Herbs in the Flowerbed

I love herbs almost as much as flowers, not so much for cooking as to just walk past and enjoy the fragrance. Here is my flowerbed near the driveway and garage that I walk past every time I enter or leave. From the left are a giant rosemary bush, variegated thyme, basil, parsley. Near the rosemary the light-colored plant is curry (ornamental, not for cooking) that has a delightful scent.
In the front on the right are Blue Daze (evolvulus glomerata), trailing vinca, penta, coleus, and Diamond Frost (Euphorbia). The clay pot holds an interesting blue star-shaped flower that is as beautiful as the Blue Daze (lost its name), and the white pot contains a prolific invasive weed that rewards me with green and white variegated leaves.

This is one happy rosemary bush!

I never harvest my parsley but let it grow as much as it will, hoping that a caterpillar will discover it and eat her fill and then form a chrysallis when she is ready. These make beautiful black swallowtail butterflies if the birds don't have a feast first. I try to watch for the chrysallis stage and give some protection with netting. I have even been lucky enough to see the butterfly emerge and stretch her wings before flying off. This takes more patience than I think I have nowadays, but I can try.

Variegated thyme. I am hoping it will thrive and trail down over the stones.

The basil makes a nice little bouquet when the tops need to be pinched off. It is a cheery addition to the kitchen window.

Exhibit at Hattiesburg Country Club, April-June 2010

Pieces of the Past (Strawberries)

Return of the Trees, Sunflower

Ghost Flower, Thread Lily

Pieces of the Past, Kitchen Garden Series-Pumpkin, Mississippi Magnolias

Thread Lily, Pumpkin Patch

My fiber art is on exhibit in the main hallway of the Hattiesburg Country Club during April, May and June of 2010. The Pieces of the Past series features 8 x 10 and 11 x 14 matted and framed sections of a crazy quilt made circa 1900. I bought the quilt because of its beauty, but it had too many worn-through and problem areas to use in its whole form. After much thought, I elected to cut the good sections out and frame them under glass so that they could be enjoyed. Even the threadbare sections are beautiful, and where necessary I secured the fragile areas with black tulle to hold the delicate bits of thread and fabric in place. This quilt had more embroidered stitches on it than any other I had seen.

Thread Lily and Mississippi Magnolias are done with "thread-painting"--in other words, I used thread instead of paint to create the flowers. Return of the Trees is my tribute to the regrowth of trees after Hurricane Katrina's devastation in 2005. Angel Trumpet is painted on white silk and then stitched with polyester and rayon threads and framed under glass.

Spring Blooms

Where does the time go? After a very cold winter (with even one snow day in South Mississippi), we are blessed with a riot of color as the azaleas, amaryllis, geraniums, and hydrangeas are blooming, just ahead of the yellow/orange daylilies. My yellow Lady Banksia rose put on another fantastic show with its profusion of tiny flowers again this spring, but I missed getting a photograph. These pictures will be great inspiration for my fiber art.

Pine Belt Quilters 25th Anniversary

Little did I know back in October of 1984 when Doris Aultman, Susan Kelley, Gail Rowland, and I formed Pine Belt Quilters that the guild would be so large and vital 25 years later. Our beginning membership of 25 has grown to nearly 200 and has led to some of the best friendships and memories of my life.
To celebrate this milestone, the guild issued an anniversary challenge to create a wall quilt (min/max 24"-30"). Nine members created a variety of clever pieces, with Jo-Ann Evans winning the challenge (see PBQ's blog entry of November 2009). PBQ means so many things to me that I could not limit myself to one event or image, so I created a collage or album of photos scanned onto fabric and applied to the background. It contains our membership directory covers, photos from early retreats, shows, and activities. I quilted it on my new Handy Quilter 16. It was fun going back through our interesting history to gather reminders of learning, sharing, and fellowshipping.

Pacific Coast

Pacific Coast is my rendition of a scene I photographed on a trip to Washington State in 2004. The piece is 18" wide x 15" high and finished with organza ribbon on the edges and features several techniques I learned from Linda Schmidt. Beginning with a solid piece of Kona cotton, I painted the sky with blues and pinks and pearl white paints and placed it in the background. The water and sand were painted in several shades of blue/green and tan and then cut apart and restitched in layers. I cut the rocks from a Mickey Lawler Skydyes fabric. Angelina fibers, painted and melted cellophane and organza were added to create ocean foam and spray.

