Intense Color Challenge

The Intense Color Challenge at the Downey Gallery at University Baptist Church, Hattiesburg, MS, July 3-29, 2022.

The Invitation

Intense Color Challenge - This exhibit is the result of an intense color study undertaken by Southern Fiber Artists.  The challenge required use of a monochromatic color scheme (no black or white) in an unusual size, 15" wide x 45" high using color cards from Joen Wolfrom’s 3-in-1 Color Tool (updated 3rd edition). The inspiration for this exhibit came from a Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) exhibit entitled: Prism Play: A Full Spectrum of Art Quilts, curated by Cara Gulati in California. The SAQA exhibit contains 62 quilts and will travel until 2026. 

Southern Fiber Artists is group of like-minded artists sharing a love of textile art.   Our members have diverse talents and interests.  We meet quarterly throughout the state and are open to interested textile artists. 

We are happy for the opportunity to share this spectrum of color in the Downey Gallery at University Baptist Church.

The rest of the story--When I made entries for Prism Play I thought my chances of getting in were so slim that last August (2021) I told my Southern Fiber Artists group about it and suggested we do a deep dive into color study with a similar project, with an August 2022 completion date, hoping we could hold an exhibit somewhere in the future. They embraced the plan enthusiastically and began to make quilts. When I showed some pictures to friends at church, the chairman of our Faith in the Arts Committee invited us to hold an exhibit in our Downey Gallery in July 2022. Here are the 35 pieces, representing all 24 color cards. 

Flying Fish and Morning Walks

Flying Fish: Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) is a fiber art organization I belong to. Their next conference will be in Florida and they put out a call for 250 donated fish or sea creatures of any kind, flat or stuffed, no larger than 12". So this was a fun way to spend my day. These guys are in the mail to Karol Kusmaul for the conference. They are photographed on green fabric but are free-flying. They won't be returned to the artist but will be re-purposed in some way. It will be interesting to see what will become of these.

I have waited and watered all summer, hoping for beautiful hydrangea blooms. Finally, in October, here is what I found. 

But you can count on coleus to multiply and even go to seed if you let it. 

There is very little else blooming right now. There is one lone blossom on the azaleas along my front sidewalk. I hope it is a sign of what is to come in the spring of 2021.

This tiny vine was growing along the edge of my street in several places. It is shaped like a Morning Glory but much smaller.

When there aren't many flowers blooming, Monkey Grass puts on a show with purple spikey blossoms. I love Pampas Grass if it is in someone else's yard. The fronds are very sharp and will scratch or cut your arms and legs. I will enjoy walking past this healthy plant.