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Brenda Gael Smith

Contemporary Textile Art

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Resume of Brenda Gael Smith

artist, curator, teacher, mentor, writer & judge

Solo Exhibitions

  • 13 January – 14 February 2018: Natural Abstractions: Gosford Regional Gallery
  • 25 November – 20 December 2014: Dreaming in Colour: Grenfell Art Gallery

Juried Exhibitions

2022

  • Gosford Art Prize 2022: Banksia Filigree
  • Australia Wide Eight: a travelling exhibition of Ozquilt Network Inc Calliestemon Cascade
  • Dare to Differ 2022: Landlines: Canola Country
  • Fur Fangs Feathers & Fins: SAQA global exhibition Galah Gala
  • PETITE Miniature TEXTILES 2022: Wangaratta Art Gallery, Victoria Integrifolia #9: Wide Open

2021

  • Quilts=Art=Quilts 2021: Schweinfurth Arts Center, NY Acuity #5: Zemblanity
  •  One Step Further 2020 (exhibited in 2021): Integrifolia #6: Awakening
  • 2021 Quilts Unlimited: View Centre of the Arts & Culture (Juror Invitational) Integrifolia #3: Stops & Starts
  • Art Quilt Australia 2021: Shoalhaven Regional Gallery and Yarra Ranges Regional Museum Reforestation
  • The New Quilt 2021: Hawkesbury Regional Gallery Acuity #5: Zemblanity and Integrifolia #7: Emergence

2020

  • Revealed-the Regional Digitisation Roadshow: Wangaratta Art Gallery High Country Lupins #2
  • Quilts=Art=Quilts 2020: Schweinfurth Arts Center, NY Flotsam & Jetsam
  • Gosford Art Prize 2020: Integrifolia #5: Propagation
  • Australia Wide Seven (2020-2022): a travelling exhibition of Ozquilt Network Inc – Acuity #6: In a Twinkling of an Eye
  • PETITE Miniature TEXTILES 2020: Wangaratta Art Gallery, Victoria – Allagai: High Summer and Allagai: Suspended
  • Australian Textile Art Award 2020: Canola Country
  • Art Quilt Australia 2019 at Yarra Ranges Regional Museum: Integrifolia #5: Propagation

2019

  • Quilts=Art=Quilts 2019: Schweinfurth Arts Center, NY Integrifolia #3: Stops & Starts
  • Gosford Art Prize 2019: Integrifolia #4: Potential
  • Art Quilt Australia 2019: Integrifolia #5: Propagation
  • Modern Quilt Show Australia 2019: Harlequin Hexagons and Integrifolia #4: Potential
  • Dare to Differ 2019: Flotsam & Jetsam
  • One Step Further 2019: Landlines: Hill Country
  • Sydney Quilt Show 2019: Special exhibitor
  • Connections: SAQA Regional Exhibition: Big Data: Contraflow
  • Golden Textures 2019:  Central Gold Fields Art Gallery, Maryborough, Victoria Integrifolia #3: Stops & Starts
  • Season After Season: SAQA global exhibition Seachange: Whale Tracks

2018

  • State of the Art Quilt 2018: Grasslands (invitational)
  • Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize 2018: Ebb & Flow: Flotsam & Jetsam
  • Thread Stitch Cloth: 76 Queen St Galleries, Concord Sydney: Landlines: Paterson’s Curse
  • PETITE Miniature TEXTILES 2018: Wangaratta Art Gallery, Victoria – Flying Colours: Rosella
  • Buda Contemporary Textiles 2018, Castlemaine, Victoria Kookaburra: Shake a Tailfeather!
  • Art Quilt Australia @ Yarra Ranges Gallery Flourish!
  • Australia Wide Six (2018-2020): a travelling exhibition of Ozquilt Network Inc – Integrifolia #2: Unlocked  and Allagai Bay #1: After the Storm

2017

  • Modern Quilt Show Australia 2017 Blue Delphiniums
  • Gosford Art Prize 2017 High Country Lupins #5
  • Dare to Differ 2017 Blue Delphiniums and Landlines: Tussock Country
  • Art Quilt Australia 2017 Flourish!