The Quilter Magazine article--March 2010

In November 2009 my good friend Lucy Fazely contacted me saying she was invited to write an article "about a talented machine quilter" for The Quilter Magazine. How thrilled I was that she considered me that person and interviewed me for the article. This took place just before I was to leave for a dream workshop at Caryl Bryer Fallert's Paducah studio and also just before my husband was scheduled for brain surgery for relief of his severe Parkinson's symptoms. So when the March 2010 article came out in January 2010, I was pleased that my rattled state was not apparent, thanks to Lucy's skilled writing. (The surgery went well and we think he shows some improvement.)

How exciting it is to see one's artwork in print and be able to share this news with friends and family. Events like this also give us a chance to think deeply about what we do and why we do it and put those thoughts into words. Our creative endeavors are essential to our emotional wellbeing, and having the fruits of our labors printed so colorfully--well, it is just too rewarding for words!

Hattiesburg City Hall Exhibit

Our City Hall in Hattiesburg has a rotating exhibit of artwork, sometimes using paintings of historic buildings from their permanent collection by outstanding local artists Dinnie St. John and Beverly Dennis featuring historic buildings. Patty Hall of the Hattiesburg Arts Council asked me to display my fiber art during the months of September and October in the main floor hallway and in the upstairs office hallway.

Gallery Point Leflore

A new gallery in Greenwood, Mississippi, Gallery Point Leflore, accepted fourteen of my works to display in their gallery. This gallery opened July 31, 2009, and has been an exciting addition to the revitalized downtown section of Greenwood.

Quoting from their website, "Gallery Point Leflore focuses on contemporary Southern art with a wide variety of both folk and fine arts in multiple media and styles. The gallery takes its name from the geographical site in Leflore County where the Tallahatchie and Yalobusha Rivers meet to form the muddy Yazoo River. The symbolism spoke to us as it represents individuals who meet to form a bold union greater than the sum of its parts."

Explosion at the Paint Factory

My exhibit at the Cottonlandia Museum in Greenwood was very well-received, and twelve pieces sold. What an honor to learn that Explosion at the Paint Factory was purchased by the board as part of the museum's permanent art collection. This piece was made several years ago and remains one of my all-time favorites. My sadness over not having it any longer is heavily outweighed by my joy in knowing that it has a home where many people can enjoy it. I consider it a great honor to have my work in this outstanding collection.

Visual Arts Fellowship from Mississippi Arts Commission

Share my joy over this exciting news! I was awarded a $4,400 Visual
Arts Fellowship from the Mississippi Arts Commission to be used for
further development as a fiber artist. The press release in the Hattiesburg American is quoted below:

Martha Ginn receives Mississippi Arts Commission Fellowship
(Jackson, MS) – Martha Ginn of Hattiesburg has been awarded a $4,400 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC).
This grant is a portion of the $1.5 million in grants the Commission will award in 2009-2010 and will be used to further her development as a fiber artist. The grants are made possible by continued funding from the Mississippi State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.
“The individual artists across the state continue to offer their talents to prove the value of the arts in Mississippi. Their creation of art and participation in local events and activities helps to insure the economic success of their community. The Mississippi Arts Commission is proud to support their efforts,” said Malcolm White, Executive Director of MAC.
Martha Ginn creates original fiber art pieces, combining traditional quilting techniques with non-traditional materials and methods, often blending fabric with paint, layering, and extensive surface stitching. The fellowship is to be used to support the artist’s professional development or the creation of new work. She is active in South Mississippi Art Association, Pine Belt Quilters, Mississippi Quilt Association, and the Area Development Partnership. Her work has been exhibited at the Lucile Parker Gallery of William Carey University, the Mississippi Arts Commission Offices, and is currently on display at the Cottonlandia Museum in Greenwood, Mississippi.
The Mississippi Arts Commission is a state agency serving residents of the state by providing grants that support programs to enhance communities, assist artists and arts organizations; promote the arts in education and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage. Established in 1968, the Mississippi Arts Commission is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Wallace Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation, Donna & Jim Barksdale, the Phil Hardin Foundation, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson and other private sources. The agency serves as an active supporter and promoter of arts in community life and in arts education.

Exhibit at Cottonlandia Museum, Greenwood, MS

The Cottonlandia Museum in Greenwood, Mississippi, is one of the Mississippi Delta's best-kept secrets! It chronicles the history of Leflore County with special emphasis on the cotton industry, but it also houses fascinating artifacts which tell the history of the area, including one of the largest collections of historic trade beads known. The town and county are named for Greenwood Leflore, a Choctaw chief, planter, and Mississippi State Senator.

