An Introduction to SAQA

Would you like to connect with other like-minded artists?

Studio

Art

Quilt

Associates

Do you have a place where you canwork on fibre art?

Do you create original work from your own design?

Do you create layered art with textiles and stitch?

Studio

Art

Quilt

Associates

First, a few definitions ….

What is a quilt?

When Is A Quilt… Art ?

What is an art quilt?Quilt National's definition:

The work must possess the basic structural characteristics of a quilt. It must be predominantly fabric or fabric-like material and must be composed of at least two full and distinct layers - a face layer and a backing layer.

The face layer may be described by any or a combination of the following terms: pieced, appliquéd, whole cloth, stitched/fused to a foundation.

The face and backing layers must be held together by hand- or machine-made functional quilting stitches or other elements that pierce all layers and are distributed throughout the surface of the work. At least some of these stitches or elements should be visible on the back of the work.

What is an art quilt?

SAQA’s definition:

a contemporary artwork exploring and expressing aesthetic concerns common to the whole range of visual arts:

painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, assemblage and sculpture,

which retains, through materials or technique,

a clear relationship to the folk art quilt from which it descends. 

Do you think of your quilts as fibre art?

If you do …

You might like to know about . . .

The best way to price and market your work

How to exhibit your work

Having your work critiqued

Ways to network with other fibre artists from all around the world who do the kind of work you do

New techniques

How to photograph your workShows that you can enter

…and

if so …

Then you need

to know what

can do for you!

How do artists from all over the

world connect with one another?

Connecting with other artists

Daily, via Chat Group

Locally, at regional SAQA meetingsNationally, at annual SAQA ConferencesA whole network awaits you

Connecting with other artists

- Daily, via Chat Group

Connecting with other artists

- Locally, at regional SAQA meetings- Via regional blogs – from your rep

Nationally and internationally,

at annual SAQA Conferences

Connecting with other artists

• Keynote speakers

• Panels

•Mentorship

opportunities

• Studio tours

• Art exhibitions

•Workshops

Formed

by fiber artists

for fiber artists

History of SAQA

Believing in the need to establish a

place for art quilts in the world of

contemporary fine art, in 1989

Yvonne Porcella sent out 50 letters

to artists and friends to rally them

to her cause. And so Studio Art

Quilt Associates (SAQA) was born. 

History of SAQA

The vision was to create an organization to:

• Promote art quilts to major art publications, museums, and galleries

• Educate the public about art quilts• Serve as a forum for the professional

development of quilt artists• Act as a resource for curators, dealers,

consultants, teachers, students, and collectors

Currently, around 3,000 members world-wide.

History of SAQA

Membership

ACTIVE MEMBER: 1 Year $60, 2 Years $105, 3 Years $145 

•Quarterly full-colour SAQA Journal•Monthly e.Bulletin •Notice of meetings, educational symposia, calls for entry•Eligibility for juried member exhibitions•Visioning Project•Access to SAQA University and mentoring activities•Comprehensive website

PROFESSIONAL ARTIST MEMBER:  1 Year $125, 2 Years $235, 3 Years $340 

•Same benefits as Active Membership, plus:•Gallery page on SAQA web site with a link to your web site•Listing in teacher's registry on SAQA web site•Artwork represented in SAQA Portfolio

STUDENT MEMBER: 1 Year $30 - Same benefits as Active Membership.

SAQA’s website www.saqa.com

GALLERY

NEWS & EVENTS

SAQA STORE

COLLECTORS

ABOUT SAQA

MEMBERSHIP

INFORMATION

• Workshops and Lectures offered by PAMs

• Regional and Members’ Blogs

• Interviews with Artists

• Where to See Art Quilts: Permanent collections

and installations, galleries, internet and

television

• Fiber Art Degree programs

• Photographers

• Quilt Repair

• Appraisers

INFORMATION

SAQA-U

Artist IndexMentorship ForumsCritique groupsRecent DiscussionsRegion PagesSandboxSAQA Journal Back Issues

Images & Files ListPages List

SAQA website

What SAQA means to me

Cheryl Dineen FerrinMOTORCYCLIST PORTRAIT

PROJECT: KARI & JIM, ©2007, 64" x 72"

Virginia AbramsREFLECTIONS 5, ©2009, 36.5"H x

29"W

Laura WasilowskiARTFABRIK, ©2004, 51" x51"

Sarah Ann SmithA SENSE OF PLACE: THE WALL,

©2007, 27 h. x 29 1/2 w

Sylvia NaylorIN THE BOREAL FOREST, ©2007,

20x16

Denise LinetA RIOT OF ROSES, ©2009, 22 x 31

Phil JonesNIGHT COAT, ©2007, 51" x 36"

Where can I seemore art quilts?

Mississippi Valley Textile Museum

Local quilt shows

Shenkman Arts Centre