Fine Arts Museum

 Visited the Fine Arts Museum and enjoyed discovering lacquer paintings and engravings and other artifacts. Above a wood carving of horse and stableman from the 17th century.

 Lacquered wood statue from the 18th century. I love the way the folds of his robe are captured and caught by the breeze.

 A lacquer painted screen by Nguyen Gia Tri 1939.

 Intensity of Tay Nguyen 1960 by Nguyen Nhu Hoanh was engraved lacquer, huge and gorgeous. Only detail photos here. All the village life was captured in the panels.

 

Historic Tainan

The Anping historic area of Tainan is loved by visitors and we joined the crowds to visit the Fort and Tree House. The Dutch built the original fort with some original foundations still visible. Trade was the force behind foreign countries coming to Formosa, named by the Portuguese.

 The Tree House is a building completely encased by the Banyan trees and their aerial roots which have replaced the roof and wall support.

We were also in town for the opening at the Blue Dragon Gallery of the Texture Exchange Print exhibition, in which I had a piece.

Mine is the blue one, bottom centre.

 

Danny Amazonas

 Our group of 9 travellers met Danny Amazonas and his lovely wife Patricia for lunch in Tainan. Thanks to Cara Feenstra Gulati who organised this meeting, we were treated to an amazing trunk show of Danny's textile work. His work is seen in many exhibitions and he has a huge following on Facebook.

Hexagons

Several of the Japanese quilt makers used piecing and hexagons in the background of their quilts and then appliqued more over the top of these sections or visa versa. I loved this quilt Forest, by  Kazuko Fujimura. Here are some detail photos of it.

Quilts from TIQE 16

There were so many wonderful quilts to admire at TIQE16 and all needed to be seen more than once as sensory overload kicks in! The red and white themed banners at the entrance held one's attention.

This colourful wall of small quilts was on the wall facing the elevators and were just so joyful! Hand appliqued.

 Visiting Japanese tutor Yasuko Saito's quilt Movement #61 was stunning and used many small pieces of Japanese textiles in various textures and fibres.

 President of Taiwan Art Quilt Society, Lin Mei-Hui with her quilt Light and Shadow.

Cara Freenstra Gulati and the Director of the arts centre stand beside her large colourful quilt [sorry forgot the title].

 Nature/ A Tree's Talk by Huang Pei-Ying caught my eye and the repetition carried the theme.

Undersea Fashion Party by Katsumi Ishinami was another favourite.

 As was Favouring Multi-Medium by Gau Shiow-Meei which used small couched twigs in the blocks, held together to form the whole with red thread and beads.

 And Betty Busby's wonderful Abyss used led lights to light up her deep sea creatures, plus there was so much added texture with paint dots and googly eyes.

 

Taiwan International Quilt Exhibition 16

What a buzz it was to arrive at this exhibition, which had been the focus and original starting point of the trip. Our party of 6 artists at the entrance to the National Tainan Living Arts Centre. L-R Annette McRae, Cara Freenstra Gulati, Kathryn Iliff, Merody Buglar and myself.

The entry to the large exhibition space where the work is hung beautifully on white walls. Volunteers from Taiwan Art Quilt Society help visitors and guard the work. The theme of the exhibition is Save the Environment.

Exhibition organiser Hsin-Chen Lin and her huge hand stitched work, inspired by her Taiwan homeland.

Lots of photos in front of our pieces. Here Broadstrokes+ members in front of their section. L-R Christine Jones, Merody Buglar, Kathryn Iliff.

I had a total of 9 quilts in the exhibition. I was busy last year!

Viewpoints 9 group exhibition was great!  There are many more photos on Facebook on my pages Sue Dennis Textiles and Sue Dennis so please like and follow for up to date information.

Turkish ceramics

We were privileged to visit the underground Guray Museum of Ceramics. Pots on display ranged from 3,000BC to more modern work by living Turkish Master Craftsmen. This area in Avanos is noted for red clay used in the production of many beautiful items.

This is a wine jar and goblets. To pour the wine you put your arm through the hole and support the jar on your shoulder and pour!

  
 Stages of production include hand built pottery on a foot spun wheel to moulded large platters and finally hand painting, colouring, glazing and firing. Above is a piece on order.

 
 Below is a vase used to collect a wife's tears cried while her husband was away from home for long periods!

 

The amazing Ms Jin

Rock star status for the incredible Ms Jin Yuanshan who has elevated meticulous, exquisite handwork with silk organza to high art. Difficult to photograph her demonstration when she is being mobbed by fans.

Sitting comfortably on the floor, Ms Jin [centre] stitches. It is wonderful to see the younger generation taking such an interest in these techniques. Ms Jin runs the One Sun Quilts Handicraft Research Institute in Haerbin City, Heilongjiang Province.

 And you see below the beautiful flowers made by her either with a folded or rolled edge.

Public area display

We were asked to bring 10-15 large quilts for display.Six of mine were in the booth and 4 hung in the public area along with my invited artists. Above L-R are 3 of my quilts, By the Pond, Mining-Women of Mt Cuthbert Past and Tumbling Treasures. The barricade kept fingers away from the quilts.

L-R Linda Steele- Crazy about Australia, Eileen Campbell- Iris Variations, Sue Dennis- In the Moonlight. There were many interested people through this area during the 2 and a half days of the event.

Signage was a little small and in Chinese and English with exceptions.

Around the corner R-L Kay D. Haerland- Under the Canopy, Lucy Carroll- Bark Life,
Brenda Gael Smith- Flying Colours- Budgies Uncaged.