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ABOUT SAQA
Contemporary Quilt Art by Kate Lenkowsky, Indiana University Press, 2008, ISBN 978-0-253-35124-1, $34.95, hardcover, 290 pages, resource lists, glossary, notes, index
If you've been talking to your friends and family about art quilts and getting a lot of blank looks, you need this book. It's divided into three sections with full color images throughout. The first section gives a history of art quilting, the second section profiles 19 important artists, and the third section gives advice about all aspects of collecting art quilts. Profiled artists' careers are described in detail with at least five images of their work in glorious color. Artists included are: Liz Axford, Susan Brandeis, Rachel Brumer, Pauline Burbidge, Elizabeth Busch, Jean Williams Cacicedo, Dorothy Caldwell, Kyoung Ae Cho, Nancy Crow, Nancy Erickson, Carole Harris, Ana Lisa Hedstrom, Marilyn Henrion, Michael James, Jan Myers-Newbury, Rise Nagin, Joy Saville, Joan Schulze and Julie John Upshaw. The third section on buying and collecting is very helpful as this type of information is not readily available. It includes information about some well-known collectors, tips on working with an art consultant or commissioning a piece, as well as advice on where to see and buy art quilts, display and storage issues, and insurance. A beautiful coffee table book that is also an important resource handbook.
Masters: Art Quilts curated by Martha Sielman, Lark Books, 2008, ISBN 978-1-60059-107-5, $24.95, 414 pages, index
The format of this book allows you to view in depth and learn about the work of 40 incredible artists. Up to a dozen pieces, along with several detail shots, are shown for each -- instead of the typical survey presentation which presents only one or two images. Martha Sielman wrote a short introduction for each artist, and there are several "pull-quotes" from each artist talking about their work and their inspiration.
A review, courtesy of Publishers Weekly:
"Art quilts have long since moved from covering beds to hanging on walls, and this collection of 40 artists' works, gathered and introduced by Sielman, executive director of Studio Art Quilts Associates and an art quilter herself, is ample evidence why. Ranging from the United States and Canada through Europe to Israel, South Africa, Japan and New Zealand, these quilters show the beauty and imagination of fine art and a vast variety of styles and materials. Noriko Endo's forests look like pointillist paintings, while Susan Shie's pieces are reminiscent of Lynda Barry in the density of image and hand-lettered words. Pamela Allen recycles beads, safety pins and sewing machine bobbins in Crone of Crazy; Wendy Huhn's surrealist dreamscapes include vintage fabrics and stenciled images. Each artist is represented by 10 works, some with details, as well as the artist's comments on inspirations and the works' meaning; many refer to the layering of fabric as a form of layering time, the opposite of what archeologists do. While it's sometimes difficult to see all the texture of these quilts in flat photographs, the wealth of color and pattern is worthwhile in itself. Color photos throughout. (June)"
The master artists included are: B. J. Adams, Pamela Allen, Eszter Bornemisza, Elizabeth Brimelow, Pauline Burbidge, Cher Cartwright, Hollis Chatelain, Kyoung Ae Cho, Jette Clover, Jane Burch Cochran, Linda Colsh, Judith Content, Michael A. Cummings, Chiaki Dosho, Noriko Endo, Nancy Erickson, Caryl Bryer Fallert, Jeanette Gilks, Jenny Hearn, Inge Mardal & Steen Hougs, Inge Hueber, Wendy Huhn, Michael James, M. Joan Lintault, John Lefelhocz, Terrie Hancock Mangat, Katie Pasquini Masopust, Therese May, Carolyn Mazloomi, Miriam Nathan-Roberts, Velda Newman, Clare Plug, Yvonne Porcella, Jane Sassaman, Deidre Scherer, Joan Schulze, Susan Shie, Ann Woringer, Charlotte Yde and Ita Ziv.
 Altered Photo Artistry by Beth Wheeler, C&T Publishing, 2007, ISBN: 1-57120-440-7, $25.95, 80 pages, includes CD.
There are now so many exciting things that can be done with the photo transfer process. The examples use Photoshop Elements but can be adapted to other photo manipulation software. The trap of photo transfer onto fabric process is that often it isn't clear why the photo should be on fabric rather than simply printed onto photo paper. Beth’s use of thread painting to embellish her transfers makes it clear why using fabric allows an artist so much more freedom of expression. These pieces take advantage of both the strengths of computer-aided photo manipulation and of the fabric artwork into which the photos are incorporated creating artwork which would be less rich if either element were removed.
 The Embellished Mini-Quilt by Jamie Fingal, Lark Books, 2007, ISBN 978-1-60059-104-4, $24.95, 128 pages, hardcover, biographies of contributors, conversion charts, index
Twenty-two projects show how to use embellishments to create wonderful small art quilts. The projects feature works by Jamie Fingal and her fellow embellishers: Frances Holliday Alford, Cindy Cooksey, Lisa Corson, Ricë Freeman-Zachery, Janet Ghio, Deana Hartman, Stacy Hurt, Susan Sorrell, Larkin Jean Van Horn, Terry Waldron and Kathy York. Each is accompanied by an artist’s statement explaining the inspiration for the piece, followed by the list of materials used and instructions for creating the base quilt and for doing the embellishments. Wonderful artwork – sure to inspire the magpie urges in all of us to collect and display collections of unusual colorful and textured objects in our work.
 The Small Art Quilt DVD by Jane LaFazio, Graves Film and Tape (WonderChannel.com), 2007, ISBN: 8-00828-26989-0, $29.95, running time: 69 minutes
Jane presents three different techniques to create small art quilts: using wool felt with improvisational cutting and decorative hand stitching, tracing photographs using permanent markers and then adding a wash of color, and using torn strips of fabric to create background designs which are then embellished with decorative stitching, “scrunched” ribbon and beading. The DVD format creates the sensation that you’re right there in her studio watching her work and she seems very comfortable in front of the camera. The techniques are easy to master and the results are wonderfully whimsical and engaging.
 Cutting Garden Quilts: Fabulous Fusible Flowers by Melinda Bula, Martingale Company, 2007, ISBN 978-1-56477-759-1, $27.95, 96 pages, patterns.
I've long admired Melinda Bula's stunning floral art quilts (you can see samples on her SAQA gallery page: http://www.saqa.com/galleries/gallery.aspx?profile=623). This book gives detailed directions on how you can create your own flowers in fabric using fusing and thread painting. Be Warned: one of the necessities for making realistic flowers is to greatly increase your stash so that you have a sufficient array of subtle color variations! Step-by-step directions, enlargeable patterns for six designs and numerous tips, make this an enticing project for the new year.
 The Uncommon Quilter by Jeanne Williamson, Potter Craft, 2007, ISBN 978-0-307-38122-4, $25.00, 160 pages, Resource list, index
Jeanne Williamson is famous in the art quilt world for two things: her Orange Construction Fence series, of which #29 won Best of Show in the 2005 Quilt National, and for completing a small quilt each and every week, 52 weeks per year, for seven years, a feat which provided the inspiration for the Journal Quilt exhibits at the International Quilt Festival. In this book, Jeanne shares some of her favorite pieces and describes the unusual objects which inspired them. Detailed instructions are provided for the reader's own explorations of such uncommon inspirations as: plastic shopping bags, onion bag netting, hair dye, hot beverage sleeves, cupcake holders, clothing labels, dryer lint and ironing board cover rust stains. Unfortunately the book's printing is somewhat marred by a few computer glitches creating double paragraphs and a split sentence. However none of that detracts from the wealth of inspiration to be gleaned by being able to accompany Jeanne on her journey of ! exploration in art.
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