition, this year a CD catalog MAY be produced. If accepted, and you give permission to use your images, you also give full permission to use image(s) of your work(s) and your artist’s statement(s) in this publication without payment or royalties. During the exhibition, the Chandler Center for the Arts limits photography to the show organizer, media and artists taking photos of their own work(s).

5. Statement declaring insurance value(s) and, if you want to sell your work(s), sale price(s). A 40 percent gallery commission will be charged on all sales, so remember to state sale prices that include that percentage.

DEADLINES
Entries (not the quilts) are due by midnight, Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, either by email at sdihowell@cox.net or by delivery to Diane Howell (address provided upon request). A list of accepted artists will be posted on sweeteasyfeeling.blogspot.com by Monday, Oct. 5, 2009. Email correspondence to accepted artists will follow.

Completed quilts accepted into the exhibition must be delivered by Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. The delivery address will be given to accepted artists. For ease of installation, quilts must have top and bottom sleeves appropriate to their sizes. These sleeves should be at least large enough for 2-inch slats. If your piece has a hanging system other than a sleeve, please contact Diane Howell prior to entering to ensure it will be compatible with the gallery’s hanging requirements.
Quilts from local artists MUST be picked up at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, AZ, on the day the show is taken down. Accepted artists will be notified of take-down date. Nonlocal works will be shipped; see Shipping/Delivery subhead for details.

GALLERY HOURS
Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and Saturday, noon-4 p.m. In addition, Chandler Center for the Arts patrons enjoy the works before shows and during intermissions. Call 480.917.6859 for holiday hours.

QUESTIONS?
Contact Diane Howell at sdihowell@cox.net

2008-12-14T21:31:00.000-08:00

This weekend judge Jerry Jacobson and I viewed Art Quilts XIII: Lucky Break so he could select the winners in the judged portion of the show. Jerry is an abstract artist who has long been a fan of the AQ exhibitions, and who enjoys viewing the best the show has to offer. His definition of the best? When the quilting techniques add to wonderful composition and skill.

It is only logical then that he bestowed first place on Sedona III by Marilyn Gillis of Vermont. This marvelous piece displays an expert's control of dyeing techniques in a wholecloth work heightened by quilting and beadwork. It is neither overworked or understated. It is by any definition, just right.

Second place was captured by Linda Colsh of Belgium for Drawing on the Mist (also selected for the promotional postcard).

Third place was awarded to Terri Nichols of Wisconson for Mask of Self, her first entry into a national show.

Congratulations all around!

2008-11-20T20:44:00.001-08:00

Here are the first four photographs from opening night at the Art Quilts XIII: Lucky Break exhibition in Chandler, Arizona. We created lots of physical "breaks" with the movable wall units this year, giving the viewers a variety of groupings to explore and inviting them to find what lies around the corner. The quilts installed on the flip side of these walls and on the perimeter walls will be available for viewing later.
I've lost track of how to insert captions! The lovely lady by the blue quilt is Benedicte Caneill who came all the way from Larchmont, N.Y. to be with us for opening night.

The Colsh Connection

2008-11-07T00:01:00.001-08:00

Art Quilts XIII: Lucky Break chose this great work by Linda Colsh for its promotional postcard.

A new day!

2008-11-06T22:52:00.001-08:00

Two years ago (possibly four years ago!), I spoke with a young man working in the arts about how valuable a blog can be. I, former newspaper reporter and ex-president of the Arizona Press Club, could not imagine ever needing a blog. What the world needs to retain, I thought, are focused news sources. How could so many opinions floating around the universe by untrained writers be helpful? Who has the time to write all these thoughts or to read them?

Last week, aol took down our Art Quilts website. I failed to recognize whatever email warned of this impending doom. Suddenly, I found myself in need of a communication update. So, now that Art Quilts XIII: Lucky Break is installed, the name tags are made and a vague awareness is in place that unused white gloves are in my house, I am giving blogging a whirl. People need to see pictures of the opening tomorrow night, and google has made it possible for even a technophobe like me to create this tool.

I still have my doubts if anyone reads these things, gets business from these things or actually needs these things, despite all evidence to the contrary. But newspapers are disappearing right and left, if not in actuality in presence. The comfort I found in laying out pages, editing copy and working with the professionals in composing and the press room has almost vanished.

Here's to hope for a new day -- and readers!