2016

  • Australia Wide Five (2016-2018): a travelling exhibition of Ozquilt Network Inc – Dyad #3: Leaning In
  • Modern Quilt Show Australia 2016: Secret Women’s Business – Only Women Bleed
  • Gallery Collection in Miniature: Wangaratta Art Gallery High Country Lupins #2
  • PETITE Miniature TEXTILES 2016: Wangaratta Art Gallery, Victoria – Dyad#2 and Wild Lupins #3
  • Art Quilt Elements 2016 Wayne Art Center, Pennsylvania, USA, High Country Lupins #3
  • Golden Textures at Quilt Expo at Beaujolais Dreamlines #5

2015

  • Tasmanian Art Quilt Prize 2015 History, Her Story:  Secret Women’s Business – Only Women Bleed
  • 2015 China International Patchwork Invitational Tournament and Patchwork Arts Show in Beijing, China.
  • Art Quilt Australia 2015: National Wool Museum, Geelong: Flying Colours: Galah Gala and Wild Lupins #2
  • Dare to Differ 2015:  Gallery M,  Adelaide: Kelp Forest and Landlines: A River Runs Through It
  • Gosford Art Prize 2015 Finalist: Gosford Regional Regional Gallery –  Forest and Tundra
  • Evolution, Change, Challenge: A Contemporary Quilt at Hazelhurst Gallery
  • Golden Textures of Australia at Festival of Quilts, Birmingham
  • Reconciliation 2015: Gosford Regional Art Gallery: Canberra:Meeting Place
  • Golden Textures 2015  Contemporary Art Quilt Exhibition, Central Goldfields Art Gallery, Maryborough, Victoria – High Country Lupins #3

2014

  • Quilts=Art=Quilts 2014, Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, Auburn, NY: Desert Tracks: Not Terra Nullius
  • Australia Wide Four (2014-2016): a travelling exhibition of Ozquilt Network Inc – Neptune’s Necklace #2
  • Progressions 2014: Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery: Tundra and Forest
  • Australia Quilts:  European Patchwork Meeting 2014 guest country exhibition
  • Reconciliation 2014: Gosford Regional Art Gallery: Desert Tracks: Not Terra Nullius
  • PETITE Miniature TEXTILES 2014: Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery, Victoria – High Country Lupins #2
  • AQC Challenge 2014: Ten: The X Factor

2013

  • Art Quilt Australia 2013: People Place & Nation: CraftACT, Canberra: Desert Tracks: Not Terra Nullius and Canberra: Meeting Place;
  • Brother International Quilting Contest 2013 – Eco Challenge:  Forest;
  • Dare to Differ 2013:  Gallery M,  Adelaide: Flying Colours: Eclectus Parrots and Tundra;
  • FREE – AQC Challenge 2013: Flying Colours:  Uncaged
  • Golden Textures Contemporary Art Quilt Exhibition, Central Goldfields Art Gallery, Maryborough, Victoria April 2013 – Dreamlines #5;

2012

  • Australia Wide Three (2012-2014): a travelling exhibition of Ozquilt Network Inc –Wild Lupins and Flying Colours: Crimson Rosella;
  • Gosford Art Prize 2012 Finalist: Gosford Regional Regional Gallery –  Hope, Promise, Bounty: Reap What You Sew;
  • PETITE Miniature TEXTILES 2012: Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery, Victoria – Pyrenees #3, Poppy Field
  • Regeneration: Contemporary Quilt Textiles 2012: Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Sydney, Regrowth and Hope, Promise, Bounty: Reap What You Sew;
  • Selections from the Del Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 2012: Visions Art Gallery, San Diego, Evergreen

