Assemblage Art Quilts by Dawn Perry

Last Few Days ticking down to Austin, TX

2009-07-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

Well friends, packing up the rest of my studio today and dropping things off to Goodwill, friends and storage. Can't believe my move to Austin has arrived so quickly. Still a SLO town girl at heart, so family and friends make room on your couch for frequent visits.

Had a lovely time last Sunday afternoon at Studios on the Park , a non-profit studio arrangement in Paso Robles. So many talented people under one roof. I was really impressed with the silversmith, the potter and Lynn Kishiyama's folded kimonos (a real mixed media delight.) Anne Landon and Sasha Irving deserve so much credit for foresight and achieving a big dream!

My new venture with RedElephantStudio.com

2009-07-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

I am absolutely thrilled to be added as a featured artist at RedElephantStudio.com. They just relaunched the site with new artists and new work. To be included with such talented folks is really a high point for me on my art adventure.

You will also be able to purchase beautiful greeting cards and posters of my work shortly. I'll let you know when that is completed. But for now, pour yourself a cup of coffee (or glass of wine) and enjoy the work of these nine artists.

Week Two Check-in - The Artist's Way

2009-06-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

This week went by incredibly fast and getting all the tasks, Morning Pages, Artist Date, etc. done was just under the line of my due date, last night at midnight. Writing three pages of Morning Pages, every morning, without cheating by writing large or drawing pictures was a challenge. Just going with the flow, writing down whatever *stuff* comes to mind - without the interference with my internal self editor - makes me feel like I am just trashing everything in sight. But getting the junk out leaves room for good things pouring in and I'm willing to do the work required.

Not that everything in the Morning Pages is all bad news however... I do find myself pouring out ideas for things to work on, gentle 'to do' lists andthat sort of thing. If I could ever turn that list of ideas into real working art and organizing them along some template or form, I'd be able to really work through things in a series, etc. Perhaps there is some kind of freeware out there that does that kind of thing, perhaps for writers and I can adapt it to series art? I'm open to suggestions.

My artist date this week was terrific for someone who has my particular slant on quilt art that is also assemblage/collage based. I went to my local, old-school hometown hardware store,Grisanti's. Now this store can hold anything from nails, PVC extenders to 2 inch forms for making chocolate candy bears. They always keep askingif they can help me, they are very service oriented, (not like the box stores) and they can't understand why I just like to wander, laugh and come up to the counter with a conglomeration of stuff that just looks like cr@p! But I had a terrific time.

My tasks,including creating personal affirmations that counter my inner critic's blurts of, "you're not a real artist", "when was the last time you sold something?", etc. have become easier to do this week. I am working with them in more detail and not just taking short-cuts to say I completed things (to serve who's interest?) BTW, my alternate lives (if I could live them) this week were: clothing designer, cake decorator, florist, art teacher for K-12, and I can't remember.

So, all in all, it was a pretty good week with me getting work started, finished and other stages in between. The important thing is...I'm working as an artist. And in the end, that's all I'm looking for.

O.K. Blogger and Etsy Shop up on Facebook

2009-06-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

I know the people that develop these programs **do** try to make it fairly easy for the technically-challenged to put it all together... But, I must really be at the high-end of T-C. That's the new application that Facebook should come up with - the 'How Technically-Challenged are you compared to Dawn Perry." Folks, I think we have a winner...

Attempting to add Blogger to my Facebook Page

2009-06-10T14:58:00.001-07:00

If anyone else is struggling with this option, can you share your experience?

Many thanks in advance,
dawn

Fiber & Stitch at the Steynberg Gallery

2009-05-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

Please join us for the Opening Reception of Fiber and Stitch during Art After Dark in San Luis Obispo, Friday, June 5th, 2009 from 6-9 PM at the Steynberg Gallery. Maps The show runs June 5th - June 30th, 2009.

Artists included inn this exhibit are:

Andi Perejda
Beryl Riechenberg
Catherine Currie
Claudia Davis
Dawn Perry
Gay McNeal
Gigi Kandler
Jackie Bradley
Janine Kirkpatrick
Jeanne Surber
Joan McBain
Joanne Hand
Kate Froman
Kathy Howard
Michelle Peerson
Myla Collier
Pamela Price Klebaum
Ranell Hansen
Rene Jennings
Sheila Lynn
Theresa Perry

Thank you for helping support your local artists and galleries! For more information about Art After Dark, please contact Arts Obispo.

Call for Fiber Art at the Steynberg Gallery

2009-01-21T08:39:00.000-08:00

I am assisting Peter Steynberg by collecting entries through our Cutting Edge Fiber Art Group. You may enter up to three pieces, excluding any that showed at our December fine arts show through the San Luis Obispo Art Center. I will be sending entry forms to all members via email automatically. Please forward to anyone in your circle that meets a Craft as Fine Art criteria.

Peter Steynberg has graciously opened his schedule to us and placed our show in the month of June 2009, his busiest tourist/income month. Thank you Peter! Please take a look at Peter's website, Steynberg Gallery and then decide if this is the place for your work to exhibit. Also, look at the past exhibit of ours at the SLO Art Center .

