Back in the saddle?

Some will remember when I used to tie-dye and crest fashions in that medium. That was over a decade ago. It was tedious work which liberated my tub from its glossy finish. I decided that I would continue working in fabric but leave the hand dying to others. This summer as I explore t shirt augmentation again I thought about doing some dying then I came to my senses: I really don't have time, money or energy to dedicate to the process. Then came a compromise in the form of discharging dye with bleach. I have admired and own creations by Newark artist Gerry Gant who is the inspiration for this seasons frolic with cotton jersey. Everyone loves the comfort of a t-shirt. With the addition of some cuts, stitches and some crafts surface design I hope to create a few hits for the wardrobe this season.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sisters in Scarf Art

When I first encountered the scarfs of Artist Audrey Weaver I didn't get it. Though at the time I was not familiar with her various types of work she was well known amongst the New York "Tribal" elite. Her "scarf dressings" adorn the most fashionable wearable collectors but I just didn't get it. It was just a scarf right? Then some years ago I had the opportunity to host Ms Weaver and her artistrt at several of the Harlem Aesthetic events I host at my home. The ladies came looking specifically for her and left with elegant and funky finds. Tried a few myself and was hooked. I now own 3 scarves and 3 hats by Audrey. Her scarves and a current interest in surface design has driven me to create scarves if my own. Sometimes it's the little things that can dress up an average outfit and make you feel fabulous. Hope my work is as well relieved and cherished.

Art inspires Art

Last month my neighbor treated me to a night of jazz at the Schomburg Center that was wonderful. This free concert was a hot ticket with many standing on line waiting to see if there was room left for them. This evening performance was sponsored by Carnegie Hall and feature the talented Sean Jones Quartet. Mr Jones presented original compositions that immediately inspired me to take part in the creativity. Good music has that power. I whipped out my iPhone to take a few pictures for future reference. When I got home I started work on a jazz series titled "Playing at the Cross Roads" and a piece entitled "60th and Broadway" after the Sean Jones song of the same name. There are now 3 works in progress in my studio that I hope to complete very soon.







- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Harlem

Sense (and Cents) of Style

Hosting artists salons at my home/gallery always costs me a little more than expected but it is worth it for several reasons. First lets talk about my latest acquisitions. As a featured artist at a salon my first mission should be to promote and sell my work however ... at my latest show, "the Harlem Aesthetics Fall/Winter Couture show", I acquired a Jerry Gant hat and coat plus 2 convertible shirts by Donna Dove before the first guest even arrived. Not a very smart business move but I will look fabulous this season! Thank goodness as the day progressed I made a few sales of my own.

It is important to note the significance of the new additions to my wardrobe. #1- I have just allowed my $$ to circulate around my community a little longer which includes that of Harlem, the African American and the artist community. #2 - I have just supported my fellow artisans so that they can live,thrive and continue to create. #3 - I will look great effortlessly since I now have a few more hand crafted and unique wardrobe items. #4 - the experience of the acquisition (yes I do think of these as collectors items) was enjoyable and enlightening since I got to dialog and laugh with the designers. After all when is the last time you got to chat and giggle with Isaac Mizrahi or the like at a Target or Macy's?

All this to say I love my position as a vehicle to bring artists and the public together and as you can see I am not just the lady in charge but also a client. All are welcomed to join me at the Gadson Gallery this holiday season for more opportunities like the one I just described or take part in a similar event somewhere near you. Make your dollars count plus look and feel fabulous doing so. This is a win - win all around.

Photo: Hand felted hats by Ahnenoi Brooks - Leo Fine Woolens & Accessories featured at the Harlem Aesthetic's Fall Winter Couture Show 2013.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Harlem

Better late than never

A year or so ago myself and quilter Sherry Shine were in The City Quilter shop and saw a wonderful quilt on the wall constructed through a log cabin style. I bought 2 1/2" fabric strips that day and went home to create my own quilt. Mapping it out took some time and then getting a construction system to get all the colors in the right place took more. By the time I put together a few blocks and a few rows I was over the whole thing. When it immediately did not look fabulous I set it aside and went on tho the next project. Well this summer I have revisited this quilt. Needing to make a few new things for the gallery I went back to my unfinished projects box to hatch a plan. Editing and sashing was the remedy! Since I had 4 rows of 6 blocks already completed and assembled I completed 1 more row so the finished product would not be too narrow and ended with a huge sash. It is now being quilted with an all over pattern and I expect to finish it tonight. Now none of my efforts are wasted. Love it when a plan comes together even if it is a year or so later.

Front view of my Drop Back Bolero



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Quilt-wear

Quilts are not just for the bed any more. They hang on walls as are, adorn other pieces of furniture and are even worn by the very fashionable. This season I will be creating a few quilted pieces as exciting wardrobe accessories . For more on my wearable quilts and how to get one please visit: http://theGadsonGallery.com



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:The Gadson Gallery

Down in Gullah Country

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit Charleston SC for the opening of the "Mermaids and Merwomen in Black Folklore" exhibition featuring the work of quilt and doll artists from all over the country. The stay in the Marriott was fabulous and the company while on this excursion was lovely. We celebrated mermaids, each other and being in this port town with its rich culture of the Diaspora. At the festival of Yemaya we visited Sullivan's Island and were blessed by the water by a Nigerian Prince. As one attendee put it "we each left a piece of us there" since the Mosquitos were relentless in their celebration. The ritual at dusk was moving an picturesque as well as informative. Though it was short and modest I'm sure the ancestors and deities were pleased.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:W 134th St,New York,United States

Back to my roots???

