UPCOMING EXHIBIT GUIDELINES

For The Love of Books”—a traveling exhibit to begin with an exhibit at the Bluebonnet Library in Baton Rouge in November and December 2018. 

* Pieces in this exhibit will portray a book title or images evoked by a book.  

* Pieces need to be 10”x12” (total finished size, including any borders, mats, etc.), 

* Pieces need to be portrait orientation, and rigid mounted. (they will be mounted on shelves rather than being hung)  

* Small 3D items can also be included. 

*  Pieces need to be submitted at the August meeting. 

*  The title of the book needs to be included with the submitted work. 

Hidden Dreams

See the article about our September/October show at the Livingston Parish Arts Council here

Photos of exhibit pieces are available here

THEMES AND CHALLENGES FOR 2018

FROM YVONNE BAYHAM:

 
Next theme:  For our second quarter of 2018

 

Journeys:  Remember This

 

Use Souvenirs  (including FABRIC) in your piece, or

 

Use Memorabilia  --Cardboard Coasters,  Coffee Cup sleeves, Name tags (think of the museum tags in piece at State Capitol)

 

Use Sample packs, freebies

 

Use Maps/ pamphlets, etc

.

Use Found Objects—shells, rocks, beach glass, driftwood, pinecones, shiny objects, Mardi Gras throws

 

Use Ideas!!  Visits to galleries, exhibits, shows, etc. and the work they inspire

 

Class projects and skills learned

 

Photos

 

Be inspired by a historical, mythical, or legendary journey.  Thing of classic literature, fairy tales, fables, and so on

Make a fabric postcard piece, or a map

 

Portray a memorable event or experience from a journey, or a lesson learned.

Upcoming theme and challenges:

First some words about the themes and challenges in general:    IN NO WAY ARE THE THEMES INTENDED TO PROMOTE CONFORMITY OR TO LIMIT AN ARTIST!!  Rather, they are meant to promote innovation and creativity, to push us to do something different or to do things in a different way.

View the themes with a wide open mind. 

Interpret them loosely.  Or interpret them literally.

Be serious.  Or be humorous.

Share the theme with friends or family.  Ask them what they think of in respect to the theme.  Ask a young child.  They come up with some really creative answers.   

Work backwards….this is yet another way to promote creativity.  If you have a piece you want to do, think of a way to tie it into the theme.  Maybe add a new element, an embellishment, try a new technique.  The brainstorming to “make it fit” becomes a creative exercise in and of itself. 

The themes also add a level of enjoyment and reflection to viewers.  As an example, I visited the CFAL exhibit at the Old State Capital multiple times, with different groups.  It was interesting to hear the comments as viewers searched for the tie-in to text.  Almost like a scavenger hunt.  The theme is also thought-provoking to the viewer as they think of how they might interpret the art work not only on its own, but also in relation to the theme.  And the theme helps them to connect the art piece to their own experiences. 

Our Theme for 2018 will be “Journeys”.  My thoughts include

 actual journeys, both big and small.  Exciting trips, short day trips, road trips with friends and family, cruises, visits to Quilt shows!!! 

Journeys I have yet to make, a sort of bucket list of trips and experiences

Metaphorical Journeys… our journey as an artist, as a partner or parent, a career journey, a spiritual journey, a journey of perseverance and recovery from a personal challenge (like an illness or natural disaster….like a flood), and so on

Journeys we have witnessed--  the growth of a loved one, the journey of women or other minorities within our society and culture, space journeys, ocean exploration journeys, and so on. 

Imaginary journeys  I think of Dr. Seuss here as well as other wonderful children’s authors

Feel free to add others, and to share with the group if you are so inclined.

The challenge for our first quarter of 2018 will be “Enter here”.  I think of doors, gates, archways, passages, windows (sneaking in and out maybe), walkways, “You are now entering……” signs, stairs, and so on.  I also think of things like the line of oaks in front of some plantation homes, the statues that guard entrances of some homes or even living sentries. 

I think of entrance ceremonies, like the bride walking down the aisle to enter into her journey as a wife, the football team running through the goal posts and onto the field to enter the next game, parents and children on the first day of school as they both begin the  new journey of school, baptism and other religious ceremonies that signal the start of a new journey of faith.

I think also of starting points.  What started your journey as an artist? Your spiritual journey? Your career? The onset of a challenge like a flood or diagnosis of an illness.  A class that taught a new skill or the meeting of a new friend or partner that opened up a new journey for you. 

Again, I want to emphasize that these are just ideas.  Please feel free to add your own ideas.  Just deciding what to do is a creative exercise!

