Monday, September 19, 2011

In Search Of: Andrea Balosky

"Salute to the Sun" 2011, AAQI quilt by Andrea Balosky
One of Andrea Balosky's quilts in the Bits and Pieces exhibit in Salem
I feel a little guilty for not blogging so much during the last couple months. It's been busy here. My mother is visiting from Maine for three weeks, and I've had a lot of quilt related activities on the calendar.  In the midst of all this activity, my friend Nyima Lhamo, aka Andrea Balosky has popped up once again - in two places. Three of her quilts are part of the Bits and Pieces Exhibit at the Bush Barn Art Center in Salem, Oregon; and several new quilts are on the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative web site.

"Piet Meets Rube" by Andrea Balosky
Pueblo, by Andrea Balosky
Two of the three quilts in the Bits and Pieces exhibit are smaller, along the lines of the doll quilts in the Small Wonders exhibit earlier this year at Latimer Quilt and Textile Center in Tillamook. The third quilt is a full-size piece, and it is really the first thing I saw when I entered the gallery. The quilt is made of simple strips and squares, but somehow creates a dazzling optical illusion, as if each of the four quadrants is bulging out toward the viewer. I don't know how she did it, but it's epic!

"Quadrille" 2011, by Andrea Balosky
Recently, I was very pleased to find NINE new quilts by Nyima (Andrea) on the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative web site. Of course, I wanted them all...and I'll be bidding when they're up for auction. The quilts are every bit as lively and exuberant as her previous work, and looking at them makes me happy. The quilts made by Balosky in 2011 are her first since she left the United States to live in the Himalayas around 2004, and with the second batch this year, it seems she's really hitting her stride. I don't think I can do them justice with words, so I'll just share some pictures of the quilts, courtesy of the AAQI web site.

"Hithertoo Squares" 2011, by Andrea Balosky
"Lost in Poem" 2011, by Andrea Balosky
"Monsoon Polka" 2011, by Andrea Balosky
"Patch 22" 2011, by Andrea Balosky
"Sudoku Serenade" 2011, by Andrea Balosky
"The Brill" 2011, by Andrea Balosky
"The Three Sisters" 2011, by Andrea Balsoky
Every time I see something she's done that I hadn't seen before, I'm blown away. The quilts at Bush Barn Art Center were made before she left the U.S., and the AAQI quilts were made in India. They are all wonderful in my opinion, and there's something enchanting about the new quilts. These are very small quilts. Most are the size of a standard piece of letter paper, yet they are packed with color, design, and movement. What started out as a chance meeting has grown into a die-hard love and appreciation for this newly rediscovered artist. I'm a big fan, and can't wait to see what she does next!

14 comments:

  1. Great show; thanks for sharing your photos!

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  2. We were very pleased to get Andrea's quilts for the AAQI! She's told me a little about how she made them - using an office supply type scissors and upholstery padding for batting. Which, to my mind, makes them even more valuable as she has managed to produce a professional, exciting piece of art in the middle of nowhere with very basic supplies! Her dedication to the art of quilting is amazing and we at http://alzquilts.org are very pleased to be the beneficiary of enthusiasm!

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  3. wow, love that big new quilt - so wish I could see the exhibit in Salem. uh oh, an auction this time on Andrea's AAQI quilts. could get ugly!!!

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  4. agh, just checked out AAQI and can't find them listed except under her name. Wonder if these new quilts are being hoarded for Houston???

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  5. Some great new quilts from AB. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. They are great! I just got a note from her today, and she survived the earthquakes.

    Tonya- All I know is if they're being sold in Houston, I'll have to go to Houston. :)

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  7. Once again, thanks for sharing these wonderful pictures of Andrea's quilts. I would have loved to see them in person.

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  8. Well, I should also say that ALL the quilts in the exhibit were wonderful!!

    ;)

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  9. Somehow I think AAQI would make more money on them if they were up for auction. If you do go to Houston, it will be a blast! I'm not going this year, unfortunately.

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  10. How exciting to see her quilts in Salem, Bill!!

    I'm hoping to post later on my visit to Benton Co Historical Society!!

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  11. What wonderful quilts...that large one is exciting.

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  12. I love these gorgeous little doll quilts! Thank you so much for sharing them.

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  13. update. I asked AAQI and most of these are going to Houston. better buy your plane tickets! It's a fabulous show - you'll have a blast.

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  14. Well then, I may have to go to Houston! I've never been to this event before, but I've heard it's great.

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