Ellen Lindner: Art & Creativity

The Southern Accents exhibit opened this past weekend in Melbourne, FL, and it’s awesome!

Walking in, I was stopped in my tracks by Barbara Watler’s huge Croton Leaf.  At approximately 10′ high, it REALLY makes an impression!  It’s heavily stitched, which can be appreciated from the second floor mezzanine.  (Which is where this photo was taken.)

Click any image for a larger view

Turning to climb the stairs I stopped again.  What was that?  Could it be?

Yes!  My piece, Crotons, was hanging at the top of the stairs!  What a wonderful prominent position!  (The installation gals at the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts do a fabulous job, so I’m guessing it’s no coincidence that two large croton pieces flank the entry space.)

Here’s a better shot, although we couldn’t quite get a straight on photo.

And right next to it was my piece, Crisscross.  

It was inspired by a photo taken in the botanical gardens immediately adjacent to the museum.

Continuing through the gallery, there were lots of delightful pieces, as well as many of the makers.  It was great fun to meet them and talk with them.

Check out Jayne Gaskins with her Land of Cotton.   It’s spectacular!  And it’s made even more so by something that doesn’t show in this photo:  it’s 3D!  Those cotton bolls stick out at least 2″.

Here’s Nancy “Kay” Smith with her piece, Light the Way to St. Augustine.

Michele Sanandajian’s Floridian Splendor was huge.  Each petal is made of many little pieces of fabric, and shiny bits.

Lisa-Marie Sander’s piece, The Making of a Fossil, speaks to dying sea grass and how it affects the animal habitats.  I’m not sure you can tell in this photo, but the bottom fish is just bones.

Marianne Williamson’s Low Tide is collaged, painted, and heavily stitched – in her usual style.  The results of very painterly.

Feeling Energized, by Marti Plager, was one of my favorites.  It’s about the energy she feels as she takes a walk on a perfect day.  I can feel it!

I also really enjoyed Tide Pools, by Sandra Townsend Donabed.  This is a detail shot.  The yo-yos represent barnacles.  Perfect, I think.

Here’s a detail image of another quilt.  This one is Carolina Star, by Elaine Tanner.  Weaving pine needles is a common craft in South Carolina, where she lives, and she has used them as her primary design element.  Beads and quilting complete it.

As you can see, this is QUITE the exhibit!  It runs through late August and I hope you get to see it in person.  If not, consider purchasing the catalog, which is only $13, with shipping.  It shows all 60+ quilts, including those by big name quilters like Hollis Chatelain and Arturo Sandoval.

Ellen Lindner
P.S.  If you have trouble with the catalog purchase link, go to www.saqa.com, then SAQA store and SAQA Publications.  The catalog is at the bottom of that page.
P.P.S.  And the hits just keep on coming:  Crisscross has just sold!