TraillWorks' Artists Donating to Support Ovarian Cancer Awareness

Every September I have supported efforts to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Prompted in 2007, a while after my mom's very good college friend, Barbara Salamy, passed away after battling ovarian cancer, I hosted an open studio at my home with a percentage of proceeds benefiting Kaleidoscope for Hope. 

Eventually I got more involved by helping to "Teal" Newton about three years ago. Last year and this year I have organized the "Tealing" of Newton and held special exhibits and made donations to Turn the Towns Teal, Inc. the 501(c)(3) that ties teal ribbons in towns throughout the country every September to raise awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms. The reason for the campaign is due to the lack of early detection screening tests, so too frequently, ovarian cancer is discovered at late stages when the chance of recovery decreases significantly.

This September, I've asked all of the artists at TraillWorks to donate a portion of retail sales to Turn the Towns Teal, Inc. I was overwhelmed by the participation I received. Below is a list of artists who have agreed to share a 10% donation with me on all gallery sales during the month of September. If you've had your eye on something, now is a great time to purchase knowing that a portion of your sale is going to help more women learn when to seek medical care and thereby save more lives.

Artists Donating 10% of Retail Sales to Turn the Towns Teal, Inc:

• Phylis Barfoot
• Emily Bittner
• Bernadette Blaney
• Liesl Carlson
• Brenda Decker
• Joann Wells Greenbaum
• Martha C. Hall
• Heidi Lanino
• Amanda Miller
• Kathy Morawski
• Marie Christine Murphy
• David Ohlerking
• Andrea Rosenfeld
• Jennie Traill Schaeffer
• Martha Traill Schaeffer

Learn more by reading the full press release here. Our 1st Annual Women's Invitational Exhibit is now up with new works by thirteen artists who have interpreted the script of "Hope Throws her Heart Away" by Susan Goodell, being acted live by Tri-State Actors Theatre at TraillWorks on Saturday, September 24th. I hope you'll join us but also help us in saving the lives of our moms, sisters, grandmothers, nieces, cousins, and granddaughters.

Meet fiber artist Martha C. Hall

I (Corrie), often wish I had TraillWorks' guest artists in the gallery to pick their brains about their creative process. So, I conducted a little interview with two of our most recent artists. This month we'll be featuring fabric artist, Martha C. Hall. Stay tuned for next month's interview with Brenda Decker. Here's what Martha had to say:

Corrie: Do you have any formal training in the arts, specifically fabric arts?

Martha: I have a B.A. in Studio Art from Montclair State University. While there I studied Textile Design and Painting. For many years I have taken workshops at Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton, NJ. I try to take one each summer and I am always at the Fiber Studio! I’ve studied with some wonderful teachers there, exploring various techniques, among them paper making with natural plants. This summer I’ll be taking “Wired Once More” with Lindsay Ketterer Gates.

Corrie: When did you first learn to use a sewing machine?

Martha: I was around 9 years old when I first started using a sewing machine. Our first sewing project in third grade Home Ec. was to make an apron. That was to prepare us for the cooking segment. I wish I still had that apron! I also learned sewing with the Girl Scouts.

Corrie: What other machines do you use, and when did you first learn to use them?

Martha: In addition to my “regular” sewing machine I have what is called a “longarm” quilting machine. It’s a large industrial machine that is mounted on a track system on a 14’ long table. I pin my quilts on to rollers and hand guide the machine over the surface of the quilt to stitch it. Another tool I love is the Dremel. I did a mixed-media quilt a couple of years ago where I shaped and drilled holes into pieces of plastic credit cards, which I then hand-stitched onto the quilt surface.

Corrie: Do you always use a machine, or do you hand stitch anything in your work as well?