And a heads up:  The theme for the second quarter will be “Remember This”.  Think photos, memorabilia, souvenirs, special memories, etc.  More ideas will be sent out later.  Feel free to send along your own ideas. 

The last two quarters have not yet been decided.  Some of my ideas are “The Road Not Taken”, “Rising to the Challenges”, “Forks in the Road”, “Getting There”, and “Coming Home”.  Please feel free to share your thoughts about these ideas. Also, please share any ideas of your own!!!

Next exhibit

Hidden Dreams                           Theme for next CFAL show      September/October 2017


The theme is meant to INSPIRE creativity, not limit creativity.  Below are some suggestions.  Please realize these are just suggestions and by no means represent all of the ways to interpret and represent the theme.

1.  Abstract dream scape--fantasy-like, whimsical, representative of a more serious or even disturbing dream;

2.  The dreams we hold hidden for those we love.....parents, partners, children, friends;

3.  The dreams we hold hidden for ourselves--small, like a day of peace and quiet, a dream vacation, or large and serious;

4.  Unfinished Objects.....until it is finished, the dream or vision that inspired the piece remains at least partially hidden.

5.   Animal dreams.....for example, think of a dog moving his legs while he is dreaming.

6.  Recurring theme or symbol from our own dreams;

7.  Rituals, special items etc. related to dreams--the dream pouches that Donna shared with us at our last meeting, dream catchers, etc.

8.  Obstacles to realizing our dreams--within ourselves, social justice issues that oppress or repress entire groups of people, forcing them to keep dreams hidden;

9.  Role models who have paved the way for others to pursue their own hidden dreams, bring them into reality instead of keeping them hidden.

10.  A peek into the dreams of others (I think of the wonderful photo of the fly at our last meeting, and the saying....."If I could be a fly on the wall".....spy into the hidden worlds of others.....)

Have fun.  Let your imagination soar......This is by no means an all-inclusive list!!!

The entry form/and hanging guidelines are posted under Calls for Entry and Exhibition Guidelines.  

Next exhibit

The CFAL exhibit of fiber art with text opens at the State Capitol on January 17 2017, with a reception on Saturday 21st from 1 pm to 3 pm. The exhibit at 100 North Boulevard in Baton Rouge closes on March 18 2017. Call 342-0500 for specific event hours on your visiting day.

Entry guidelines for Old State Capitol exhibit updated

See the tab Calls for Entry and Exhibition Guidelines  for the updated form. The link is at the bottom of that page as well as here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/to0b7zz4sm6taa4/updated%20111016%20Old%20State%20Capital%20exhibit%20entry%20form%20%281%29.pdf?dl=0

Classes for October and November

We have two fabulous classes scheduled and I know you'll want to sign up for BOTH!!

Lucy Landry is going to teach Selfies on Saturday, October 29, 2016.  See the UPCOMING CLASS INFORMATION tab for her overview of the class.  Use applique, applique with machine embroidery, hand embroidery - whatever you can come up with!  It sounds fabulous!!!

Katy Prescott will teach a follow-up class to her off-loom weaving on Saturday, November 12, 2016.  I know lots of people wanted to do more and here's your chance.  If you missed the first class, try this one!

Both classes will be held at the Co-op Bookstore and will last the whole day with a break for lunch.

Please respond to me by e-mail and let me know if you'd like to sign up for one class or BOTH!!

Hope to see you all soon.

Alison Cook

VP, Programs 

vulturewoman@gmail.com

Meeting Date and Location Change

Hope everyone is doing okay after the last few weeks following the flooding. We are going to have a CFAL meeting on September 18 at 1pm at the CoOp Bookstore in Baton Rouge. Please bring anything that you want to share with group. If you took the Mary Hettsmanberger class please bring what you worked on in class and anything you finished.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Bebe Tulley

President 

estate sale for Penny Nichols

from Jane Olson Phillips: the estate sale for Penny Nichols is Friday and Saturday (August 26 and 27). I have no idea what there will be for sale, but since she was into fabrics and painting, there might be things CFAL members would like. It is in Magnolia Woods, next to Kenilworth. Information should be in the newspaper.

Message from Bebe, meeting cancelled

Hello, I know communication is down in a lot of places. If you can let us know how you are doing? Please let us know if you need help. Praying for all.

Denham Springs is flooded as you know. Mary Felder had to evacuate. Please pray for her.  I'm sure the Arts Council of Livingston Parish was affected.I think we will have to cancel meeting and regroup when this emergency is over.

Glenda Spikes, I need to contact you or your mother about 10 Years of the Swamp.

Please communicate with me as soon as possible so I can keep track of you all.

Concerned

Bebe Tulley

bbtulley@yahoo.com