Featured photo: Debra Danko with Bachelor Buttons and Yellow Hibiscus, two quilts she made herself.
Written by Tanya Terry
The October exhibit at the Greater Flint Arts Council: The Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) Michigan Members Showcase is to feature widely diverse quilts from made SAQA members around Michigan.
SAQA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and elevate the art quilt genre. SAQA’s mission is that the art quilt is universally respected as a fine art medium. It has been in existence since 1989. There are nearly 4,000 artists and curators in the Michigan chapter.
SAQA is an international community. At meetings, members have the opportunity to meet each other and watch a presentation from a member somewhere throughout the United States.
The GFAC is open 9 a.m. -5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and will feature the showcase October 8-November 5. The showcase was curated by Debra Danko.
“The quilts vary from exquisite handwork to cutting edge techniques, such as fabric painting, raw edge appliqué-with or without fusing,” Danko said. “These art quilts are made to display on a wall. There is diversity in the medium. It’s personal expression and creative exploration. These are not patchwork quilts. They may be made out of fabric, netting or other materials.”
The quilts will also be part of the Flint Art Walk, from 6 p .m. – 9 p.m. Oct. 8. Music by Musica Royale will be featured during the art walk. The GFAC is one of many galleries and venues that features the art walk and will be open at the time. Others typically include Buckham Gallery, Churchill’s, Comma Bookstore & Social Hub, First Presbyterian, Flint City Hard Cider Co.,
Flint Trading Co., Hoffman’s Deco Deli & Café, MW Gallery, Priceless Dreams, Reclaimed by Whaley, SO¯ L COLLABORATIVE and The Local Grocer.
There is a Gallery Tour with Exhibit Curator Debra Danko from 12:30–1:30pm. Wednesday, October 13.
There also is an African American Quilt Guild that meets in Flint. Flint African-American Quilters Guild meets 3 p.m.-5 p.m every Thursday at Dort Oak Park Neighborhood House, 620 E. Newell St, in Flint.
In addition, Genesee Star Quilters Guild meets from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on third Friday of each month at Davison Area Senior Center, 10135 Lapeer Rd., Davison.
The art walk was birthed with the public relations committee at the Greater Flint Arts Council was looking for ways boost attendance in the downtown galleries.
“The arts organizations give local artists venues to advance their careers,” said Greg Fiedler, president and CEO of the Greater Flint Arts Council. “The artwalk also helps advance the careers of performing artists by providing venues for musicians, poets, writers and others. Economically art walk draws a large number of people downtown, which boosts the economy of downtown businesses. Every business that’s open during art walk is full downtown.”
For more information about the Greater Flint Arts Council, visit https://www.greaterflintartscouncil.org/.
For more information about SAQA, visit https://www.saqa.com/.