A fine art collection includes works by Theodora Hamblett, Marie Hull, William Dunlap, and many others. It is my honor for 35 pieces of my fiber art to be displayed from July 9-August 27 in two rooms of this charming museum.

Heavenly Bodies, Sycamore Leaf, Ghost Flower, Butterfly Crossing, Sun Print on Damask
Black & White Series: Rose Garden and Falling Ginkgoes
In the Beginning, Pyrotechnics


Pyrotechnics, Mariposa, Leaf Shadows, Wisteria & Fern


The Elements Series: Water, Fire, Earth, Water

Angel Trumpet (foreground), Finding My Way, Fish Eyes, Purple Mountains

Cabin in the Woods (collaboration with Mary Nell Magee)

Opening Reception table with Jennifer Whites, Art and Education Coordinator, and Mary Safarik, Education Outreach Coordinator, with the "green" decorations made from recycled materials. The vibrant colors were chosen to coordinate with the bold colors of the fiber art.

Mississippi Magnolias, Color in Chaos, Tropical Paradise (collaboration with Mary Nell Magee), Island Tree

Artist talk describing techniques and inspirations

Crazy Patch Sunflowers, Bird's Eye View

Dave Freeman is the Interim Director of the Museum; Hildren Streeter is in charge of maintenance and also helped us hang the show. The museum is located at 1608 Highway 82 W in Greenwood. Open every day; phone 662-453-0925 for hours.

Mississippi Arts Commission Display April-June

While my solo exhibition was on display at the Lucile Parker Gallery at William Carey University in January-February, Malcolm White, executive director of the Mississippi Arts Commission, saw it and had his assistant, Candice Thomley, call and invite me to show my work in the Gallery of the MAC office in Jackson. The MAC is the official agency for the arts in Mississippi and is housed on the 11th floor of the historic 16-story Woolfolk State Office Building, 501 N. West Street, a half block from the capitol. What an honor!
The display space in their office consists of five free-standing double-sided black wooden panels. On four of the panels I hung larger works, while on the remaining six I placed from two to four pieces. The works will be on display from April 6-June 25, with a closing reception on June 25 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. All state employees are invited to attend.

The Elements Series: Earth, Fire, Air, and Water

The Wellness Center Pool (Institute for Wellness and Sports Medicine, Hattiesburg) and photo inspiration.

Mary Nell Magee and Elaine Magee helped me hang the exhibit.

Artist Talk at Solo Exhibit

About 50 people attended the Artist Talk on February 3 at the Lucile Parker Gallery to hear about my path from traditional quilter to contemporary fiber artist. Of course, the question was asked, "How long does it take?" I had to admit that I rarely work on one piece at a time from inception to completion, so my answer would have to be a wild guess. When the joy is in the creating, the length of time required seems insignificant.

The exhibit came down February 11 and I will eagerly anticipate my next opportunity to show a body of my work. I have been invited to display in the gallery space at the Mississippi Arts Commission in Jackson from April 6-June 25.

Quick Draw Benefit for AIDS Services Coalition

Twenty-four artists rose to the challenge of producing a piece of art in an hour's time (plus 15 minutes to frame it) as a benefit for the AIDS Services Coalition in Hattiesburg, MS, last Sunday afternoon. South Mississippi Art Association sponsored this second annual event. Ticket holders milled about the huge Bottling Company (the 100-year-old former Coca-Cola bottling company remodeled as a lounge) enjoying food and drink as they watched the artists at work. John Wooten's steel drum and singing provided great background music. As he kept the artists posted on the remaining time on the clock, his music added a psychological boost. Beautiful island music in the early part, becoming more fast-paced the closer we got to the ending bell.

Artists worked in oil, watercolor, pencil, and--ta-da--fabric. We were allowed to bring a beginning rough sketch to begin our project. I had fused my fabric elements onto the background piece and layered it with batting. I brought the threads and Neocolor II crayons I needed to embellish the piece, along with my table and Janome 6500 and scissors and a few pins. The finished piece fit into an 11x14 frame and brought $200 at the live auction. The event is definitely not for the cautious and intimidated--a great way to help us gain confidence in our decisions and creativity. The visitors enjoyed asking questions and watching the artwork take shape. It was interesting to hear "Oh, that's the way you do that!"

Show Publicity

The local newspaper, the Hattiesburg American, devoted 3/4 page in the 1/18/09 Sunday paper to three photos and captions about the show--pretty exciting! The invitation piece, Regenerating Fire, sold, breaking up the four elements. However, it was so much fun to make that I just might repeat it.