Benefits of being a Member of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)

Not too long ago I wrote about being at the Quilt National (QN) Opening.  I was there because of an opportunity made available through Studio Art Quilt Associates.    As I can't say or explain it better, here is the information directly from their website:

Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. (SAQA) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the art quilt through education, exhibitions, professional development, documentation, and publications.

Founded in 1989 by an initial group of 50 artists, SAQA now boasts over 2,900 members: artists, teachers, collectors, gallery owners, museum curators and corporate sponsors.

SAQA defines an art quilt as "a creative visual work that is layered and stitched or that references this form of stitched layered structure."

SAQA's goals include: 

• Publish a newsletter and e.Bulletin addressing the professional needs of the working quilt artist.
• Publicize information about the art quilt through a web site, Professional Artist Member portfolios, and referrals to teachers and speakers for workshops and symposia.
• Educate through a series of conferences and lectures.
• Create a network of collectors, dealers and artists.
• Produce quality exhibitions, with documentary catalogues and critical reviews.
• Encourage critical writing, research and publication of articles about art quilts in the art press, popular press and scholarly journals.

I have been a member for four years....and I have to say, I really enjoy it.  The symposium offered in conjunction with Quilt National was just wonderful. For $20, SAQA member participants were able to attend the opening, attend a continental breakfast on Saturday morning after the opening where all of the artists whose work was in the show were able to speak about their work, listen to a presentation from the jurors how they chose the pieces and exactly what the process was, and a panel discussion from several of the artists whose work was chosen and in closing, a presentation of incoming President, Kris Sazaki talking about where SAQA is today and the plans for tho next several years.

In addition, for an extra fee, we could join in a pizza party with the QN artists.  

I can't say enough about how much fun I had. I was able to meet a lot of people with whom I had "met" on he internet and emailed back and forth with, but never gotten to meet face to face.  I also was able to see SAQA friends I had met at the Philadelphia conference last year, regional SAQA shows and Ohio regional "parlor meetings." 

Parlor meetings are meeting held by groups in a particular area.  At the very least, they are pot lucks with a show and tell element.  Or, it can be more structured...for instance at the parlor meeting I hosted  we talked about artist statements and bios, as well as points in choosing a long-arm or other set ups (such as a frame with movable tracks, the George, HQ-16, etc.) .  Not all areas have Parlor meetings (and they vary in what they are called) as they are up to the membership in an area to take the bull by the horns and plan them.  I have attended parlor meetings in homes, churches, libraries and the one that I hosted was in my husband's workplace.   No matter where they are held, I've enjoyed them and welcomed the opportunity to meet and talk with kindred souls.

Other extremely useful programs include webinars on various topic which are saved so even if you can't be there at the time the program originally runs, you can pick it up later   The Visioning Project is another useful program which helps you achieve your goals in a  years time . 

SAQA is open to all levels of interest, professional to those just getting started .  Quite  few members are collectors and we have several appraisers as well.  Go on over to the SAQA website and join...just tell them Lisa Quintana sent you. ;_)