While in Charleston I had the grand pleasure to workshop with batik artist and cultural historian Arianne King Cromer. She is one of our nationally know artistic Divas who has studied the art of batik with the masters of Nigeria and is sought after for her knowledge of indigo history as it pertains to the Gullah and Geehie cultures of our coastal sea islands. Her 6 hour class was full of hands on insight into the world of batik fabric dying. I completed several projects and flew home to start yet another creative adventure.

Back in the 90's I was know as Tie Dye Laura who humbly started out with Rit Dye from the 99cents store and some cotton remnants. I would go to Nafissa Sheriff's West African Dance Class and sell my hand dyed and sewn lapas, head ties, T-shirts... then I could get some groceries to eat and maybe even pay a bill. I eventually graduated to hosting events featuring tie dyed fashions that many folks still have and wear. The labor to income ratio and some worn out plumbing lead me to give up dying and vowing never to return. I love hand dyed fabrics from every part of the world and am happy to buy them when budget allows. Well as you know never say never. This fall I will feature a few table linens, home furnishings and wall art with my batik. The love affair may be short (only time will tell) but it will definitely be sweet.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Breakfast with Kaffe

Woke up this morning to finish a quilt top that I actually started last year. " Fassett Your Seat Belts" uses the same pattern as my "Digital Butterscotch Mocha" with some abbreviated design elements. The fabrics are batiks with various colors of a fabric design from one of Kaffe Fassett's collections.


If you don't already know of him Kaffe Fassett is a American Born Fiber artist who has studied and built his career in England. Quilters know him for his fearless use of color and books that make you want to run to the fabric store and the sewing machine. I hope to have 2 throw quilts that incorporate his fabrics completed and displayed for sale at the upcoming Harlem Week 2012 festival. With 2 quilt tops near completion (they just need some sashing) I will be forced to clear of the long arm and get to work!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Morning tribulations

Wake up at 5 am purpose driven. Not necessarily organized but on a mission to complete a quilt top. Sit dpwn at the sewing machine and turn on the AC (the humidity in NYC is already kick'n). Out flies a BEE. A big ole' black bumble bee. Not trying to get side tracked from my mission I try to see how he is flowing; will he land and chill out or cause me to take immediate action. As I start sewing the bee becomes atracted to the overhead light, flies into the the center of the energy saving bulb and then falls crashing into the sewing machine. I jump up and fly across the room (there goes the work with the bee in theroom plan). Then I can't see or hear him. When he resurfaces my question is answered. He has got to go - NOW! I put on my McGiver moves and create a net with some toole and floral wire. After a few tries I catch him as he hovers by the window, then  run him downstair to the front door and set him free. And so goes the wake up early to get work done mission.

Back to my Roots

Last month I applied to be part of an exhibition titled "Mermaids and Mermen in Black Folklore", a quilt and doll exhibition in Charleston, South Carolina celebrating our African roots, our connection to water and the deities that reign there. My latest quilt, "Reception at Ibo Landing" depicts the legend of Africans who just arrived to the shores of the Americas; when these soon to be sold into slavery souls saw what the future held for them in this new land they turned around and walked into the ocean saying "The water brought us, The water will take us home". This is the legend of Ibo Landing from St Simon's Island of coastal Georgia. This legend has resonated all over the Gullah Islands of South Carolina and Georgia.

Well not only did I get into the show but it seems that my quilt has made quite an impression. "It is just the kind of work  I was looking for" stated the shows curator and fellow quilter Cookie Washington. My quilt is 1 of 4 works of art to grace the front of the exhibitions postcard. What an honor. The show will run August 28th through October 28th at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston. A catalog with some of the artwork accompanied by the work of poets and writers is coming and I hope to be include in that as well. I will keep you posted.

There are many wonderful activities planned for the artists and the general public during the opening week end which is Sat 9/8. Kudos to the hard work of curator Cookie Washington who has tirelessly labored to make this exhibition a mega artistic and cultural event. I'm excited and booked my room today! This trip has added meaning since my grandfather is from Charleston. I understand that I still have relatives there that I have never met. I'll be sending them some information on myself so we might possibly connect. Charleston here I come!

detail of "Reception At Ibo Landing"

emerge & The Sacred 3 R's

eMerge is an exhibition currently on view at the Strivers Gardens Gallery. I have 2 works on display and the newest one titled " Our Lady of the Sacred 3 R's: Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose" is constructed from those tote bags that you buy for .99 cents at various stores to keep from using non-recyclable plastic bags . The show is curated by Souleo and Lisa Hayes and includes veteran artist Danny Simmons in the artist line up. Check out www.SouleoUniverse.com for more on this exhibition and other great art happenings around town. On Sunday 8/12/2012 the gallery will host a very informative artist talk at 3pm - 300 West 135th street between St Nicholas Ave and Frederick Douglass Blvd.
Laura gadsons iPhone

HE's BACK!!!!!!

