I’ve just posted 3 additions to the website for your use.  The first is an updated Call for Entry for Mesa Verde (under AQuA Show Information).  The Call for Entry/Entry Form has been revised to include the Bio information as well as how the bio and artist statement info is to be submitted.

The second is the Call for Entry/Entry Form for the Silent Auction at Barnes & Noble in October of this year.  This too is under “AQuA Show Information.”

And last, under “Member Information” you will find the item “How to Write an Artist Statement & Bio.”

If you have any questions, please let me know.  Posted by Rita Faussone 3/3/10

Close-up of “Forever Home” by Jolene Stratton.

Jan Rickman has written up very clear instructions about matting your quilts for Mesa Verde Canyon Voices and also for the Silent Auction at Barnes & Noble.  Please go to “Member Information” and drop down to “How to Mat Your Quilts…..”

Thank you, Jan!

Posted by Rita Faussone 3/2/10

“Evening Call” by Jan Rickman

Please check under “Member Information” > Pillowcase Work Days to read and download patterns about our charity work in making pillowcases for people suffering from serious health problems.  The first work day is Tuesday, March 23rd at Jane Aldoretta’s new Fabric Arts Studio, 2297 Tall Grass, Unit 9.

Posted by Rita Faussone 2/23/10

Detail, "Everybody Loves George!" by Kathy Pfeufer

 Attention AQuA members with  Gallery Webpages!  (And anyone considering a new web page gallery)  Here’s your chance  to see compare how updated photos with more pixels can make your artwork look much better at full screen display.

I have updated my own web page with lots more pixels per photo, so check out my gallery, Kathy Pfeufer, under the  “Gallery” drop down from the home page.  Use the PicLens application, and change to full screen presentation, and watch the slide show.

Please select any other member gallery, and do the same thing, and see if the photos are as sharp at full screen viewing.  A few are OK, others are definitely fuzzy.  (I hope Susan Strickland will understand if I suggest looking at  her gallery, since some of the photo files as of 2-22-10 were not large enough to avoid becoming very pixellated,[ especially the one of the mountain sheep, unfortunately…  Quilt title was “Silent Sentinels”.   Susan, I hope you will bear with me…)

Please keep an eye on the AQuA website, because Emmalee Blender (THANK YOU EMMALEE!!!) has suggested an alternative possibility for using an –>online web based photo storage website/application, which would eliminate the need to have to deal with CD’s or flash drives to get photos uploaded for display on our artwork in galleries.  As of 2-22-10, still be researched.  Stay tuned!

Posted by Kathy Pfeufer, 2-22-10

The nice people with Mancuso International have invited us to hang another exhibit at Denver National Quilt Fest V from April 29 through May 2.  This exhibit is special because there are very few rules, regulations or limitations.  For example, there is no jurying, no photography and no entry fee.  About the only limitation is that it must be within our standard size — minimum 96″ perimeter, maximum 324″ perimeter and that it must have a sleeve and a label.  You may enter any kind of quilt–traditional, contemporary, art, etc.

Please go to “AQuA Show Information” and click on “Old Friends” for the Call for Entry and Entry Form which has all the information you need.  These quilts will also be turned in at our March 21st meeting.   This is a great opportunity for you to exhibit those wonderful quilts you’ve made over the years that may not have seen the light of day recently.

The busy duo of Angela Kenley  and Kathy Pfeufer are also the Chairs of this exhibit.  If you have unanswered questions, please contact either one of them.

“Motif Pond” by Jan Warren

Posted by Rita Faussone 2/21/10

“Singular Sensations” has been chosen as the name for our Pacific International Quilt Festival exhibit in Santa Clara, California in October of this year.

The Call for Entry/Entry Form as well as a detailed explanation of the specifics of creating your quilt for this exhibit (written by Jan Rickman) can be found under “Member Show Information”.

Angela Kenley and Kathy Pfeufer are the exhibit co-chairs.  If you need additional information, please contact either of them.  Jan Rickman’s quilt “Transition” (below) is an example of a whole cloth piece.

“Transition” by Jan Rickman

Posted by Rita Faussone 2/18/10

Please check under “AQuA Show Information” for new information about our “Abstractions” exhibit at Denver International Quilt Fest V.  Specifically, please note that the minimum and maximum size dimensions have been updated:  Minimum size = 96″ perimeter; and Maxium size = 324″ perimeter.

In addition the Call for Entry is published along with the Entry Form.

Posted by Rita Faussone 2/18/10

I’ve added a new menu item at the top – Calendar.  I’ll try to put all the important dates on it, but if you notice that something is missing, please let me know.

