Wednesday, July 8, 2015 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
23
Quilt show week kicks off with art stroll
By Jim Cornelius
News Editor
Folks turned out in big
numbers on Sunday to rock
around the block in Sisters
during the annual fiber arts
stroll that officially kicks off
Quilt Show week.
At 28 locations around
town, fiber artists of all kinds
— from felted-fiber artists
to makers of prayer flags,
fabric painters to bookmak-
ers — showed their work and
interacted with visitors. That
interaction is a key feature of
the Around the Block Fiber
Arts Stroll.
“I think it’s so great that
you’re doing a live demo,”
said one visitor to Jean Wells
as she worked at Twigs with
her partner, Judy Hoiness.
The quilt show founder
and her artist friend collabo-
rated to create mixed-media
wall art.
“We get together and I
bring fabric and she brings
paper and we just start throw-
ing things together,” Wells
photo by JiM corneliuS
Myrna dow demonstrated fabric-wrapped mattes.
said. “You’re working with
another person’s ideas and it’s
really fun.”
Myrna Dow was holding
forth at Beacham’s Clock
We get together and
I bring fabric and she
brings paper and we just
start throwing things
together. you’re working
with another person’s
ideas and it’s really fun.
— Jean Wells
Co., describing her hand-
wrapped fabric mattes. Dow
is an expert in matting paint-
ings and has won numerous
awards for her conventional
matting work. Fabric matting
is both a form of personal
expression and a key part of
her framing business.
As the description implies,
Dow wraps the mattes in fab-
ric and adheres them with
glue and a press. Fabric mat-
ting offers a wide and vivid
palette of colors and textures
to set off a piece of featured
photo by JiM corneliuS
Jean Wells discusses her mixed-media work with a visitor during the
Around the Block Fiber Arts Stroll.
art.
busy while being peppered
“I started my first one with with questions from patrons
the Quilt Show poster,” she — most of whom are artists in
recalled. “It was (poster art- their own right. The weather
ist) Dennis McGregor’s hand. was hot, but it didn’t keep
I found fabric that worked people down. Quilt Show
really well with the poster Executive Director Jeanette
and wrapped the mattes.”
Pilak told The Nugget that
She was so pleased with the turnout was strong — far
the results that she adopted more than last year.
the technique for other work,
Many visitors are com-
especially when the featured ing for the whole week
work has bright colors.
before Quilt Show to take
“If you have a lot of color, classes and enjoy the pre-
a regular matte is always show events, including the art
going to look dull,” she stroll. Like the visitors, the
said. “It (fabric matting) just artists find the week exciting
gives a much richer tone and and inspiring.
quality.”
“It’s so good,” Dow said.
Artists kept their hands “I love this week.”
Quilt Raffl e
for
FURRY FRIEND S
501 ( c )( 3 )
FOUNDATION
The third-annual Furry Friends quilt raffl e art quilt,
“No! No!,” was designed and pieced by Valerie
Fercho-Tillery. The intricate detail and mischievous
subjects make this a quilt you’d love to bring home.
The quilt is currently on display at
The Nugget offi ce, 442 E. Main Ave.
Bring your pup by for a dog cookie and have a look!
Tickets may be purchased at
The Nugget offi ce or online at our website,
www.furryfriendsfoundation.org.
Drawing will be held Monday, September 7, 2015.
100% of the proceeds go to Furry Friends Foundation.
Tickets are $1 each, six for $5 or
go for it, 25 for $20.
Info: 541-549-9941
“No, No!” by by Valerie Fercho-Tillery | 44" x 62"