Martha: Nowadays most of my work is done on a sewing machine, even the quilting. Years ago I used to do a lot of hand work; growing up I did lots of embroidery, needlepoint, beading, and some knitting. When I started with traditional quilting I used to hand quilt my quilts, but that takes a long time. Although I have always done most of the piecing by machine, I also did some hand piecing. It was convenient and manageable to have as take-along work when my kids were young and there were many hours spent at soccer games and music lessons. I like to keep productive! I moved toward almost all machine work for two reasons, 1. For the speed of getting things done; hand-quilting, especially, takes a long time. And 2. Because of the physical strain on my wrist and thumb joints. About the only hand sewing I do now is the finish sewing on a quilt binding or facing. I do enjoy that process; it is calming and meditative to sew by hand.

Corrie: Where did the idea for the “Circle Chain” pieces come from? 

 Circle Chain 1, 4" x 6", Fabric Art, framed in 8" x 10" shadow box frame, $125. ©2011 Martha C. Hall

Martha: The small “Circle Chain” pieces are an offshoot of my larger “Split Circles” series of quilts. I was carrying through the idea of using the circle in the smaller piece. In the larger works in the “Split Circles” series the linear element is a narrow strip of fabric that I piece in. In the smaller format I adapt to the stitched line as the linear element. For added interest I decided to use a decorative machine stitch – and of course I used the one with circles! – hence the “Circle Chain”

Corrie: What gave you the idea to start making the bird pieces? Will there be more? 

Eastern Bluebird, 4" x 6",  ©2011 Martha C. Hall

Martha: The small bird pieces were so much fun to make. The whole thing got started when a pair of cardinals started making their nest in a tree right by our back door. It was fascinating to watch their activity. I was working in the small 4” x 6” format at the time and of course it seemed a perfect subject. I definitely want to make more of the birds and nests. Other people seemed to like the bird images as much as I liked making them. I started tagging my “Bird Guide” with the various birds I see in the yard and on my walks, and I want to chronicle more of them. I have been learning a lot about birds this Spring! Our cardinal family has flown the nest now and I miss their coming and goings.

Corrie: What are you currently working on?

Martha: Making the smaller framed fiber art pieces was a little break after I had completed a large quilt. Next up I will be returning to the “Split Circles” series and another large quilt.

As part of our interview I asked Martha if there was any additional information she would like to share about herself or her work. She told me about some upcoming exhibits that her work will be a part of. Her quilt, “Heaven and Earth” will be included as part of a show with Fiber Revolution, titled “Visual Thoughts” at the Morris Museum in Morristown NJ, from June 23 – October 16, 2011, with an opening reception on June 29th. Also, another one of her quilts, “Laundry Day” which made its debut at TraillWorks last fall will get another “airing” from October 7 – November 13, 2011 in the juried show “New Legacies: Contemporary Art Quilts” at the Lincoln Center Gallery in Fort Collins, CO. Thank you Martha for taking the time out of your busy schedule to satisfy my curiosity about the wonderful artwork you make that hangs here at TraillWorks! I'm sure I'm not the only one who will enjoy this interview. You can find more of Martha's artwork as well as her blog, on her website, Marthahallart.com.

Recap: Apron Sharing Event

Martha and me wearing our matching vintage aprons.

On Saturday, November 20th, I hosted an Apron Sharing event at the gallery, along with guest artist, Martha C. Hall. We decided to host this as a way to end our exhibit, Two Sides to Every Story. It was a tremendous success! We invited the public to attend, bringing the aprons of their lives.

The idea came about after I gave a lecture on the history of aprons that sparked a flurry of conversation and story-telling. Martha and I realized that people really wanted to talk about their aprons and the people who wore them.

Martha sported both her artist's apron and her woman's work apron, and gave the honor of wearing her dad's dead duck, turkey carving apron to her son, Alex, who attended. I had my husband, Lee's, grandma Fran's aprons on hand, which have been featured in my paintings, plus a stunning pink and grey taffeta vintage apron encrusted with rhinestones given to me by Martha. The aprons spanned the decades, from the Depression and contemporary aprons from Haiti.  

Artist, Martha C. Hall, sharing her dad's turkey carving apron

Martha wrote a blog post last week recalling some of the details of the attendees' aprons. Here are some of her thoughts:

This apron belonged to my dad and was the one he wore at Thanksgiving and  Christmas to carve the turkey. My siblings and I all have such vivid and fond memories of Dad in the "dead duck" apron, so when it arrived in my mailbox via my brother, well, I was extraordinarily excited! I'm happy to have pictures of it on my son and happy to know it's still in the family.

