Trying to stay within the lines (lanes?) Traffic and Quilts!

This isn't life in the fast lane,

it's life in the oncoming lane. 

~Terry Pratchett

I traveled to Houston this weekend for the International Quilt Festival. Let me just say the quilt festival was overwhelming. Even now it hurts my head to picture the vendors, fabrics, machines and kits. It was visually overstimulating.

The exhibition of quilts was wonderful and somehow comforting and challenging at the same time. A much "calmer scene," there were quilts for everyone - traditionalist and rebel alike. Many called to me, especially the rowdy rebellious ones, as well as, those of wildlife and wilderness (woods, seaside, desert, beetles, butterflies, alligators, foxes, milkweed and more).

Had I really thought about the drive and been aware of the quantity of construction, I might have stayed home. [But the quilts really were worth it.]

Much of the route to the downtown area was under construction and poorly marked. "Nightmare" does not adequately describe it. You don't want to know about directions and cell phone apps. And when we reached downtown  we found MORE chaos as jack hammers and cranes were scattered here and there, sidewalks were blocked, and construction tape nets and tape were hung - orange cobwebs against the grey buildings.

I managed to negotiate the barricades and retreated from the noise. But even now I am shaking my head and finding my shoulders tensing remembering the mess and chaos.

The drive home began so much better. The signs made sense and were posted conveniently (and frequently). But it was Saturday and people were in a hurry. We thought we were well out of trouble as passed the Waller and Hempstead areas west of Houston. But we were still traveling between concrete barriers and found that some (traveling the opposite direction) found it impossible to navigate safely. We saw at least three wrecks...one quite serious and two the kind of chain-reaction fender benders you see when people drive too fast and tailgate. Of course found three "slow downs" reported by the little lady in my phone as the drivers in our lanes had to slow to "rubber neck."

Every time I travel in a city I breathe a sigh of relief upon clearing the "plex" and turn to the countryside. I'm not a country girl, but I am happier in small towns and rural communities well out of the city.

But now that the drives are over (and we made it), how about some quilts? I've already written about some of them. Here are some of my favorites (I'm only sharing the ones for which I can give proper attribution. Sorry. I cannot believe I am saying this, but I didn't have enough time with the quilts):

My friend views Clams by Velda Newman*

Disruption by Deidre Adams*

People in the 2015 Quilt National exhibit area

There were many quilts with photographic images used to stunning effect like Tagged by Patricia Kennedy-Zafred*

Peering Out of the Darkness by Shannon M. Conley*

I loved this graphic work, Harlequin, a trompe l'oeill quilt, by Ana Lisa Hedstrom.* The seemingly pieced pattern is dyed on blocks which are then pieced.

Observers trying to get close enough to see Ms. Hedstrom's work.

 Inge Hueber's Colorscape I from a distance...*

and "up close."

Just viewing these quilts again reinforces the appeal rows and columns has for me. I like patterns - stacks of things - repetition.

But then I also love critters and the environment. A number of the curated exhibits had environmental themes. Some quilters made political statements with the exhibition in which they chose to participate or the subject they chose to illustrate. It has been an amazing  wander through the blogs and websites of the artists (when I found one) whose work caught my eye.**

More quilts:

Home of the Exotic Blue Crow by Diane Wright.

Detail of a "blue crow." I love this little guy.

Detail of Honeybee Armageddon, by Diane Wright. [I had no idea I had two of Diane Wright's works in the camera until now. They were in different challenges/areas of the quilt display.] The bees here were so detailed and some marked with a QR code.

Give Me Back My Home, by Chin-Luan Chen features hermit crabs "homing" in discarded trash. I am writing an article on hermit crabs. Funny how many reminders I found on this trip.

Gown & Lice by Shiow-Meei Gau (included many recycled articles)

Having recently stalked milkweed in the wild, I loved this quilt, Milkweed, No. 1, by Sarah Ann Smith

Susan Carlson is kind of a quilting legend. She had her own exhibit and these were three of her exuberant works I loved:

Exuberance (perfect name)

Fire Beetle

Detail of the enormous traffic stopping Crocodylus Smylus

This guy was the talk of the show.

An exhibit entitled, "Water is Life" stood out because of the variety of work and the message:

Fish for Dinner by Nancy Turbitt

Source of Life by Hollis Chatelain

Detail of No Matter Where It Comes From Water Is Life by Peggy Becker

Another detail from Ms. Becker's work. More photo transfer and amazing quotes.

Heavens! We are "bird people." These are for the birds, I guess:

Jacob's Treasures by Susan Fletcher King

An award winning miniature quilt,  Lifetime Partners by Barbara McKie

A Pair of Cranes Flying into the Rising Sun by Keiko Morita

Okay, back to columns/rows and patterns and a reminder I have work to do (culling the library):

On the Same Page by Linda Anderson

NOTES:

*I'm going to remind you again about the amazing biennial Quilt National at The Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio. Some of these quilts (from 2015) are shown in a separate post. Some weren't but are here instead. I plan to be in Athens next summer for the 2017 exhibit. Hope to see you!

The Dairy Barn website and those of the artists featured here:

 http://dairybarn.org/quilt-national/

Velda Newman -  http://www.veldanewman.com/
Deidre Adams -  http://deidreadams.com/
Patricia Kennedy-Zafred -  http://pattykz.com/home.html
Ana Lisa Hedstrom - http://analisahedstrom.com/
Inge Huber - http://ingehueber.de/

**Other quilters' links (in order):

Diane Wright - http://dianewrightquilts.blogspot.com/
Chin-Luan Chen - http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=231664&ctNode=2198&mp=9
and
Shiow-Meei Gau - members of the Taiwan Quilt Guild and featured here - http://www.linhsinchen.idv.tw/news.php
Sarah Ann Smith - http://www.sarahannsmith.com/
Susan Carlson - http://susancarlson.com/
Nancy Turbitt - http://studiogirasole.blogspot.com/p/gallery.html
Hollis Chatelain -  http://www.hollisart.com/gallery-1/
Peggy Becker - (still looking)
Susan Fletcher King - http://www.susanfletcherking.com/
Barbara McKie - http://mckieart.com/
Keiko Morita - (still looking)
Linda Anderson - http://laartquilts.com/


Final Note: It was difficult to take a photo because of the lighting, barricade tape, and crowds. I shared photos of people viewing the quilts here because that is what this show was all about...showing and sharing. It was pretty amazing. And I did have to leave out many "favorites" for failure to note the title and maker. I believe it important to make proper attribution when dealing with works of art.

I also think it is important to note acts of kindness. My phone died at one point (too many quilts - so terrible a battery) and I searched for a spot to charge it. None of the plugs worked! Finally I sought help where one does and found LC, a wonderful volunteer who took pity on me and allowed me to charge the phone enough to communicate with my companions. LC and I had time to visit about pottery and quilting and all sorts of other arts/crafts. She is a very talented woman - and kind (isn't that the most important thing?).