Benedicte Caneill

My work: “Units 27-Sunburst” is part of the exhibit, Form Not Function, opening tomorrow at the Carnegie Center for the Arts, in New Albany (Indiana).  It is the 10th anniversary of this juried exhibition which explores the world of contemporary art quilts and features this year the work of 25 artists from across the United States.  I am honored to be part of them.

Opening Reception, 10th Anniversary Form, Not Function: Quilt Art at the Carnegie, Friday May 10, 6-8 pm

You can find more about the history of the Carnegie center here.

This work is 68″ x 68″ and is made with some fabrics I monotyped with fabric paints and some others I dyed with MX procion dyes.

Spring is here, buds are swelling, I allow myself to dream…

Made on the iPad with Sketch Club App.

Three of my works will be exhibited at the Windsor Whip Works Gallery, in Windsor (NY) from March 16 to April 13 in a show titled: Fabulous Fibers and Bewitching Baskets.  The gallery is in a building that hosted a buggy whip factory in the nineteenth century.  This Italian ornate building was recently renovated.  Bill and Johanne Pesce are co-directors of the gallery.

This is the postcard which shows a sample of the works exhibited by eight artists.

The artists in the show are:  Esterita Austin, Sharon Bottle Soava, Benedicte Caneill, Lorraine Chwazik, Marcia DeCamp, Pat Pauly, Judith Plotner, Cheri Sheridan and Jamin Uticone.

The curator chose three of my works.  All have a botanical reference in the title.

Units 18: Gardenscape

Units 21: Jungle Fever

Units 26: When Botany Meets Geometry

The present show at the Blue Door Gallery in Yonkers, NY is titled: Show and Tell 5 and runs from February 23 to March 16.  I am honored to have four pieces in the show.  One of them is titled: The Observer Observed.  It is made of painted fabrics, monotyped fabrics and photo transfer on fabric.  It is 26″ long and 16″ wide.

Every Saturday during the show, three artists give a presentation of their technique.  Today Evelyn Eidelberg, Randy Frost and myself gave a presentation.

Evelyn who, among many artistic skills make dolls, taught us how to make pencil dolls using yarn, pipe cleaners and beads.

I gave a presentation of the techniques I use in my work, from monotyping my fabrics to free-motion quilting.

Finally, Randy Frost presented her method of constructing her colorful collages.

Then she gave each a person a paper collage to interpret in fabric.

It was a lively and entertaining afternoon.  There are two more Saturdays of demonstrations.  Here is the schedule:

One of my pieces, Cityscape, is part of this exhibit:   9 x 9 x 3: Salon des Refusés

On view Sept. 13–Nov. 18, 2012, at Guild Gallery II at the Fulton Center of the Hudson Guild, 119 Ninth Ave., (betw. 17th & 18th Sts.), New York City.  Opening Reception: Thurs., Sept. 13, 6:00−7:30 pm.

74 pieces by 74 artists from the Textile Study Group of New York are on view.

For more information: http://www.tsgny.org/EXHIBITIONS.html

Two of my pieces will be on display during the event: Fiber Philadelphia 2012.  You can find information on their website:  “Fiber Philadelphia is an international biennial and regional festival for innovative fiber/textile art. Exhibitions are planned for 40 locations including major institutions and independent venues. They will include work by renowned international artists and a new generation of artists breaking into the field.”

My work, Reverberation II, part of the Fiber Botswana collection, is at the 728 Gallery, part of the Brandywine Workshop:

Fiber Revolution Botswana Collection
728 Gallery
March 24 – April 28, 2012
Closing Reception and Tour: Sat, April 28, 2pm
728 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146

Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm   Sat 1 – 4pm
www.fiberrevolution.com

The other work, Units 31: Rhythm in Lights, is part of the traveling show: Material Witnesses by the members of the Manhattan Quilters Guild.

Material Witnesses: Manhattan Quilters Guild
Abington Art Center
March 29 – May 13, 2012
Reception: Sunday April 1, 3 – 5pm
515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown, PA 19046
215-887-4882
Wed – Fri, 10am – 5pm  Thurs, 10am – 7pm  Sat & Sun, 10am – 3pm
Closed Mon, Tues & some holidays
www.abingtonartcenter.org

I will be attending the opening reception at the Abington Art Center as well as several other openings this week-end, including Art Quilt Elements on March 30. 

A few years ago, I took out a book from the library: The Decorated Page by Gwen Diehn.   I liked it so much that I kept checking it out every time it was back on the shelf.  I finally purchased a copy.  In 2010, I met Gwen Diehn and last year she asked if I could send her pictures of pages of my journals for the new book she was writing: The Complete Decorated Journal.  I just received my advance copy and I am so excited!  This new book is a combination of two of her previously published books: The Decorated Page and The Decorated Journal, with updated information and profiles from journaling artists. It is a treasure chest of information for any person, whether beginner or seasoned artist.  I am honored to be included in this book and I am grateful for the opportunity.  Here is a photo of the cover as well as an image of my artist profile page:

One of the journal pages chosen for the book is an account of my trip to Philadelphia two years ago to see the Fiber Biennial at the Snyderman gallery. Journaling helps you remember what you did or places you saw.  Last Wednesday I went back to Philadelphia to see some of the exhibits part of the event: Fiber Philadelphia, “an international biennial and regional festival for innovative fiber/textile art.”  On my way to the Snyderman gallery I saw some of the places represented in my journal page: the souvenir store, the pet supply store and the window of an Italian restaurant that no longer has a curtain.

Two of my works: Memory and Underground City will be part of the exhibit at the Blue Door Gallery from March 24 to April 21 in Yonkers, NY:  13 Riverdale Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701

Reception: Thursday, March 29   5:30pm to 7:30pm. Juror’s talk: 6pm

Memory   57″ x 30″   (Monotyped fabrics with procion MX dyes, stitched)

Detail:

Underground City   50″ x 30″  (Mixed media: canvas, felt, paper, paint, gel medium, thread)

Detail:

9  x 9 x 3:  NEW VISIONS is an exhibit of members of the Textile Study Group of New York and includes 52 works of fiber art, each created to fit inside 9″ x 9″ x 3″ boxes.

9 x 9 x 3: NEW VISIONS will be on view from January 25 to March 2, 2012 and will later travel to other venues.  A digitally-printed catalog will be available. The artworks  were chosen by curator, Janet Koplos, Senior Editor of Art in America for 18 years and a guest editor at American Craft.  The exhibition will be shown in the Lobby Gallery of the 40-story Durst office Building,
1155 Sixth Avenue (Sixth Avenue between West 44th & 45th Streets.) New York, NY

One of my artworks: La Dame Blanche was chosen for the 9 x 9 x 3 NEW VISIONS exhibition.

The opening is February 2, 2012 from 6-8 PM

The Voice Within         2011                20″  x  14″                                   Private Collection

Looking away in the distance seems to be a recurring theme in my work.  In 2003,  I made another piece:  Joyful Meditation  (22″ x 18″), picturing people watching fireworks on July 14 (Bastille Day) over my hometown: Toulouse (France).

Joyful Meditation (detail)

Best wishes for 2012!