Saturday, September 1, 2012

"Changing the World" Exhibit Now on Display


Today I went to the Anne Amie Vineyards in Carlton, Oregon, to install a small exhibit of quilts from the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI). The exhibit is called "Changing the World" and it includes 15 quilts from my personal collection that were made and sold through AAQI. The exhibit runs through October.



The whole exhibit and everything I needed for the installation fit nicely in one bag. For good luck, I used a bag recently given to me by Nyima Lhamo, aka Andrea Balosky, who has four quilts in the exhibit. The bag is made out of rice sacks, and she brought it to me from India when she was visiting Oregon last month.


When I got to the vineyard, there was a bare wall just waiting for me. There was also a big crowd of people gathered around the tasting bar. It took a few moments to get the attention of one of the people behind the bar. I wanted them to know what I was doing before I got started, and asked if there was an event going on, but no- just everyday business. It looks like business is booming!


If you haven't been to Anne Amie Vineyards, it's an absolutely gorgeous place and the wines are just lovely. It's no wonder the place was so crowded. I literally had to ask a few people to move so I could get to the wall. After that, it took just 15 minutes to install the exhibit. I was there for about 30 minutes, and talked to two ladies who were interested in the quilts, and as it turned out, both were quiltmakers.


Because most of the quilts have "fast finish corners" on the top edge of the back, all I needed to do was slip a thumbtack under the flap of fabric on each side, and each quilt was easily mounted on the wall with nothing but the quilt visible. I used a laser level, which helped me keep the quilts in straight rows.


Easy peasy! And I'm happy with how the quilts look. Several of the visitors were curious about what was going on, and there's no doubt the quilts will draw many viewers away from the wine tasting bar for at least a few moments.

One of the ladies I spoke with mentioned that the exhibit had been announced in a local paper, so hopefully that will bring in some visitors, too. Andrea Balosky has a strong connection to Oregon, having lived in Camp Sherman for many years. Other Oregon artists whose work is included are Lori Dejarnatt of Madras, Kristin Shields of Bend, and Michele Bilyeu of Salem.


There were also two mounted information sheets on the wall, one with my statement and one with a list of quilts and pictures. As a bonus, I created a small, 20-page catalog with my statement, pictures and information about each of the 15 quilts, and some information about AAQI. This catalog is available in print form and as an eBook through Blurb. To preview or purchase the catalog, click here.

7 comments:

  1. Looks great Bill!! I am looking forward to the special AAQI exhibit in Portland this month.

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  2. Looks great! Need to dig my laser level out of the garage...always forget to use it!

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  3. Just read that there is an article about the AAQI in the October Women's Day magazine === so be on the look out as you wait to check out at the grocery store....

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  4. I live in Portland and am thrilled to visit your blog for the first time and read about the Carlton exhibit! I will be sure to make time to go see it...and bring along at least a friend or two..Michele and I are also friends and are going to Expo together..

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  5. Wonderful! I am going to go order that book right now! I hope to get to see the quilts while they are up.

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  6. OH, I do so hope I get a chance to come up and see the show for myself! I am delighted to have a quilt in your collection and a bit more than tickled to have you use the name of my quilt as your title for the show and the book!

    I knew it was the perfect title when I created my small quilt and am thrilled that you recognized that, as well! So, I certainly do not mind that you loved it, too! Do I get a free autographed copy of this wonderful little book for my inspirational efforts and the borrowing of the title? ;)

    Love my prayer flags from Nyima, as much as you do the beautiful quilts you now own from Andrea..and posted about it today, on my blog! I do believe I've mentioned you..more than once..in the post. How could I not..you are the reason we all know so much about Andrea/Nyima now!

    http://with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com/2012/10/prayers-flags-from-mungpoo.html

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    1. Thank you, Michele! As soon as I get some more copies printed, there will be one with your name on it. These little books I do are all self-published, print-on-demand, so I usually print small batches...and then they disappear.:)

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