May 8, 2021

The Artist:

Valerie S. Goodwin is an architect and professor who began designing and making quilts in 1998. Her interest began as part of her involvement in teaching architectural design classes at Florida A & M University’s School of Architecture. Her students investigate parallels between architecture & quilting as an introduction to ideas about composition, ordering systems, color, and pattern.

Valerie’s work as an artist uses architectural elements such as built form, city grid, mapping, and composition as a source of inspiration. These pieces are part of a continuing investigation of ideas that focus on geometrical relationships, patterns, and ordering principles found in architecture. Her work conveys these ideas abstractly, through the use of collage, layering, transparency, density, and improvisation.

Valerie’s work is known for its use of intricate lines and shapes which create complex fiber art maps. Closer inspection of her work shows that these patterns are city blocks and landscapes inspired by aerial views of real and imaginary places. She draws inspiration from architectural maps, plans, and concepts.

Recently, Valerie has added a series of fiber art maps that explore the possibilities of laser cut fabric. She is intrigued by the intricacy and complexity of the lines and shapes this technology can create. This new direction has given her the opportunity to further explore layering and transparency as well as light and shadow by creating what she calls “lace-like” maps. Although it is a new direction, her work still focuses on the geometrical relationships, patterns & ordering principles found in architecture.

Guild Meeting/Program:  Cutting Edge Explorations

Technology’s increasing influence on the world of art is widespread.  It is changing how art is made and has been providing artists with new ways to express themselves for a very long time.  Valerie’s current work as a quilt artist has been affected by technology, specifically through the use of laser cutting technology.  She will elaborate on how she uses it in her fiber art maps and in her work as an architectural educator.  Her talk will focus on these questions:
How does technology push art?
How can it push work of artists who work in textile arts?
How has laser cutter technology influence Valerie’s work as a fiber artist?

Date/Time: May 8, 2021 10:30 AM (following Guild meeting)

Location: Online (Zoom)

Extended Workshop: Map Haiku (2-1/2 days)
Get in the zone. Go zen!! Tap into your innermost creative side. Make a beautiful mixed media map of an imaginary place inspired by haiku – a minimalist form of poetry.

Students taking this workshop will create a series of small, simple, and understated art quilt maps that capture the feeling of haiku written by each student during the course of the class. The instructor will guide the student through a structured yet nurturing series of steps that provides opportunities to grow and learn. Although machine stitching in an option, hand stitching is a key part of the workshop.

Workshop Fee: Members: $200.00 Non-Members: $275.00

Date/Time: May 8, 2021 1:00 to 4:00 PM

Location: Online (Zoom)

Date/Time: May 9 – 10, 2021 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Location: Online (Zoom)

Student Supply List:

1/2 yard each of black, white and gray silk organza – can be bought from:
http://www.voguefabricsstore.com/Silk-Organza-Fabric/
https://www.denverfabrics.com/c1030_apparel-fabric-silk-fabrics-silk-organza
https://www.thaisilks.com//index.php?cPath=1_11

Small pair of very sharp scissors for cutting fabric; small pair of scissors for cutting paper; 1 yard of Misty- Fuse WHITE, 1/2 yard of Misty- Fuse BLACK http://www.mistyfuse.com/
Iron; inexpensive flat artist brushes ranging in size from 1⁄4” to 1”flat art brush; inexpensive 2” (+/-) house painter’s brush; a few foam stencil brushes; glue stick; teflon sheet or parchment paper.

Select one from below:
Fabric paints (primary colors + black + white paint or … a set of muted colors that you like) OR
Acrylic paints (primary colors + black + white paint) and a small bottle of GAC 900 Fabric medium or equivalent

Medium sized rotary cutter; black, white, and gray thread for machine sewing (in addition bring any other thread colors that you favor from your stash); gridded rotary cutter ruler; painter’s tape; needles for hand sewing; pins; plastic cups & plates; a few garbage bags; sewing machine with walking foot and free motion foot; any decorative threads that you like for hand sewing; thimble

Fabric: (light, medium and dark muted values) (please bring plenty of light colors)
Varied commercial or hand dyed solid fabrics.
Marbled fabric
Fabric with subtle prints

Crinoline utility fabric, such as Joann’s Item # 1491265

Black Micron pens (or equivalent), Minimum 3 point sizes — 01 (0.25 mm), 03 (0.35 mm), and 05 (0.45 mm)

Note: You will be making relatively small pieces, therefore you will not need large quantities of fabric, but you will need an assortment of colors and values with which to work.

Nice to have but not essential:

1. a few pieces of silk organza, various colors other than black, white or gray (possible sources include Vogue Fabrics, Denver Fabrics or Etsy. It is not that essential.
2. Laser cut map elements such as trees, buildings, etc. that are ready to fuse

A pdf for a practice map will be given to students prior to class beginning

Click here to print.