Opening of "A World of Stitches"

Well, yesterday was the big day--the opening of A World of Stitches at the Bellefonte Museum--which also happened to be the first show I've participated in. I thought about writing this entry like it was no big deal and I have openings all the time. You know, like I'm so very cool and collected. But who am I kidding, I'm not remotely cool! And to be honest, it was a really big deal and I was very excited.

Kevin and I arrived at the museum in the beautiful Linn House in downtown Bellefonte and were welcomed by museum director and curator, Patricia House. We walked into the first gallery and I was immediately blown away by all the fabulous pieces from Panama and Benin.

Then Pat told me to turn around--both panels of the Early Morning Club flanked the doorway. Oddly enough, even though I was attending my opening, I was surprised to see them. I had worked so hard attaching all 112 pieces to the screening that I never really thought about how they would look displayed in the gallery.

(Kevin took most of the photographs.)

Seeing them all displayed in chronological order was fascinating to me. I could trace my stream of thought and identify shifts in my point of view. But I took just a moment to look at it before I had to check out the rest of the show.

Kevin helped me find Cash's Mountain, which was displayed over the fireplace.

and Fragment #4 and Plastic Grid,
which were displayed next to this fabulous work by Aldeth Spence Christy, who was one of the artists that worked on Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party.


Sue Reno is an award-winning artist whose work I have long admired. So it was absolutely thrilling to have pieces in the show with her. She attended the opening as well, and we had a wonderful conversation about art, process, poison ivy, and Pittsburgh. I don't want to spill her secrets, but I was relieved to learn that she doesn't measure! Nice to meet a quilt artist with similar sensibilities. Here is her Daylilies at Dawn.

The flags from Benin were fantastic. I didn't get a chance to take as many pictures as I would have liked, but I know I'll get a chance again when my mother and grandmother visit.

And the molas were absolutely irresistible. They were framed under glass, so did not photograph particularly well, but there were also vintage molas from the Kuna tribe for sale. I bought three. (I told you I couldn't resist!)




The show was so beautiful. Pat House did a fabulous job in conceiving and executing the show. Even though the work by the different artists were different, the show was amazingly coherent and the pieces were beautifully displayed. I highly recommend checking it out! (I would even if I weren't in it.)

Exhibiting in this show was motivational. One of the best parts of the day, which didn't photograph well at all, was to be able to talk about my work and answer questions about it. It felt good to know that I created work that interested people. So now all I want to do is make more art and get it out in the world!

Indulge me with one last photograph, of Kevin and me. He's believed in me from the beginning and has been telling me for years to get my art out there. And now I am so proud to look at him and know I finally did.