Thanks to my neighbors I was able to get him this morning from the local corner store.

I have not blogged in quite a while but today's events made me come back here. One of my dogs, Emilio, was taken from the front stoop of our home some time between 1 and 3PM Sat 5/19. Our aprox. 7lb bundle of joy is a neutered Maltese mix with big light brown ears and large eyes. He was groomed in April and looks close to this picture but his hair grows long all over. He was on the stoop with our other 2 dogs but he is very friendly and  cute and was probably the easiest to take. He ha on a brown collar with several tags on it - 1 of them had his name and info should he be lost. I am  almost positive that he did not run away or wander off since the dogs are accustomed to staying close to the house and sunning themselves on the stoop. I am devastated and hope that someone decides to Do The Right Thing. Who ever took him or anyone that has him can bring him back to us or drop him at the 32nd precinct. We Love Him. We Miss Him. The other dogs are very sad to lose him. Contact Raymond or Laura with Info at 212 694-0262.

In Memory of Black Jack

I had to put my cat Black Jack to sleep early this morning. He was diagnosed with Leukemia 3 weeks ago and took a turn for the worst last night. We decided not to let him suffer through the night. He has peacefully gone on to join his brother Bingo, and other beloved pets from our past: Hunter, Littlebear and those from my childhood. Blackjack was a great cat and he will be missed.

Photo by Shimoda

Featured in this month's "Quilters Newsletter" magazine.

It's Official. I just recieved the Oct/Nov issue of Quilters Newsletter from its publisher and there is a very nice picture of my quilt: Terrorism, Tragedy and Tribute. The featured quilt is part of the Fiber Artists for Hope exhibition on racism titled "The Unspoken Truth About Color" curated by Jeanette Thompson. Terrorism, Tragedy and Tribute is inspired by the bombing of the East 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL in 1963 and a painting by my father marking that event. I hope to have both the quilt and the painting on view in my gallery this December.
For more on the Fiber Artist for Hope and this exhibition visit this blog: http://unspoke-truth-and-hope.blogspot.com/

Playing Well with Others :o)

Last night 3 of the "Harlem Girls" got together for a playdate at my place. This was a chance for us to try out a new fabric medium that we had each wondered about and purchased but never used before. With a little salmon spread and some sour dough bread in our bellies we feverously attacked the fabric discharge process using Decolourant in several colors and Jaquard Discharge medium. We let the fabric fly (literally) and a couple of hours later we had learned something new. Ife dove right in y cuuting screening and stamping. Paula meticulously staged a trial and error test with different fabrics to see what the effects would be while I go a late start but did put some work in once the group left. The result: we eached learned someting new to extend our knowledge base when attacking a project not to mention the wine consumption and the laughter.
Grown folks need play dates too. I remember when I was a teen my mother Beverly, godmother Ocie and my friend's mom Miriam would get together and practice belly dancing, playing the recorder... with a glass of sangria somewhere near by. My girlfriend Lisa and I would sit at the top of the stairs laughing our heads off while secretly vowing to never be that insane. Well - over 3o years later there is yet another generation of crazy but still productive. Some thing to think about when arraning your own playdate:
- Keep it small: too much crazy in the room can be dangerous but just the right amount keeps it fun.
- Plan around a particular activity: this gives the play some structure
- Gather like minds: I have many art and quilt friends but for this evening I gathered those that had a similar interest (fiber art and new mediums) and those whose schedule would allow them to break away from there usual routine. Also there was no one thier who had a high anxiety when introduced to omething new or needed their hand to be held.
So get some folks together and learn something new.

Discharge with Decolourant

While at the Mancuso quilt show in Pennsylvania this month I stopped at a booth with wonderful artist mediums for working on and with fabric. I purchased 2 - 3bottle sets of Decolourant, a discharge medium that not only bleaches out the color of a fabric but also sets in the color that is in the bottle. You can stencil, paint, stamp or screen it on to fabric (cellulose and dyed fabics work best) and after a playdate with the "girlzs" this is what I found out:

- Love this medium and I am already planing projects with it!!!

- Stencils made from freezer paper work the cleanest and give the most predictable outcome (nice sharp edges)

- Colours are the most vibrant when you heat set your design just after it becomes dry to the touch. When I let some of my work dry over niight the results did not have as much POP after ironing

- The color becomes more brilliant after the finished product has set overnight and that is why it should not be washed until 24-48 hours.

You don't have to wait till the next local quilt fest to get your hande on this product. 2 sites that I have found that have Decolourant at a decent price are http://www.amazon.com/ and http://www.dharmatrading.com/ .

Faith Ringgold

Well it is going on 6 am and I just finished my Faith


Ringgold quilt (due today). I may do a few more touches to it and have to complete the sleeve but other than that she is DONE! I'll turn it into Myrah Brown Green at CCNY later today. Now I'm so wired that I hardly feel sleepy (yes I was up all night) but my butt is going to bed before the sun comes up.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone