Sisters Art Works hosts quilt show

Sisters Art Works is known as a hub for the arts community in Sisters. That, combined with Sister's notoriety as a quilting mecca, makes the show to be hosted at Sisters Art Works one that will be sure to please art enthusiasts.

The members of the quilt group "Journeys" will show their vast array of quilting techniques in a colorful collection beginning January 15. The show, entitled "Following the Thread - A Conversation in Fabric," will run through February 28.

A reception will be held January 16, from 4 to 6 p.m.

This will be the first joint show for the group.

There is a common thread that runs between all the pieces. They are all considered "art quilts." Defining exactly what an art quilt is can be a challenge, with answers as diverse as the people creating them.

"Generally, art quilts are hung on the wall," said master quilter Tonye Belinda-Phillips. "But there's a broad interpretation of what that means; it can be done by hand, by machine and in all kinds of mediums."

Some art quilts include paints, beads or really anything that can be imagined, while others use no embellishments and are simply done with color, shape and line.

There are 14 members of the group, including master quilters Tonye Belinda-Phillips, Jean Wells, Lori Gailey, Donna Cherry, Betty Gientke, Ruth Ingham, Charlene Kenny, Jan Lau, Mary Ann Lisk, Joanne Myers, Donna Rice, Ann Richardson, Robin Ryan, and Mary Stiewig. Members come from Sisters, Bend, Eagle Crest and Black Butte Ranch.

Ruth Ingham will be showing a quilt called "The Road to Timbuktu." She likes incorporating her travels into pictorial quilts and is a highly respected expert in quilt restoration and conservation as well as being a certified quilt appraiser.

Ann Richardson's piece is called "Ptera/Wing." It's done in a technique created by Jean Wells called "Portrait Style Quilts." Each mini-quilt portrait features a winged creature - dragonfly or butterfly.

"I'd describe my quilting interests as anything having to do with color," said Richardson. "Contemporary or traditional - it's all about playing with color for me. I prefer making smaller pieces, like Ptera, as I enjoy the more intricate quilting I can do on a piece of this size."

Ann Richardson is the Executive Director of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and Jean Wells is the founder of the event. Wells has ventured into intuitive, contemporary, abstract quilt design, while Richardson is known for her precision work.

Donna Cherry has won awards for her heavily embellished and detailed quilts using a myriad of machine thread work, beading and paints. Joanne Myers is a master at her craft, using bright colors and beautiful hand appliqué in her quilts. She has taught paper-piecing in Bend and Sisters and names Wells as a major inspiration in her life.

"Our Journeys group has enriched my life with new friendships and interests," she said.

Putting all that talent in one room was a dream come true for founding member Lori Gailey. About two years ago, Gailey had an idea; bring a group of skilled, like-minded, Master Quilters together to study, create and share their love of "art quilts." As her vision took shape, the group grew from meeting in member's homes to gathering at the Sisters Public Library the first Monday of every month.

The members bring experience from a diverse collection of quilting skills; their ages range from 30 to 80 years old.

Phillips enjoys the fact that so many different techniques and interpretations can still fall in the same Art Quilt category.

"It's an artistic outlet and a way to try new techniques with new materials and then share our discoveries," she said.

The group experiments with new products, plays with dyeing fabrics, bleaching and applying paints.

When they get together, meetings are geared toward furthering their quilting knowledge, including hands-on demonstrations of different techniques, supplies and mediums.

"We discuss our favorite artists and what inspires us," said Phillips. "We invite visiting fabric artists to do presentations, critique each others' work and set goals for new projects."

After meeting and working together for a couple of years, it seemed like it was time for the group to share some of their work as well as offer some of the pieces for sale.

The show will have quilts for all quilt and art lovers. Sisters Art Works is located at 204 W. Adams Ave. and is open during regular office hours. For more information contact Tonye Belinda-Phillips at [email protected]