2008-2011

  • Dare to Differ 2011: Gallery M – Marion Cultural Centre, Desire Lines#5: After the Rain and Turf
  • Seven Deadly Sins – AP&Q AQC Challenge 2011: Desire Lines #7: Lust in the Log Cabin
  • One Step Further 2010: Whitehorse Art Space, Box Hill, Victoria – Desire Lines#6: Spark! and Shining Through
  • Australia Wide Two (2010-2012):a travelling exhibition of Ozquilt Network Inc – Tussock
  • The New Quilt 2010: Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Sydney, New South Wales Desire Lines#5: After the Rain and Turf
  • PETITE Miniature TEXTILES 2010: Wangaratta exhibitions Gallery, Victoria – Milk Chocolate
  • Remember – AP&Q AQC Challenge 2010: Timelines #1: Remember the Date!
  • One Step Further 2009: Central Goldfields Art Gallery, Victoria Desire Lines #3: Running Hot & Cold
  • Fantasy – AP&Q AQC Challenge 2009: Dreamlines #1: Magic Carpet 
  • Re-fabricating Environments 2008: Braemar Gallery, Springwood NSW – Afterglow and Acacia Bloom
  • Dare to Differ 2008: Prospect Gallery, Adelaide, SA – Grass 
  • My Place travelling exhibition (2008-2010): Tudibaring – Place where the waves pound like a beating heart.

Special Projects

  • Vision 2020: Curator travelling textile art exhibition
  • Wonder of Eyes: Eyes of Wonder: Curator & Fundraiser – textile exhibition and art exchange to raise funds for the Fred Hollows foundation (2020)
  • May 2015-November 2017: Curator, a matter of time travelling textile art exhibiton
  • June 2013-September 2015: Curator, Living Colour! travelling textile art exhibition;
  • 18-21 September 2014:  Curator, Australia Quilts at Carrefour Européen du Patchwork/European Patchwork Meeting – exceptional quilts from the Great Southern Land;
  • July 2011-September 2013: Curator, Beneath the Southern Sky travelling exhibition of textile works; and
  • 2012: Guest artist at the Craft & Sewing Shows throughout Australia and in Auckland.
  • 2007-2012:  Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge

Twelve by Twelve International Exhibition Program

  • Twelve by Twelve:The BOOK!April 2010Australasian Quilt Convention, Melbourne, Australia
  • May 2010 Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW Australia
  • June 2010 Textile Art Festival, Brisbane, Queensland
  • September 2010 Craft & Quilt Fair, Hamilton, New Zealand
  • September 2010 Craft & Quilt Fair, Christchurch, NZ
  • April 2011 Midsomer Quilting, Chilcompton, UK
  • August 2011 Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, UK
  • November 2011 International Quilt Festival, Houston, USA
  • April 2012 International Quilt Festival, Cincinnati, USA
  • July 2012 International Quilt Festival, Long Beach, USA
  • September 2012 North West Quilting Expo, Portland, Oregon, USA
  • February 2012 Craft & Quilt Fair, Palmerston North, New Zealand (Colourplay)
  • April 2013 Australasian Quilt Convention. Melbourne, Australia (Colourplay)
  • May 2012 Pinnacles Gallery, Townsville Australia (Colourplay)
  • July 2013 Midsomer Quilting, Chilcompton, UK (Colourplay)
  • August 2013 AQS Quilt Show, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA (Colourplay)
  • September 2013 North West Quilting Expo, Portland, Oregon, USA (2012 Series)
  • October 2013 AQS Quilt Show, Des Moines, Iowa, USA (Colourplay)
  • September 2014 European Patchwork Meeting/Carrefour Européen du Patchwork (Colourplay)
  • October 2014 Association Belge du Patchwork exhibition (Colourplay)

Selected Bibliography & Videography

  • Quarantine Quilts: Creativity in the Midst of Chaos: Sandra Sider  (available September 2021)
  • Artist to Watch profile in Art Quilt Quarterly Issue #15 (2019)
  • Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge  published by Lark Books, March 2011. Co-author.
  • 1000 Quilt Inspirations published by Quarry Books (2015), Contributor
  • 500 Art Quilts published by Lark Books (2010). Contributor.
  • 1000 Artisan Textiles published by Rockport (2010). Contributor.
  • Art Quilt Studio, Summer 2013 – Piece de Resistance – Karamatsu Shibori
  • Modern Quilts: Improvising Using Stacks of Solids, instructional DVD and article Quilters Companion, December 2012.

Modern Quilts: Improvising Using Stacks of Solids

  • Quilting Arts magazine (February-March 2012) celebrates art quilt collaboration and includes an in-depth Q&A article about the Twelve by Twelve project.
  • Patchwork- und Quiltjournal (February 2012) celebrates its 20th anniversary with a special edition. It includes an article about the Twelve by Twelve exhibition of the Theme Series at Festival of Quilts in Birmingham in 2011.
  • More than thirty projects in Australian magazines such as Australian Patchwork & Quilting, Down Under Quilts, Quilters Companion, Down Under Textiles, Australian Homespun and Australian Country Craft
  • Four Fantastic Quilt Finishing Techniques, instructional DVD and article Quilters Companion, May 2009.
  • Meet A Quilter Profiles, Down Under Quilts, March 2006 & Homespun, October 2008.
  • By the Dozen, profile of the Twelve by Twelve Collaborative Art Quilt Project, Quilters Companion, November 2008.
  • Global Quilting, profile of the Twelve by Twelve Collaborative Art Quilt Project, Down Under Quilts, November 2008.

500 Art Quilts  1000 Artisan Textiles  DUQ Cover Issue 94 (March 2006)

Prizes & Awards

  • July 2019:  Integrifolia #4: Potential First Prize: Small Quilt category Modern Quilt Show Australia 2019
  • June 2019: Integrifolia #3: Stops & Starts Judges Commendation Modern (Open) category Sydney Quilt Show 2019
  • June 2018: High Country Lupins #5 Judges Commendation Art Quilt (Open) category Sydney Quilt Show 2018
  • November 2017: Blue Delphiniums 2nd Prize Small Quilt Modern Quilt Show Australia 2017
  • June 2017: Landlines: Tussock Country  Judges’ Commendation, Art Quilt (Open) Category Sydney Quilt Show
  • August 2015: Flying Colours: Galah Gala Third Prize Wall Quilt (Professional) and High Country Lupins #3 Judges Commendation Art Quilt (Open) category, Canberra Quilters Exhibition.
  • June 2015: Dreamlines #7:  Dreaming in Colour Third  prize, Small/Wall Quilt (Professional ) category, Sydney Quilt Show.
  • September 2013: Flying Colours: Eclectus Parrots Second prize, Art Quilt (Open) category, Canberra Quilters Exhibition.
  • August 2011:  Lorikeet – Dreaming First prize, Tiny Treasures, Canberra Quilters Exhibition.
  • June 2009:  Dreamlines #3  – First prize, Art Quilt (Open) Sydney Quilt Show
  • June 2009: Savannah -First prize New Traditions from Old Favourites
  • September 2009:  Acacia Bloom– Second Prize Art/Pictorial Category Australian Machine Quilters Association Show
  • August 2009: Rose Moderne – Third prize, Tiny Treasures Canberra Quilters Exhibition
  • August 2008: Acacia Bloom –  1st prize, Mixed Media Quilt (Open), Canberra Quilters’ Exhibition
  • June 2006: Making Waves –  1st prize, New Interpretations of a Traditional Block (Amateur), Sydney Quilt Show

Training

  • Creative Skills Certificate – Patchwork & Quilting 7802-10, The City & Guilds of London Institute (July 2004).
  • Judging Skills Certificate awarded by Jeannie Spears, NQACJ (November 2007).
  • QuiltNSW Judging Education Pilot Program (2014-date)

Judging & Jurying Assignments

  • 2021: Quilts Unlimited 2021 at VIEW Center of the Arts & Culture NY – juror of selection
  • 2019: Quilts Across Queensland (EKKA)
  • 2018 Pacific International Quilt Festival – Mid-Century Mod and Wearable Art competitions
  • 2018 State of the Art Quilt (Queensland) – solo juror
  • 2017 National Quilt Symposium, Christchurch, New Zealand – chief judge and juror
  • 2016 Festival of Quilts, The Quilters’ Guild of South Australia Inc
  • 2014 Sydney Quilt Show, The Quilters’ Guild of NSW Inc
  • 2014 QuiltWest, The West Australian Quilters Association Inc
  • 2013 Festival of Quilts, Auckland Quilt Guild
  • 2012 Pearl Challenge, 30th anniversary challenge of The Quilters’ Guild of NSW Inc
  • 2010 Quilters Showcase, Victorian Quilters Inc

Memberships & Associations

  • QuiltNSW – Exhibition Secretary (2005-2007), Sponsorship & Publicity (2010), Webmaster and Quilt Show Subcommittee (2005-date); and Convenor, Judging Education Program (2015-date). Awarded life membership 2016.
  • Ozquilt Network Inc – Secretary (2008-2010), Website Subcommittee (2007-date) and Exhibition Subcommittee (2015-date).
  • Modern Quilt Guild (2015-date)
  • Studio Art Quilts Associates

Save

I acknowledge that I live and create on the land of the Darkinjung and Guringai people and recognise their continuing connection to this place. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all First Nations people.