Martha and her son, Alex, a really good sport

There were aprons that belonged to grandmothers, aprons made by a grandfather who was a tailor and did all the family sewing, small aprons meant for children and made by children. Now that I'm fascinated by aprons it's amazing to see how many styles and purposes there are out there. Most aprons are obviously made for work, but there are many more that are so fancy one would never do the cooking in them. They are for dress-up, like serving cocktails to company. It's amazing how the stories about our aprons connect us to our family - and collective - memories. I don't think my fascination is going to end anytime soon. Read the rest of her blog here.

Visitor, Claudia, sharing her apron.

Sara Megletti's mother talking about some not-so-fond memories of her Depression-era apron.

Sara Megletti, owner of PB&J, talks about her Depression-era apron with Karen Balzano and me.

I look forward to more explorations of the apron artistically, thinking about its meaning and various ways to depict it and doing more with aprons at the gallery in the future. If anyone out there is designing and making aprons I would love to consider selling them at TraillWorks. You can get in touch with me via email.

Share the Warmth of an Apron, and a Coat

Aprons have such strong memories attached to them and they have been the focus of my artwork, and Martha C. Hall's work that has been hanging in the gallery for the past month or so. Our joint exhibit, Two Sides to Every Story, comes down in two weeks, but before that happens, we planned an event for this Saturday that you don't want to miss . . . .

Tied and Released #3, Oil on Panel, 24" x 12", ©2010 Jennie Traill Schaeffer

The Daily Round, Collaged Quilt, 20.5" x 20.5", ©2010 Martha C. Hall

From 5- 8pm on Saturday, November 20th, we're inviting the public to join us for an evening of storytelling and apron sharing. We want to hear about your memories tied to your aprons! When our exhibit first opened back in October, I gave a lecture, which unfortunately is too long to share on YouTube and I know nothing about editing, but it focused on an overview of the history of the apron, and how it has affected woman's lives. It was so provocative to people that the audience lingered for quite some time sharing stories and interesting memories that had been lodged for years in their subconscious.

So, Martha and I decided to have this event to honor the women in our lives, give other's a voice, and learn more about the past and the present. We'll have a very loose format, since we've never done this before, as well as refreshments and wine.

In addition, we'll explain to attendees what National Tie One on Day is and how to participate. And, in the season of giving, TraillWorks will be collecting coats, hats, and mittens Saturday and through the 17th of December for the Gift of Warmth drive sponsored by the United Way and NJ Herald. For each person who donates, I'll extend them 10% off their next purchase at TraillWorks.

As Martha and I wrap up the end of our exhibit together, we'd love to share our work, learn more about your histories through your apron strings, and help others in need.

So, go ahead and "tie one on!"

Aprons at TraillWorks

Guests at the Opening of Two Sides to Every Story, 10/9/10

After months of discussion and hard work, Two Sides to Every Story, has finally come together as a big success. When I moved to 214 Spring Street earlier this year and realized that I had some pretty big walls to fill, my first thought was to talk to my friend and artist, Martha C. Hall. I met Martha several years ago at a Business of Art meeting (an organization I used to run). She captivated everyone with her amazing fabric work. She was very shy, but was quite impressive to me about her seriousness and dedication to her work.

Last winter, Martha was at my old studio and we got to talking about ideas for our work and found we both had similar interests in aprons. I suggested that we regroup in 2010 and see where we were. We met soon after my move, brainstormed a variety of ideas, and came up with the name Two Sides to Every Story. We set a date for and October show and started working. 

Neither of us were overly aware of what the other was working on. And when Martha dropped by to hang the show, we were both amazed at how well everything worked together and at the differences in our vision of the apron. 

Martha on the day of the hanging.

Me, in front of our work.

The show opened officially with a reception on October 9th, which also happened to be Newton Heritage Day. During the day, I gave a lecture on the history of aprons, their symbolism and their roles in womens' lives, all connected to our exhibit. In the evening, Martha and I greeted guests and talked about the work.  As part of the ongoing exhibit, Martha taught a one-day workshop titled No Sew Fabric. Both the opening and the workshop were well-attended and enjoyed by all. I have a photo album posted on Facebook to see more of what we made. 

No Sew Fiber Workshop Participants with Instructor, Martha C. Hall, 10/24/10

It's been an extraordinary experience working with Martha, as a friend and artist. Exhibiting with Martha encouraged me to prioritize my own artwork production and explore new ideas. I love seeing her work every day, and I would be remiss if I didn't say that she has helped bring new people into the gallery through her workshop and our exhibit. The success of our show together has already encouraged a potential collaborative exhibition with another local artist next year, Karin Lowney-Seed. 
 

Martha and Me Talking to Guests.

Martha Talking to Guests.

Martha and her Friend.

Lee Goldberg (my husband), Me, Don and Adele Sirota (Lee's aunt and uncle)

Ibbie Boehnke (my aunt), Me, Martha Traill Schaeffer (my mom and successful jewelry artist).

Stay tuned for another post in the next few days about an apron sharing event she and I are hosting on November 20th at the gallery.

Announcing Two Fall Art Workshops

Happy Autumn! I'm thrilled the leaves are starting to change in Northern NJ, although it's hot during the day, the mornings and evenings are cooling, bringing the possibility of change, and making my runs with Ringo more enjoyable. TraillWorks is evolving with the seasons and is pleased to announce two fall workshops with two very talented artists. 

Fabric Tassel Postcard, 6" x 4", by Martha C. Hall

First, No Sew Fiber Art, set for Sunday, October 24th from 10 -3pm will be taught by Martha C. Hall, an award-winning textile artist who is venturing into the teaching realm. She is a creative and consummate professional in everything she does and I anticipate this workshop being very well-received. I've known Martha for about three years; she impresses me in the way she presents her work and herself. She's a patient person, who is also very thoughtful about everything, the makings of an excellent teacher. I can't wait myself as I think Martha will open up new possibilities for my own work.

Workshop participants will make one to two pieces of small fiber art, one of which will be a postcard suitable for mailing. We will experiment with surface design techniques including fused fabric and papers, stamping, writing with fabric ink pens, freezer paper resists and stencils. Design concepts and tips for working on a small "canvas" will also be addressed.

No Sew Fiber Art with Martha C. Hall

Japanese Stab Binding Book, Mixed Media, by Renie Garlick

The second workshop, Japanese Stab Binding, set for Sunday, November 14th from 10 - 3pm will be taught by artist, Renie Garlick. Japanese stab binding is a decorative method of joining the pages of a book to it's cover. It's one of the simpler, yet very beautiful methods of book binding. Like Martha, Renie has similar qualities of a good artist / teacher. She knows her craft, is always well-prepared, and is able to offer alternative approaches or directions for her students. She's also very interested in building a sense of community through collaboration.

Homage to Julia Limited Edition Book, constructed by Renie Garlick / designed by Jennie Traill Schaeffer, $40 each

Renie and I have collaborated recently on a book together. She constructed the above book that I helped design using limited edition giclées of one of my paintings, Homage to Julia, as the cover image (still copies available.) One of the books made during the workshop will be a Japanese tortoise shell binding composed from pages designed by workshop participants. The other book created with blank pages with use a 3-hole punch style binding (shown above). The tortoise binding is ideal for work with single sheets of paper; makes lovely photo albums, journals and storybooks. Making your own book makes a touching gift. I made a scrapbook for my sister upon her high school graduation, and made a guest book for my best friend's wedding.

Japanese Stab Binding with Renie Garlick

Both of these workshops are suitable for beginners through more advanced students, mature teens through adults. There are only twelve spots available in each workshop and pricing is discounted for early registrants. All participants will be treated to a complimentary three-course lunch from Krave Cafe and Caterers in Newton. You can register above through Eventbrite or by contacting me at TraillWorks via email: jennie@traillworks.com or phone, 973-383-1307. I hope you'll join us for at least one creative day! jennie@traillworks.com