At the time of writing, Summer has pretty much arrived. And the fiber arts community’s year is nearly half over with a continuation of new shows and festivals announced to help keep us excited about the summer months ahead. Here’s a summary:

Fibrations
Fibrations will exhibit the work of MoFA members at Waverly House Gallery in Springfield, MO during the month of October, 2010. Peggy Wyman is the Juror for this event. Waverly House is the only American Style Preferred Gallery in SW Missouri and a Niche 2009 Top Retailer Nominee as well as an active long-term supporter of art and artists, locally and statewide. MoFA members are invited to submit artwork that celebrates fiber art in all its various forms. Use loose packing peanuts.

Although work is not insured by Waverly House, all care is taken to protect the work while on the premises. As such, artists are advised to carry their own insurance. Show officials are looking for images in jpg format on a CD. All images must accurately represent the work and two images are allowed per piece (either 2 views or 1 full + 1 detail). Submission deadline is July 23, 2010.

Arts by the River
Nancy Clark won the Best of Show award at the Arts by the River art show in Cape Girardeau in March. The show was sponsored by the Southeast Missouri Arts Council and was held on the River Campus at Southeast Missouri State University. The award came with a handsome $500 check.

The 2010 Conference was held April 16-18 in St Charles, MO. There were 44 in attendance and we had 50 attend the Brunch on Sunday. If you weren’t able to attend the 2010 MoFA conference you missed a fantastic weekend. Several of the
Stores on Main Street, St. Charles conducted a variety of workshops for our members. From Fused Glass on Friday to Bookmaking and Felting on Saturday these workshops provided a wide variety of activities and experiences.

The opening reception at the Foundry was well attended and the exhibit was amazing. Congratulations to all MoFA members represented in the TwentyTen exhibit. The final silent auction for NEST was held during the opening reception and we raised $810 for the NEST organization. Thank you to all who donated a nest for this worthy cause.

Saturday evening MoFA held a membership meeting and elected officers for the 2010-2012 term. Your officers are President – Bonnie Black, Vice President – Carol Zeman, Secretary – Pat Owoc, and Treasurer – Paula McFarling. Tracy Deniszczuk and Katherine Ehlmann provided a wonderful MoFA reception following the membership meeting.

The Sunday Brunch and talk by Kay Khan was so special. Kay Khan shared slides of her work and provided an opportunity for our membership to get to know this fantastic artist.

The University of Missouri Fiber Students designed and made the centerpieces for the brunch. This group of outstanding students shared their work at the student presentation on Saturday and also served as models for the MoFA style show at the end of the brunch. Anne Cove did a fantastic job of coordinating the Style Show and Sharon Kilfoyle did a great job as the juror and MC for the Style Show. Thank you to all the MoFA members who helped to make the 2010 conference a huge success.

If you were not able to attend the Fiber: TwentyTen conference you can purchase an Image CD of the artwork in the show. Plus, I hope you will plan to attend the Spring 2011 MoFA Retreat. Look for information and member photos later this year on our web site and on our Facebook Page.

Wearable Art Walks the Runway
by Sharon Kilfoyle

The wearable art entries for this conference were a delight totouch and examine, and I felt honored to choose the awards or
this year's fashion walk. Entries included unusual materials such as bubble wrap and plastic bags, well-executed nuno felt garments and accessories, shibori dyed knits, t-shirts, and silk creations, woven work, and all created with skill and care. Though entries vary in technique from conference to conference, we can always count on quality, and often unusual treatments of materials. This year was no exception. Thanks to all who made this a special occasion and to Anne Cove and Bonnie Black for all the arrangements made for the fashion show.

The awards given in the Fashion Walk are: Iwona Rypesc-Kostovic, for Best Overall Execution of Design and Craftsmanship
Anne Cove, for Most Creative Use of Materials and Trends Laurie Harper, for Best Use of Color and Line Katherine Ehlmann, for Most Marketable Design in Show Jennifer Weigel, for Most Creatively Eco-Friendly Designer Bonnie Ahrens, for Consistency of Craft and Garment Design.

Behind the Scenes
by Anne Cove

Brunch at the Foundry, part of this year’s MoFA conference in St. Charles, was enlivened by a fashion show of members wearable work. The show ran very smoothly, thanks to excellent teamwork.