Looking forward to another fantastic show with you pushing the boundaries even further in your work.

Quilt Art Classes Offered

2009-01-12T16:20:00.000-08:00

February and March 2009
(exact dates to be announced)
- Classes scheduled for Betty's Fabric in SLO Town-

email: dperryartist at gmail.com for more information.

Beginning Fabric Collage - One weekend course (3 hours each day)
Maximum capacity - six to a class for more one-on-one time with instructor $45.00
Must bring sewing machine with straight-stitch and zigzag capabilities that you are familiar with.

Abstracting from Nature - Course over two weekends (3 hours each day)
Build your personalized wall collage from the bounties of nature. We will discuss and work hands on with abstracting forms from nature and then translating them through fiber, threads, paints, etc.
Maximum capacity - six to a class for more one-on-one time with instructor $85.00
Must bring sewing machine with straight-stitch and zigzag capabilities that you are familiar with.

Let's get busy at Betty's!

Open Studios Tour 2008 Weekend One!

2008-10-12T16:47:00.000-07:00

What a terrific turnout and wonderful people...

I just love being an artist in San Luis Obispo County. Arts Obispo has put together another wonderful year of promoting artists here on the Central Coast. Though the mornings were a bit nippy as the mercury dropped Friday night - hot spiced cider hit the spot at the studios of myself, Dawn Perry and Lauren Birkhahn. Here are a few studio and gallery shots to whet your appetite for the Encore Weekend October 25th and 26th.

Consider yourself invited!

My work space and two of my newest quilts

Some smaller pieces and lovely work light!

ONE section of the marvelous stash!

Show results and new work!

2008-06-24T15:04:00.000-07:00

The Atascadero Wine Festival was such a great experience and a terrific day, tho' a bit on the warm side. Attendance was terrific even with the temperature being high. (O.K., so high is high? They were icing the RED WINES!!!)

I met a lot of people who had never experienced my form of quilt art. The idea that I use found, non-fabric materials and artifacts was very intriguing to many people. I had two leads on future commissions which was a perfect end for the day. That kind of exposure is hard to come by and is usually found only when showing in a gallery or by word of mouth.

BTW, we raised money for the Charles Paddock Zoo, the only zoo located in all of San Luis Obispo County.

Here is a smaller piece I have just finished:

Showing at the Atascadero Wine Festival

2008-06-11T14:37:00.000-07:00

A unique, boutique wine festival that does more than offer a fun day in the sun! The Atascadero Wine Festival is a terrific fundraiser for the Charles Paddock Zoo in Atascadero as well as other local programs. If you love a well-tended, caring zoo perfect for kids of all ages and have an appreciation for fine wine, this is the wine fest for you!

Besides featuring 85 of the finest local wineries of the Central Coast pouring at the park by the lake, over 20 fine artists and vendors will be on hand for a fine day adventure. I will be showing some of my latest art quilts as well as having lovely quilted handbags and quilted postcards. Come join us:

Saturday, June 21st, 2008
Atascadero Lake Park
9100 Morro Road - 2 miles west on Morro Rd/Hwy 41 after the 101 bridge
Atascadero, CA
More info at:

www.AtascaderoWineFestival.com

Monterey Street Wine Co. says "Yes"

2008-05-27T14:03:00.000-07:00

I am so very pleased to say that Monterey Street Wine Co. in San Luis Obispo has offered to show my work. I made the phone call and got the 'thumbs up' and went in to meet the owner in person. John Stipicevich and his darling side-kick Donna (Donna has managed galleries and promoted artists) just made me feel so at home in this lovely wine tasting and fine cheese shop. I will be the featured artist for the month of August 2008.

Make sure to visit John and Donna at Monterey Street Wine Co. located at the corner of Monterey and Johnson Streets in San Luis Obispo. Have John pair up the perfect wine and cheese combination for your next get-together or special dinner. Give John a call at (805) 541-1255!

Establishing more of a presence on the Central Coast

2008-05-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Oh, the joy and anxiety of having a professional view my work!

I am currently awaiting news of a possible show in July/August here in San Luis Obispo, CA. The venue would be a perfect match for my work; and then, I could also create additional work that would lend itself to the atmosphere of the place.

Finding such a person that is truly interested in promoting the work of artists, with the knowledge of how difficult it can be to place work is a complete joy. Now, I have to sit back and see how we fit. This is the anxiety driven part for me and how I would love to hurry up the process!

How do you wait for that answer? The acceptance/decline letter in the mail... The quick, "This isn't really quite our style," phone call... OR, the face to face, "How soon can we have your work and how quickly can you produce more?" Oh, the memory of the elation of that moment keeps me going. Hoping, dreaming, creating, promoting - the full circle of the life that I have found and that I love!

Maybe I'll go ahead and make a check in phone call...

Launching Assemblage Art Quilts....

2008-05-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

What is an Art Quilt? Why in the world would you associate this medium with Assemblage? Am I confused about how to explain my work or is this a new emerging medium?

I will attempt to explain, give examples and be happy to engage in discourse with artists, teachers and the just darn curious people who might find me on the path of their own exploration.