Posted by Rita Faussone 2/18/10

Detail from "Deep In The Heart" by Gay Ousley

Here’s the rest of the general information you will need to know about individual AQuA galleries on our website. 

For information on gallery PHOTOS, please see: http://theartquiltassociation.com/home/2010/02/17/aqua-gallery-page-photo-information/

1. There is a $20 per year fee for your individual gallery page payable to the treasurer.

2. Our gallery pages can handle many photos, but it might be best to limit your slide show to less than about 20 photos.  Provide photos according to the guidelines from the link above.

3. You can provide a portrait of yourself (or not).  Informal ones can be fun.

4. You would do well to provide an artist statement, (about 200 words max) and a brief artist biography (or not).  Any other personal web information can be provided. (or not)

5. Provide artwork title for each piece, and any other information you would like to provide about your individual pieces.  This artwork  information can include such things as size, where it was shown, if it was sold, unusual techniques used, etc.  This information can be emailed, but can also be provided as a document file with any CD you provide for photos.  This information is displayed OVER you artwork when it is displayed at full screen display (using PicLens application), so a recommendation is to keep text for each piece of artwork to less than 100 words.

Since many folks have been waiting patiently to get galleries updated, please be patient, and Kathy Pfeufer, the website gallery contact, will either e-mail you or contact you when she is ready to work on your webpage.  If you have all your information ready early, that will make updating or creating your webpage go much more quickly.

Posted by Kathy Pfeufer, 2-17-10

Detail, "Signs of Life Among the Ruins" by Angela Kenley

Here’s the information you will need to know about photos on our website if you need your existing gallery page updated, or need a gallery page created for you.

Our new gallery pages have the ability to display artwork at full screen size.  Here’s how to access this feature:

1. Click on “Galleries” from the tabs across the home page. Then…

2.  From the drop-down menu, select an individual gallery page to look at, then…

3. Select the “View With PicLens” application to display artwork, (this begins a slide show) then…

4. Look for the white icon in the lower right of the  PicLens screen. It looks like a rectangular shape with diagonal arrows, click on that, and your images should display at full screen size.

5. Exit this mode by pressing “Escape” on your keyboard.

This will be the preferred method for determining if existing photos in our gallery will need to be replaced, or updated.  It is the best way to determine if photos are clear and not pixellated.

Some of our photos from our old website no longer display well, either at a small size, or at full screen display.  Artists will need to consider replacing, perhaps, many of their photos, because the old photos have become too small to display well at a full screen level.

One problem with these older photos, in .jpg format, is that they have been “processed” to a very small file size.  This can happen when an artist choses to change their own photos, or more likely, is when a large .jpg file is attached to many e-mail applications.  Unfortunately, this  automatic e-mail induced processing often ends up sending .jpg files of thumbnail size.  (That is usually LESS THAN 1,000 pixels on a side! and usually only a few hundred pixels per side)  For many applications this may be suitable, but for photos to display at full screen size this creates serious fuzzies.  (That’s a technical term for not being in focus…)

What all this tiny .jpg file size means for our website is this:

1.  If you have had your artwork photographed as part of an AQuA show, the gallery website person will have access to your photos in a .jpg file large enough that it will display well at a full screen level.  Some processing MAY still need to be done at the website software level, but the artist may NOT need to be concerned with their files.  (PHEW!)

2.  If your are submitting photos of artwork that have NOT been part of an AQuA show, you need to make sure that your file size is at least 100 dots per inch, and an overall size of 4″ x 6″ OR LARGER (size about 10″ x 12″ at 100 dots per inch will fit most screens).  Frank Nored currently creates .jpg files of 1200 pixels (dots) by 1800 pixels, in a 4″ x 6″ format.  This is 300 dots per inch, (suitable for printing applications) and is usually more than adequate for full screen display on our website.  More pixels to start with is better than fewer.  It is probably best to let the gallery web person process your photo for this application on our site.

3.  Sorry to say, but, this also means that photos will probably look better at full screen display if they have NOT been e-mailed.  It may mean either snail mailing a CD, or a thumb or flash drive, or getting together with the website gallery contact.  This may be an inconvenience, but will provide the best photos online of your artwork.

For more information on gallery pages, please see the posting concerning general AQuA galleries.   http://theartquiltassociation.com/home/2010/02/17/aqua-gallery-general-information/#more-1310

I thank everyone in the group for their patience with re-working our website, and look forward to getting your artwork displayed as nicely and clearly as possible.

posted by Kathy Pfeufer, 2-17-10

–revisions in files size, underlined in italics in the lower parapgraphs for flash drive (item 3) and size suggestions (item 2), 2-22-10, KBP