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Contact

Brenda Gael Smith
Contemporary Textile Art

brenda@brendagaelsmith.com

PO Box 4033, Copacabana
NSW 2251 Australia

Tel: +61 412530190

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Serendipity Studio News

Sign up for periodic updates from my studio - new artwork, exhibitions, workshops, tutorials and other news

On exhibition

  • 10 October – 12 December 2022 Dysart Art Space, Dysart, Queensland
    Australia Wide Eight
  • Integrifolia5-PropagationDetail600
    1 October - 3 December 2022: View Centre of the Arts & Culture, New York
    2022 Quilts Unlimited
  • rust and green triangle shapes on a dark background
    3 October – 26 November 2022 Kyabram Town Hall, Kyabram, Victoria
    One Step Further
Happiness is watching young Miss C in Rio de Janei Happiness is watching young Miss C in Rio de Janeiro finally opening her Melody 33 quilt after 15+months of the parcel bouncing around the international postal system. 😍 #melody33 #babyquilt #melodyqal #wrappedinlove
Vibrance: Tiptoe Through the Tulips has been selec Vibrance: Tiptoe Through the Tulips has been selected as 1 of 30 finalists in the AQC Challenge 2023 - In Full Bloom. This is a detail. I will write more later.
🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

See the full artwork in the cloth at the Australasian Quilt Convention in Melbourne from 13-16 April and then on tour to Craft & Quilt Fairs in 2023.

🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷 @intocraft 
#aqcchallenge2023 #infullbloom #australasianquiltconvention #tulips #brendagaelsmithart #saqaart #ozqnart
Join me for my Zig Zag Pizzazz demo at the next Gl Join me for my Zig Zag Pizzazz demo at the next Global Quilt Connection All Star Sampler Platter event coming up on 6 and & 7 May 2024 (3-6pm Eastern US time). Create energetic designs with flair and style using zig zag freeform piecing techniques⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️

open to groups, guilds and individuals. A recording will be available for a limited time too.

Repost from @globalquiltconnection
•
6 hours (over two days) of 15-minute demonstrations by Global Quilt Connection teachers.
Guilds purchase a ticket and receive a viewing link that they are then licensed to distribute to their membership.
Mark your calendars for May 6 as you'll want to catch these modern, improvisational piecing techniques led by:
⭐Diane Harris: Maps for Scraps: StarQuar & Beyond @stashbanditquilts
⭐Brenda Gael Smith: Zig Zag Pizazz @brendagaelsmith 
Sign up for All-Star Sampler Platter
https://www.globalquiltconnection.com/samplerplatters
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#virtualquiltlectures #onlinequiltworkshops #onlinequiltlectures #onlinequiltteachers #quilting #quilt #allstarvirtualsamperplatter #artquilts #artquilting #modernquilts #improvpiecing #improvisationalpiecing #improvquilting #improvisationalquilting
Water-sun-life by #volkerhawighorst #recyclerepurp Water-sun-life by #volkerhawighorst
#recyclerepurposed
#breadtags 

If you are intrigued by the design possibilities of every day objects, check out the #quiltfromthings #quiltfromabrief design challenge  that Tara Glastonbury @stitchandyarn is running. 

Design a quilt using photographs of everyday objects  by midnight 15 March AEDT for a chance to win a copy of EQ8!

@theelectricquiltcompany 
@makemodernmagazine 

#quiltfromthings 
#doyoueq 
#eq8giveaway 
#EQ8 #quiltpattern 
#quiltdesign 
#designideas 

PS: this is NOT an entry but there are some great designs there🙂

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