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Feedback Mysteries

Thursday, June 12th, 2014

So I recently sent a couple quilts out to be in national juried shows.   Let me begin by saying that I truly do respect the judges and the difficulty of the judging process.  But I thought that some folks new to entering shows or who might consider entering shows would like to know what comments are like.   I’ve waited a while since receiving these two quilts back so folks couldn’t really guess (or do a lot of work) to figure out which shows and which judges because I DO respect them and their job.

The comments on this quilt are the one that most mystify me.

Conversations 1 (c) www.SarahAnnSmith.com

Conversations 1 (c) www.SarahAnnSmith.com

The comments received were:

  • Best Features:    
    • Raw edges work well done    
    • Piecing in background
  • Area(s) to Improve:    
    • Value Changes to emphasize depth and shadow

Best features:  OK:  Thank you for the compliment on raw edge work, which is usually disparaged.  Thank you for the compliment on piecing; however, there IS no piecing.  It is all fused.  I will take that as a compliment that the fusing was so well done that they thought it was pieced.

Areas to improve:  I am utterly perplexed.  HOW could I have further value changes?  The pale color of the stone and dark of the shadows is about as extreme as it gets this side of black and white.  The only thing I can figure out is that perhaps they want some shadow on the wall versus the surface of the patio.   I will note at this point that this is a composite image from several photos, but with the angle of the sun used from the first photo with two chairs and the table, a corner of the patio as in this scene would have been utterly flooded with light and  have no shadows, just perhaps a bit of grunge where ground met wall.   This scene is from the Getty Museum in LA, and the sun was screaming blue sunny sky–flooded with light.   ????

I take comments seriously (most of the time) because I want to learn and improve.  So my question to all of you is:

Can you figure out where they want me to improve value changes to emphasize depth and shadow?  I’d love suggestions.  Please, be kind to the judges.

Then I got this quilt back.

Clothed in Color (c) www.SarahAnnSmith.com

Clothed in Color (c) www.SarahAnnSmith.com

The area to improve was that (I’m paraphrasing as I don’t feel like rooting around to find the comment sheet) “the off-center composition is good, but there is too much negative space.”   This comment I am utterly ignoring.  The figure (me) is in a doorway.  That is how much negative space there IS in a doorway.  And the amount of space is intentional:  it conveys the feeling of isolation and tension I wanted to express about that time in my life.  So I’m chalking it up to “they just didn’t get it.”  I’m OK with that.

 

NYC! Grand Central and the subways

Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014

OH MY– I kept walking around saying what a BEAUTIFUL building…the shine of the stone, that CEILING (which numbskull that I am I forgot to take a picture) in the Great Hall, every detail, inside, outside.  We got to see the quilts celebrating Grand Central in the museum, and I got to wander through the market there with the most incredible (and expensive) meats and cheeses and wines and pastries and and and…… Mostly I just photographed the Building, so enjoy:

Quintessential View of the entrance to Grand Central.  Deirdre wanted to make sure I got to see the special stuff..wonderful!

Quintessential View of the entrance to Grand Central. Deirdre wanted to make sure I got to see the special stuff..wonderful!

And a close up of the clock...what detail!  What art!

And a close up of the clock…what detail! What art!

In the subway, a mural and music

In the subway, a mural and music

I loved the tile mosaics at each station.  Can you imagine any big city paying what it would cost to do this work today?   I can’t either.  Glad they did it long ago and far away:

Grand Central Station mosaics

Grand Central Station mosaics

42nd Street Station

42nd Street Station

Times Square Station

Times Square Station

Canal St Station, which is apparently near Chinatown

Canal St Station, which is apparently near Chinatown

A fancy tile at the Canal Street Station

A fancy tile at the Canal Street Station

Look at that color and design--what a fabulous quilt that would make!

Look at that color and design–what a fabulous quilt that would make!

The cacophony of the interchanges, this one at Times Square advertising the musical/show Kinky Boots

The cacophony of the interchanges, this one at Times Square advertising the musical/show Kinky Boots

And the quintessential NYC subway shot--obviously NOT at rush hour!

