Wine, Women and "Wow!" - Part II

On Friday, May 5, our first SAQA Western Canada Regional Retreat got into full swing.  The topic of the day was that of the overall retreat: "Out of the Studio, Into the Wider World".

First up, yours truly and my colleague, Valerie Wilson of Winnipeg (Regional Co-Rep, MB/SK), spoke about our experiences showing in galleries in and around our respective locales -- Valerie, from the urban perspective, and me, from the rural perspective.  I'd been concerned that we might be travelling over familiar ground for many, but in the end, over all, I think it was well received.

The next part of the morning featured Certified Appraiser, Dawn Hunt of Canmore, a SAQA Associate Member, speaking about how quilts are valued, why valuing one's quilts -- whether traditional, vintage, antique or more contemporary studio art.  She did an analysis of the prices asked by members who'd volunteered this information prior to the Retreat, and shared a detailed spread-sheet thereof with all of us.  It's in tiny print so I've yet to read it in depth, but her synopsis of the data was that "...prices were all over the map" -- which is the conclusion SAQA Board Member (then Co-Rep, Atlantic Canada) Chris Nielsen, drew when looking at the price list for the My Corner of the World exhibit last year -- and which was one impetus for our having this topic at our retreat in the first place.  :-)

After lunch (all this food for thought requires fuel!), artist and teacher Susan Purney Mark of B.C. took to the floor for a discussion about using Social Media more effectively to get our work into the public eye.  Many artists appear to be reticent about diving into various avenues of Social Media -- especially Facebook -- for fear of inability to control how one and one's work is viewed, shared and used.  Susan gave examples of blogging, Facebook use and connections between one form of media and another, with tips and tricks on how to use them most effectively, and to our best advantage -- safely and securely.

Susan gave us a short list of "Points to Ponder" which, it seems to me, are valuable whether specifically related to using Social Media for our artwork -- or for entering the "exhibit fray" altogether.  I list her questions below with what I think of as parallel questions with respect to exhibiting at all (in italics).

• Why do you want to be involved? (Why do you want to exhibit your work?)
• How will you be (or are you now) posting/writing? (How are you showing your work now? Are you showing, selling or both?)
• Where will you interact? (Which platforms for Social Media?) (Where will you exhibit? What type of venue?)
• When are you interacting? (What's your time commitment?) (Ditto.)
• What is do you want to say? (Content) (What is your artistic voice? What types of pieces do you produce?)

After all this stimulating and thought-provoking discussion, it was time to unwind!  Despite the heavy rain, about half of us piled into a shuttle van to take a 3-stop winery tour.  First up: Quail's Gate, where the detailed tour took us from overlooking the vineyards to viewing the vats and learning the process, to tasting a variety of finished products -- all under in the hands of the capable, informative and charming Guillaume.  It was a challenge to choose what we wanted to bring home with us!

From there we travelled to both Mt. Boucherie and Mission Hill wineries for more sampling, and purchasing.

Mmmmmm.....and here I'll leave you....Part III to come!

Photo credit: Quail's Gate Winery

Wine, Women and "Wow!": Part I

Flying in over the Canadian Rockies

It takes me a while to process events when they have been thick with learning, sharing, exploring, conversing, and enjoying good food and wine.

Such was the case with the first SAQA Western Canada Regional Retreat in Kelowna, B.C. last weekend.  I came home with a full head and a very full heart, a quiver full of new ideas and emotions that ran the gamut from delighted to doubtful and back again.

The setting was part of the delight.  Green Bay Bible Camp isn't a four- or five-star hotel, but it is a clean, well-equipped, friendly resort on the lake that was quite well suited to our group's budget, size and planned activities.

View of the green space from the parking lot.

Most of the thirty or so attendees were from B.C., and all but 5 of us drove to the venue.  This meant that the small group of us that arrived earlier than some others could take some time to preview one of the three wineries that we'd tour more formally during the weekend.  So...late Thursday afternoon, that's just what we did, driving up the hill to the sprawling and elegant grounds of Mission Hill.

I was fascinated by the assorted sculpture and architecture:

I could find titles on none of the pieces, but remain convinced that this fellow is on a perpetual search for one of his contact lenses...

And then there was the view of the vines and the valley...

The amphitheatre over-looking the lake, where concerts are held in the summer:

And the views from inside various patios and porticos which appear to be used for both large receptions and individual contemplation...

We were met on our return to the camp with a delicious dinner and an evening relaxing, settling in and getting to know each other over glasses of local wine, simple snacks and stimulating conversation.

Friday a.m. would bring a new dawn -- foggy and dripping with rain -- and a day filled with learning and discussion focused on the main theme of the weekend: "Out of the Studio and Into the Wider World".  

To be continued.... ;-)

On Retreat

in my own backyard.  Yep. Taking a couple of days to be quiet in the Summer Studio.  Have some pansies to plant, and some serious stitching to do, just because.


So, as Jude would say, "See U later."