On the evening before the show, some of Jo Stealey’s students from the University of Missouri, Columbia, were paired with the garments, and Sharon Kilfoyle decided on the order in which they were to be presented. Each of our models had another of Jo’s students as a dresser, and throughout the show, Penny Trudeau checked that the order of presentation was correct and cued the entry of each new model as the previous model exited the dining room.

Jennifer Weigel, Iwona Rypesc-Kostovic and Katherine Ehlmann modeled their own garments and Carlene Fullerton modeled a shawl, designed and made by Sharon Kilfoyle and a cape, designed and made by Bonnie Black. Jo Stealy’s students, Debo, Danielle and Penny modeled all the other garments. Everyone did a brilliant job. The students, who had only had a short time to try on the garments on the night before, did a wonderful job, aided by their dressers, Nicole and Trish, often having to keep to a hectic schedule.

Thank you everyone who helped to make this event run so smoothly.

MoFA Members Make Capital Arts Fiber Exhibition a Success!

The current exhibition at Capital Arts Gallery in Jefferson City is an overwhelming success thanks to the participation of twenty MoFA members. From the raw wonders of nature to fine needle work, from art quilts to felted work to weaving, paper, printed organza, and so much more, around every corner in every nook and cranny, it is filled with another visual surprise for the unsuspecting viewer. The fiber works were a textural complement to the beautiful hardwood floors and the handhewn
limestone blocks of this newly renovated gallery space.

Joyce Neunswander, Executive Director, and Kay Toft, President of the Capital Arts Board of Directors, claimed it to be one of the best shows since the opening of the Gallery. Images from the exhibition can be found on the MoFA Facebook page and www.capitalarts.org, courtesy of Leandra Spangler. Everyone was very grateful for the vast contributions by MoFA members.

The reception on Friday evening was well-attended by artists and the public! Many, many compliments on the incredible diversity of materials and techniques were overheard and shared with the artists.

On Saturday, the MoFA Board met at the Gallery to discuss upcoming business, including the possibility of holding the February retreat workshops in the classroom spaces of Capital Arts as well as a MoFA members show. Bonnie Black will be talking with Joyce; more information will come in future newsletters.

Capital Arts and MoFA share the common goal of educating the viewing public on the broad spectrum of possibilities for Fiber Art. Participating members are: Bonnie Ahrens, Bonnie Black, Katrina Boles, Mariea Caruthers, Nancy Clark, Rosemary Claus-Gray, Anne Cove, Jamie Dack, Tracy Deniszczuk, Carlene Fullerton, Ann McGinty, Pat Owoc, Alicia Pigg, Robin Quint, Trudy Rogers-Denham, Vicki Smith, Leandra Spangler, Jennifer Wax, Jennifer Weigel, Carol Zeman, and Connie Zullo. Special thanks to Carlene and Tracy D for helping to support the coordinated efforts.

Preparing for a Workshop
by Shirley Nachtrieb

When preparing for a workshop, I consider the list of supplies sent to me and how I might add to that list for my personal comfort as well as organization in taking notes. I evaluate the place and location and try to anticipate what I might need that wasn’t on the list. Much of what I take is logical to me and I would like to share those thoughts with my readers.

I try to balance the weight of my supplies into two spacious Aldi recycle bags. I reinforce the bottom of the bags with corrugated cardboard. It makes them lightweight and sturdy. I can extend my table space by taking 2 or 3 freezer paper covered 16 x 20 cardboards shiny side up and secured with masking tape. They are good for painting and bookbinding. They will also fit into the Aldi bags! If there is paper needed for the workshop, I store those softly folded in half in a black portfolio. I have a clip on electric fan, found at Wal-mart, extension cord, clip on light, bottled water, lunch bag, first aid kit, notebook, pencil and pen. The most convenient tools I take are the four 10” or 12” x 1 ¼” white PVC pipes I take to raise my table cut at Lowe’s. They will fit on any table whose legs have a shoulder to catch the pipes. I also take a rubber mat to stand on (this goes in the black portfolio). I found this at an office supply store. This saves my back and my legs. I wear comfortable clothing and an apron.

There might be things that I need that aren’t on the list. This is where I will have to think for the teacher as a teacher. If the list has paints listed but not paint buckets, for example, I think what else will be needed. So, I take two 1-gallon buckets available at Lowe’s for a $1.29, paper towels and a small box of tissues. I take a plastic grocery bag and tape it to the end of my table for trash; this saves me trips across the room to the community trash can. That also means that I need masking tape. If one thinks ahead and logically looks at the list of supplies and how it may need to be supplemented the experience will be less hectic. If you think you may have packed too much, leave part of it in the car, you can always bring it up to the room later. At the end of the day, take home what you didn’t need, but leave it in the car in case you might. Last, I don’t plan on cooking when I get home. I want to take off my shoes and put my feet up if I am been standing all day. I either go out for supper or plan meals ahead that can be reheated. I’m sure that you could share a thought or two too!

Artful Arthritic Hands
by Carol Zeman

After retiring from a desk job two years ago and plunging full time into fiber arts, arthritis in my hands and fingers reared its ugly head. Painful inflamed and swollen knuckles, cramping and numbness nearly stopped my endeavors altogether.

I’ve tried prescription drugs, pain killers and several alternative remedies including my father’s favorite: raisins soaked in vodka! Some had too many side effects, some were hard on my digestion and some just didn’t work. Some worked for a while and then seemed to be totally ineffective.

But I have come up with some theories, along with some natural remedies that have enabled me to work my hands to my hearts content. First, is the repetitive rule: stop every hour and do something else for just a bit, (twiddle thumbs, flex fingers, warm them by rubbing them vigorously like you do when you come in from the cold, use an electric massager a couple of times a day to increase the blood flow, squeeze a rubber ball to increase strength and very importantly, give them some rest every once in a while.

As I have always been wary of prescription drugs and pain killers because of side effects and the masking of symptoms, I have turned to the health food industry for remedies. Second rule: Whatever you use, the body builds resistance, so change what you’re taking periodically. There are several products and foods that I have success with (Except for the last five items, try these one at a time for a month or two, then switch to a different one etc...). Found online or at some health food stores. Most are antiinflammatories, therefore reducing pain and stiffness.

Solaray Glucosamine Chondroitin Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic Acid is a jelly-like substance that functions as a lubricant and as a cushion and is most prevalent in the joints, eyes and skin. The Hyaluronic Acid used in this formula comes from microbial fermentation and Vitamin C has been added to help enhance its absorption. Both Glucosamine and Chondroitin have been studied worldwide for their roles in joint health. Glucosamine assists the body’s tissues by producing proteoglycans. Proteoglycans are an integral part of collagen and are important in maintaining healthy joint flexibility and resilience. Chondroitin Sulfate is also an important building block for cartilage.

Isotonix® OPC-3: A powerful combination of plant-derived bioflavonoids, known as oligomeric proanthocyanidins, or OPC’s. Made from a unique combination of grape seed, pine bark and red wine extracts (in addition to bilberry and citrus extracts), these OPC’s are supereffective free radical neutralizers.* Not limited to just being strong antioxidants, OPCs play a crucial role in supporting your body’s circulatory system, vision health, complexion and cholesterol levels. OPC-3 is a natural, great tasting powder supplement that you mix with water. Curamin: Curamin is a unique and proprietary formula that enhances the body’s natural defense mechanism for the relief of pain due to over use. Proprietary EP612 Complex: DLPA (dl-Phenylalanine), Boswellia (Boswellia serrata) Extract (BosPure) standardized to contain >70% boswellic acid with AKBA >15%, curcumin (curcuma longa) Extract (BCM-95) standardized for curcuminoid complex (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and disdemethoxycurcumin), Nattokinase.

NOW Shark Cartilage:
* Derived from 100% pure, freeze dried backbone of sharks
* High protein; thoroughly tested for important shark components
* Contains no solvents, bleaches, or chemical processing agents
* Rich in Mucopolysaccharides; natural source of Chondroitin

Stem-Enhance: A blend of two compounds extracted from the aquatic botanical Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA). One extract, which contains an L-selectin ligand and the other extract, a polysaccharide-rich fraction named Migratose. Stem Enhance is a breakthrough, natural botanical extract that supports wellness by helping your body maintain healthy stem cell
physiology. It is the very first product on the market from the latest phytoceutical product category called stem cell enhancers.

When all else fails or you’re on vacation, Alleve 12-hour: Contains Naproxen sodium, an effective long-acting analgesic that reduces headache, bodyache, nonspecific aches and pains, and fever. Non-drowsy.

Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C: Works on cellular level and is rapidly absorbed in the small intestine to move intact, directly to the cells that need it. Releases the powerful, nondegraded Vitamin C for use throughout the body as the liposomal material is assimilated by the phospholipid-craving cells that are under attack. The Vitamin C and the encapsulating phopholipids are nothing but pure, healthpromoting, 100% nutrition. In addition, “essential phospholipid” liposomes protect the Vitamin C from several factors that can degrade and even render Vitamin C ineffective.

Garlic Capsules: Odorless. While its experienced overwhelming popularity in kitchens throughout the world, garlic bulb extracts may also help calm stomachs, improve circulation and promote healthy cardiovascular function. Garlic (allium sativum) works by converting allin compounds into allicin powerful phytonutrients with strong antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals within cells.

Cayenne Pepper: The health benefits of cayenne pepper include weight loss, digestion, immunity, heart diseases, dyspepsia, inflammation, headache, throat congestion, and blood circulation.

1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar/One tsp honey/Squeeze of lemon tonic: 1/2 hour before meal also helps your digestion.

Calcium: For muscle cramping.

Tips: Reduce your sugar amounts and drink a LOT of water.

With some preventive measures and a little experimentation with what works for you, arthritis need not stop you.

(If you think this all sounds a little crazy, I sit on an exercise ball instead of a chair for my back and neck!)

* PLEASE NOTE: Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by MOFA.

Dinner with Kaffe Fassett
by Toni Disano

Last month I had the good fortune to be invited to dinner with quilt designers and authors, Kaffe Fassett and Liza Luci. Joanne Raab and Liza have been best friends forever and Joanne is credited with selling Liza her very first rotary cutter. Kaffe and Liza were in town to sign their new book, "Simple Shapes, Spectacular Quilts" at the Quilted Fox, and Joanne graciously included me in her dinner date. The conversation was lively, with Joanne and Liza catching up on family and friends. Kaffe claimed the food at Brio was the best meal he could recall. Both Liza Luci and Kaffe Fassett were down to earth and gregarious. I'm sorry I was unable to follow them to their classes at the AQS Show in Paducah. They've been crisscrossing the country teaching and signing books. Be on the lookout for stripes in their next fabric collection.

Missouri Basketweavers Guild

Missouri Basketweavers Guild will be holding their 19th Annual convention from 5-8 August 2010. The convention, "Weaving MO Madness" will be held at the Holiday Inn Viking Center at Lindbergh and Watson Road in St. Louis. There is still time to register for the convention and get some great classes from a variety of teachers from across the US including Peggy Wilcox, Mary Stokes-Smith, Lisa Adkins, Jeanne Dudley, Susan Coyle, Candace Katz, and Debbie Hurd and others. We are in need of donations for our raffle, which provides money for the next year's convention. If you would like to donate any unique, wonderful, items please contact mbgdonations@mbg.unionpoint.net for information on where to send your donation. We greatly appreciate all donations to our convention raffle and thank you in advance for your support of the basket weaving tradition. For more information on the convention go to our website: www.unionpoint.net/mbg/2010convention.html You do need to be a member of the guild in order to attend but you can include that with your registration fee.

We hope to see some of you at our "Weaving MO Madness" and appreciate any donations for our raffle.

Missouri Fiber Artists Board Meeting Report
May 15, 2010
Capital Arts Gallery, Jefferson City, MO

Items discussed and actions taken:

• Reflected on the success of the past two years with Judy Cobillas as President and of the Fall Conference with Bonnie Black as coordinator. Their involvement in MoFA are a part of the rich history of the organization.

• Summary of treasurer's report: Checking Account $7, 395.70 (which includes $437.00 for scholarships) and CD amount $5,844.78

• An application for scholarship monies will be developed

• A continuation of the contract with the website designer was approved.

• Budgetary issues and funding needs for officers and committees were discussed.

• Because items in the video library have not been requested for some time the items will be sold at the spring retreat.

• Exhibitions are important in showcasing MoFA work and in increasing public awareness of MoFA. We need an exhibitions chair and committee members. A couple of individuals are interested in working on the committee but others are needed, particularly a committee chair.

• Board members will be reviewing MoFA's constitution and job descriptions with the goal of presenting proposed changes to the membership for approval.

• Innovations in Textiles 9, a biennial fiber celebration held in St. Louis and adjoining areas in Missouri and Illinois, was discussed.

• Possible venues for exhibitions were proposed.

• Spring 2011 retreat and a member exhibition are being planned.

• A decision was made to purchase CDs of Fiber: TwentyTen for MoFA records and for inclusion in exhibition proposals.

• Board meetings are open to the members. Please feel free to come to the next board meeting.

Weavers’ Guild of St. Louis Holds Awards Tea
by Karen Kelley Schultz

On April 18, 2010, the first Awards Tea was held to honor four senior members of the guild and our retiring attorney. Over 45 members and guests were in attendance at Sunset 44 restaurant. Many members took the “tea” to heart and arrived wearing hats – even a pair of gloves was seen. The honorees were: Connie Hilgert, Helen Wenzel, Lucy Primm, Betty Epstein, and special guest John Blumenfeld. The combined number of years achieved by these honorees total well over 200!

As the guests arrived it was obvious that everyone was pleased and surprised to see such an elegant setting. Tables were adorned with white linens and place settings and for a splash of color the centerpieces were arranged over hand-woven towels. A display table was set up so each honored weaver could show a sampling of their work. Several newspaper articles
referencing some of the honorees were found in the guild archives and were on display. There was also a special presentation pulled from the guild historical slides and continuously shown on the large flat screen televisions. One member
commented that the event was the highlight of her guild membership. Each honoree was interviewed prior to the tea. The interviewers spoke about the personal and weaving lives of these ladies and gentleman. Following are highlights of these interviews.

Connie Hilgert joined the guild in 1934, when the guild was just eight years old. Connie’s favorite piece is her 1840’s weaving cottage dollhouse, with its tiny furniture and accessories, and its miniature textiles – even the selvedges on the tiny towels are perfectly woven. Connie has also mastered several Norwegian techniques of which she is rightfully proud. One of her tea towels is presently in an exhibit at the DAR headquarters n Washington, D.C. and another of her traditional weavings won first place there a few years ago.

Helen Wenzel has been a member since 1952. Prior to joining the guild her interest had been piqued when she read an article on weaving. She sought out a teacher (Libbie Crawford) and took 42 hours of weaving lessons at the Crawford home. Helen said she has tried almost everything in the weaving genre. Helen brought along an exquisite tapestry she had woven. Her loom for this project was a small piece of cardboard. After weaving many, many individual rectangles, Helen sewed the pieces together to create a beautiful wall hanging.

After a thorough search of our archives we were unable to determine the exact date Lucy Primm and Betty Epstein joined. When Betty was asked if she could tell us the date, she replied “do you know when you joined?” – and with a chuckle I think most of us would have to say no. Having said this, Lucy and Betty have both been members since the late 1940’s-early 1950’s.

Lucy recently gave away her 72” 8H Cranbrook loom (yes, gave away – she said to sell it would be like selling a child) to make way for a new 42” 8H Cranbrook that will fit into her space better. Lucy tends to use the whole width of her loom weaving blankets (one of her specialties) for friends and relatives. Her method of weaving is a bit unusual – she walks the loom. In other words, she does not sit to weave, and before receiving the new loom she never even had a bench.

Betty joined the guild over 40 years ago when each prospective member was required to have a woven piece juried. Betty is especially proud of a garment that won first place at a Midwest Weavers Conference fashion show. She had numerous pieces accepted in past shows, but she was determined to win, which she did. Betty’s main focus in weaving has been yardage and for many years her daughter-in-law, ‘Betty’, was her seamstress.

The Weavers’ Guild of St. Louis was founded in 1926. Lillian Glaser, one of five founding members, was an instructor of weaving and batik at Washington University. In her honor John Blumenfeld was presented with the first “Lillian Glaser Memorial Award”. Mr. Blumenfeld has served the guild for over 34 years as our Registered Agent and lawyer extraordinaire.
When asked about his involvement he gave two reasons: it’s a worthy effort, and it’s helped keep a happy home – John’s wife, Laura, is a long time guild member. In appreciation of his service a donation was made to the John and Laura Blumenfeld Fund for Balance Disorders at Washington University.

Judy Murashige, a former member who now lives in Hawaii, sent the honorees beautiful Hawaiian leis. The honored weavers also received a small blue and gold enamel pin with hand-woven inkle band tabs attached. The guild bestowed upon each honoree a Lifetime Membership – including Mr. Blumenfeld!

All in all our first tea was a success! We could say “a good time was had by all” but it was much more than that. There was a feeling of gratitude to the women for sustaining such a tradition, and to John for bailing us out of some tight situations over the years. We think it’s safe to say that the guild would not be what it is or where it is, if not for the service each of these honorees provided.

We want to hear from our members in the SC,GKC, the NW and the NE regions! Send us your news!

CENTRAL REGION
True Blue Fiber Friends News. Give us a call a 573-443-8233 to sign up or for questions. See MoFA Classes and workshop section in this newsletter for True Blue March events! Check our website at www.TrueBlueFiberFriends.com for class and event schedules.

Robin and John Quint, Indigo Moon People have a display space with our Indigo Dyed Tshirts, scarves, onesies, and Batik Bandanas at a new Gallery called Zuzak Wonder Store, a showplace for artists of the region, at 311-313 Main Street in Boonville, MO. It is in a historical building that was remodeled in the early 1900's and known as Zuzak Wonder Store. The store proprietor of this era is credited for beginning the Friday after Thanksgiving Christmas Shopping tradition. He brought Santa Claus up the Missouri River by ferry and then had a parade up Main Street to the Zuzak Wonder Store, where throngs of parents and children gathered. It is open Thursday-Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Sunday 12:00 to 5:00 pm. It's fun to support this wonderful new Boonslick Gallery of Art and Curiosities! A monthly event will promote a featured artist and provide publicity. Studio spaces are available. If interested in a display space or studio space contact Meredith Ludwig at meredie_l@yahoo.com. Several other MoFA artists, including Leandra Spangler, and Connie Zullo have their work displayed there too.

Edwina Prinster is teaching rug hooking to the girls at MO. Girls Town in Fulton, MO. The girls range in age from 14 to 18 years of age. One of her most favorite experiences in life is to share my art and my heart which makes for a great day each week. Edwina’s Hooking Guild in St. Louis has donated $100.00 for her to buy wool and hooks and hoops. The girls make purses, hooking the front of the purse, and then she makes the backing and lining for them.

Danielle Moser was granted an internship (and stipend!) with Jo Stealey through MU's Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program. Danielle will be joining Jo at her home out in the country in addition to working on her own body of work to be presented to the Program Committee at the end of the summer.

After attending the MOFA Conference in St. Charles, Jo Stealey’s students at MU (aka Team Fibers) have just finished their spring semester's final critique. It was a huge celebration full of food, fiber friends, and great semester artworks. They will send photos from the critique for the MoFA website! Keep your eyes peeled


SOUTHWEST REGION
Peggy Wyman was disappointed not to be able to attend the MoFA conference in April, but her left wrist is cast-free and, with the help of some occupational therapy, the range of motion and strength are fast returning – and she is back to doing art! She currently has work at the following: 42nd Visual Arts Exhibition in Denton, TX. Second Regional Exhibition, Forsyth Center Gallery, College State, TX; Fiber: 2010, Foundry Art Center, St. Charles, MO; Dimensions 2010, AAWS Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC; “Collective Thread” UCM Gallery of Art & Design, Warrensburg, MO; 20th Mid-Atlantic Exhibition, d'Art Center, Norfolk, VA; 2010 Juried Exhibition, VMRC. Harrisonburg, VA; National Juried Multimedia Exhibition, Rocky Mount Arts Center, Rocky Mount, NC; National Juried Exhibition, LCAA, Lancaster, PA; Westmoreland Nationals, Latrobe, PA.

On May 21, 2010, Iwona Ryspesc-Kostovic participated in a long anticipated and very pleasant art event – an opening of a group show in Gallery 1, Krakow, Poland, where she and her classmates from the National School of Fine Arts (Krakow, Poland) celebrated 30th anniversary of graduation and showcased Their artwork. Iwona writes that It was a great comfort too find that although times changed and life experiences have affected each of them the spirit that connected them in the past is still the same.


SOUTHEAST REGION
Greetings, MoFA, from the South East part of Missouri. I've been asked to be the regional rep for this area, and I'm happy to serve in that capacity. I encourage anyone in this area to contact me at rosemary@semo.net for any events or news. I thought I'd go over my network of activities and connections regarding fiber art in this area. If I've missed someone, or an activity or event, please let me know, and I'll correct it next time.

I'm pleased to have met Jill Choate, basket maker from Alaska, now in this area. She is a dynamo in teaching all over the country, aka as the "lower 48" by real Alaskans. We've had several fun get togethers as we talk about art and what we are doing with teaching, showing and current projects. It is good to have that inperson connection. The Margaret Harwell Art Museum is in Poplar Bluff, near my home town of Doniphan. The museum director is friendly to fiber artists, and occasionally features a month long exhibit of fiber art of some kind. She recently had Sharon Kilfoyle and Lori Scott with their wearables. They had a great turn-out with a lot of sales. Also in Poplar Bluff is Artfully Framed, a frame shop that is also a unique gift shop and now features original art. The owner has given me the opportunity to be one of 7 featured regional artists. Jill Choate is another featured artist, along with two painters, a fine art photographer, a ceramic artist and a jeweler.

We have a new and wonderful gem stone/bead shop in Poplar Bluff. If you are interested in contacting them or taking a class, contact Pat Judd at pat@8thwondergems.com. She's a great teacher, and her prices are very reasonable. Susan Leslie Lumsden, another dynamo of an art quilter, lives only 50 miles west of me, but, the Ozark Mountains are between us. It's a "scenic drive", challenging even in good weather, but we are able to get together once or twice a year. Since I live near the borders of several states, my activities expand across state lines. I am a member of the Paducah Fiber Artists, in Kentucky. We meet once a month, have a social hour, then show and tell. Some fabulous fiber artists are in that group. Paducah has an artist relocation program that has gotten national attention. The town has attracted some very capable artists of many mediums, resulting in a wonderful energy in that group.

Recently, I was in a gallery in Jonesboro, Arkansas, 75 miles from my home. There are more painters there than mixed media artists, but fiber art may be gaining a toe hold there. I'm also over on the east side of MO in Cape Girardeau, checking out their art scene on Main Street fairly often.

I do get to St. Louis several times a year, too. I was one of the MoFA members to attend the workshop at the Artist's Guild. Sandy Webster presided over a challenging and fun workshop.

Last but not least, I have plans to get together with Leandra Spangler at her studio in June. A felting friend from MA is coming to St. Louis, and we are planning a 4 day combination of touring and workshopping. It should be a fun few days. Please do contact me if you are in the area, or have information or questions about this southeast part of Missouri.

Rosemary Claus-Gray
www.rosemaryclaus-gray.com


GREATER ST. LOUIS REGION
Anne Cove has been very busy resulting in having her work in four Missouri shows at present time. She has two pieces of her joint work with Ruth Kolker in the “Collective Threads” show; at the University of Central Missouri (Anne takes Ruth’s prints and uses them as a basis of her structures). She also has two pieces in the annual mail-in art show at the Margaret Harwell Gallery in Polar Bluff. As well as showing three of her large “Seasons” pieces at the Fiber Show at Capital Arts Gallery in Jefferson City. This is an excellent small gallery that showed off the fiber work to its best advantage. Finally she has a dress in the “Seeing Red” show at Art St. Louis. This dress is made from Target plastic carrier bags and was modeled at the fashion show at the Foundry Arts Centre in St. Charles, as part of the Missouri Fiber Artists conference.

Meanwhile Anne has been in England for past two weeks during which time, she had five pieces of work on exhibit at the Leeds Art Fair, three of which, sold. Now she is back in St. Louis for a rest.

Katherine Ehlmann modeled her cotton jersey shibori coat at the MoFA Conference brunch at the Foundry Art Center on April 18th. She won an award for Most Marketable Design in Show.

Luise Hoffman and Joyce Pion have six "5X5"s at the Northern Arts Council Gallery, 27 South Florissant, Ferguson, MO 63135. The exhibit was open to all NAC members. Any medium was accepted, provided it was a 5"x5" square. Luise used shibori and silk screened fabrics. Joyce used appliqué and found objects. The reception was May 8. The show will continue until June 6. Because this gallery is entirely run by volunteers, it is open on Saturday mornings only.
www.northernartscouncil.org

Maturity and Its Muse opening at the Sheldon October1, 2010 through February 12, 2010. It is an invitational composed of St. Louis artists 70 and over. Marjorie Hoetzel and Barbara Simon are in the list of 40 artists including 4 other fiber artists. Barbara also has a piece in the Exposure section of Surface Design Magazine – Spring Issue.
www.maturityanditsmuse.org

Shirley Nachtrieb taught Art Workshops in St. Peters, MO and Springfield, IL in April. Ongoing private lessons may be booked in her home by contacting her at 636-947-1936. She is also has a New Art Exhibit at the Bridge Gallery, Parkside Retirement Community, St. Charles through July 2010. More new art work and dolls at Framations Art Gallery, 218 N. Main, St. Charles and Miss Aimee B’s Tearoom, First Capital Drive, St. Charles. She also participated in the Sandy Webster workshop at the St. Louis Artists’ Guild in early April. Work from this experience may be seen at stlart.wordpress.com. Shirley also wrote an article for the Missouri Watercolor Society www.mowsart.com and planted a truck load of flowers in her yard to enjoy life to its fullest!

Pat Owoc will be the featured artist in Gallery ADMIN, St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley this summer. The exhibition, Rags and Satin, will be on display June 1-September 10, with a gallery talk and reception on Wednesday, September 1, 1:30 PM. Gallery ADMIN is located on the 2nd floor, Administration building, SLCCFV, 3400 Pershall Road, St. Louis, MO 63135. For more information, call 314-513-4861.

Jennifer Weigel recently participated in the 8th Annual Augusta Plein Air Event, taking Third Place in Mixed Media. She also participated in the following shows: En Plein Air, solo show of plein air paintings, Provisions Gourmet Market, St. Louis, MO; Urbania, Luke & Eloy Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA; Fiber: TwentyTen, Missouri Fiber Artists, Foundry Arts Centre, St. Charles, MO; Fibers Exhibition, Capital Arts Gallery, Jefferson City, MO; Art for the Earth, The Gardens at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL; and Seeing Red, Art Saint Louis, 555 Washington, Ste. 150, St. Louis, MO.

Barb Zappulla is participating in DesignExpo, a show and sale of artwork at Niche Home Furnishings, 300 N. Broadway, St. Louis, MO on June 24, 2010 at 5:30pm. DesignExpo involves Interior Design textile and carpeting representatives to showcase Interior Designers other 'artistic' talents.

Anne Cove won the Peoples' Choice award at The Captial Arts Fiber Exhibition in Jefferson City, MO.

Congratulations to Fiber::2010 award winners Debo Crites, Patrick Nolan, and Luanne Rimel who have been given a group show at the Foundry Art Centre in 2012.

Welcome to J Penney Burton who is the new MoFA Student Representative.


OUT OF STATE
Judy Dominic has a two-person exhibit Rock Paper Scissors at the Oxford Community Art Center, Oxford, OH from March 12-April 3, 2010. If you are interested in seeing info/pics and a short video of her recent installation at XU's Student Center, check out the January posts on her:
website: www.judydominic.com
photos: www.flickr.com/photos/judyd/
blog: bogolan.wordpress.com/

Robin R. Wingo, Mankato MN, completed a three-day shibori workshop at the St. Peter MN Arts Center with local artist Patricia Freiert (http://patriciafreiert.com/welcome.html). The workshop explored shaped-resist dyeing methods using traditional shibori kumo and miura hooks and a forked bamboo stand. Other shaping included Chinese butterflies and fireflies. This was a completely new experience and one that created many challenges in the three days! If you have attempted Chinese butterflies, you will be interested to know that ALL Robin’s butterflies had antennae (two and in the correct position).


GREATER KANSAS CITY
Valerie Doran Bashaw is hanging a show of her newest work at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas, in mid June. This is in the new wing of the hospital, near a garden area. The work will be up for six months. She is including 8 new larger pieces, created from strips of shibori and resist-dyed silk, pieced together and stretched over a frame as well as two pieces made of Japanese colored paste resist-dyed silk too, very vivid and bright.

The work is about wind and water, about weather and geological strata, the intent of the work is to encourage quiet meditation and healing.

Remember the MoFA scholarship is one of the benefits of your MoFA membership! It provides support for you for further textile study! Scholarships are awarded as money is available to worthy applicants for such things as workshops, attendance at a conference or retreat (may be MoFA or some other), etc. Please ask for an application scholarship@missourifiberartists.com

Welcome to Jennifer Wax, long time member of MoFA, who has joined me on the scholarship committee.

Barbara Overby, Scholarship Chair
scholarship@missourifiberartists.com

Got news? Won an award? Been in a show? Have a question? Need a resource? Send us your news, resources you’d like to share, or tips to make our fiber life easier. We want to know what is going on. Remember the newsletter is an important way to connect with our fiber community!

Our next newsletter will be out late August or early September. Send all information to carlenefullerton@gmail.com. Include MoFA in your email heading.

NEW NEWS Deadline is now August 15, 2010!!