And the quintessential NYC subway shot–obviously NOT at rush hour!

Next on the NY tour:  BUILDINGS!

Adeste Fideles and the Coventry Carol

Sunday, December 22nd, 2013

Remember how I said I like my carols very traditional? It doesn’t get much more traditional than this. Enjoy this afternoon’s carols. I tried to find the version of Adeste Fideles that I have by the Irish Tenors, but no luck, but this version certainly fits the bill, even if it is sung all in English without the Latin:

And I’ve also enjoyed The Coventry Carol from a compilation album, A Very Special Christmas, I bought years ago. I didn’t grow up with this song, but love it anyway:

The Magi by Peter, Paul and Mary

Sunday, December 16th, 2012

There area few things that are essential to the holidays, no matter what your faith.  First and foremost is family, friends and love.  Then there are a few things that I do or listen to that are required for it to really feel like the holiday season.  Peter, Paul and Mary’s Holiday Concert is at the top of that list.  I first saw it on PBS.  I bought the VHS tape.  Then I bought the DVD.  Then I bought the music on iTunes.  I love almost every song on the show, and this is one of my favorites, The Magi.  I love poetry and the beauty of the lyrics… I hope you will enjoy this performance.

Listen with a sense of wonder…. “as an eagle flying higher…”

For the heart of man’s a palace
And his dreams are as the sunlight
They burn away the darkness, as they warm the freezing cold
As an eagle flying higher, as a river through the canyon
The diamond star shines down upon, a pathway to the soul

And the wisemen spoke of peace on earth,
Of harmony and struggle
Now you know a cycle’s gone and a new one is revealed.
In the weaving of your fingers
In the whisper of a love that’s born again
In the weaving of your fingers
In a promise that we made that never ends.

Song by Peter Yarrow and Joe Henry; copyright of both the song and the performance is to Peter, Paul and Mary.

All faiths are simply different pathways to the same holy place.  Enjoy and peace be with you.

Florida, #4, the Dry Tortugas

Sunday, October 7th, 2012

Seventy miles west of Key West, are a cluster of islands known now as the Dry Tortugas.  Part of the US National Park system, they are “dry” because they don’t have any source of potable fresh water on the islands other than rain.  Fort Jefferson, used during the civil war in fact, is the “home base” for the National Park.   The easiest way to get there is via the Park service ferry, which departs from Key West:

Ferry dock sign for our day out to the Dry Tortugas

The trip takes about 2 1/2 hours, which I passed reading, sketching and watching the passing view.  Before long you leave the smaller islands at the end of the Florida keys and are in open water.  70 miles later, you reach Fort Jefferson on Garden Key. Before boarding (early, at least for a vacation day), we stopped here:

Morning coffee from the Cuban Coffee Queen—lots of locals getting good, STRONG coffee and Cuban bread here. So did we…YUM!

The first photo I took on Garden Key was of this shore bird, which I have yet to identify. Perhaps a ??????  I checked the bird checklist for the Dry Tortugas and my two bird books (US Eastern/Peterson and another for the Caribbean), and am still unsure.

There are two former coal-off-loading piers near the island, and the piers are now roosts for brown noddies and sooty terns and brown pelicans. And LOOK at the colors in the sea and sky….SIGH….think I’ll paint our front door one of those blues! PS–that stuff you see just above the water is two snorkelers (fin and facemask)

There is a moat around the fort–saltwater. So nice of hubby to wear a perfect-for-a-photo red shirt! The sand was SO HOT I think I sunburned the bottom of my feet!

After about an hour snorkeling, we took a break for lunch on the ferry boat (included in the tour price) and then walked on the top of the fort.

And the view from the top of Fort Jefferson. How awesome are those colors…MY colors. I’ve said that like Winslow Homer, I went to the Caribbean (about 28 years ago) and was infected with color!

Close up of the brown noddies on one of the piers

One more shot of that glorious aqua water….sigh….

Heading back…Eli looks over the bow of the ferry as we prepare to head back to Key West