Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Season

Title of work: Blessed Season

Artist Statement:

In recent years, many disasters have occurred due to climate change, such as earthquake, drought and flood. We need more consolation and hope. I pray for those who have encountered hardships and difficulties. I hope they will enjoy the beauty of cherry blossoms and feel blessed.

I describe the difficult challenges that we’re facing in our lives as winter. God is benevolent. After harsh winter, he gives people a pink sea of cherry blossoms to comfort their minds, enhance courage to fight for future and face life with joy. This is the blessed season that I feel.

Materials: commercial cottons, dyed fabrics, silk, satin, nylon fiber, woolen yarn, glitter, ribbon, Romanian thread

Techniques: 100% hand-stitched, appliqué, pieced, 3-layer quilted, embroidery

Size: 15” x 15”

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit: http://fifteenquilts.com/

The gallery of the first challenge of Viewpoints 9-3 has opened! Please click the link below to see all the beautiful works from Viewpoints 9!

http://viewpoints9-3.blogspot.tw/p/thread-gallery.html

Link: https://youtu.be/xRnO_Y7Ta2s

Lin Hsin-Chen Fiber Artist- Nature Quilt, Teaching, Curating, Community Service

Discover new methods and perspectives, swing for the fences, and highlight the value of individual honor and enhance the value of the group.

Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 3) Challenge 1

Title of work: Flowers Bloom and Fade Away

Theme: Use thread in a new way

Artist Statement:

I reflect on why people do not treasure the beauty when flowers bloom, but yearn for it when they fade away. There is a fragile flower in the work, as if it will drop off when wind blows. I use filament fabric to appliqué the poppy. It is very difficult sewing it, just like people embracing a thin feather of hope when they encounter crisis.

In spring, young shoots bravely emerge from the arid land under the fallen leaves which has accumulated since winter. The fertile soil nourishes flowers and makes them bloom speedy. They bloom faster than expected. It makes the world nervous and afraid of not having the chance to experience “flowers bloom and fade away”. What happened to our Mother Earth? Is she ill?

I describe it all as poppies. It’s because we are facing a nearly 9 months of drought in Taiwan. The situation of water shortage is getting worse. Just like the life of poppies, under the transient beauty, they anesthetize themselves instinctively. Waiting patiently for rain and dew descending from heaven and hoping the crisis will be eased.

I’ve been thinking about how to face the upcoming difficult situation with greater courage. I reflect on my water-use habits and realize that I did waste too much water immoderately. I was like wallowing in the comfortable and safe living condition, but never thinking about the pain of no water. What a frightening fact.

“Flowers Bloom and Fade Away” is the first work of my theme, Thinking, for Viewpoints 9-3. It depicts my mood at this moment.

Thank you, Martha, for the challenge.

Materials: hand-dyed fabrics, hand-dyed satin, commercial cottons, filament fabric, nylon fiber, Romanian thread

Techniques: hand pieced, hand appliqué, hand quilted

Size: 24”W x 48”H

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9-3.blogspot.tw/

Lin Hsin-Chen’s work, "Visible" and "The Life of Flowers", are included in Sandra Sider’s new book, 1000 Quilt Inspirations: Colorful and Creative Designs for Traditional, Modern, and Art Quilts. 

“Visible” was chosen to become part of the Michigan State University Museum's permanent collection in 2011.

“The Life of Flowers”

Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Entrance

Title of work: Pouring Living Water

Artist Statement:

After 9 months of drought, streams in Taiwan are drying up. On the contrary, plants on both sides are blooming exuberantly in the wrong season, showing rare and extraordinary beauty.

According to experts, when nature species encounter life crisis, they would make change and exhaust their life energy ahead of time, such as blooming particularly beautiful flowers or yielding especially sweet fruits. The timing of having a good rain after a long drought becomes a very important matter.

Taiwan is currently restricting water supply for households. Hope God could hear my sincere prayers with needles and threads. Pour rain and nourish all things! I also hope the drought and flood around the world will be eased!

Materials: commercial cottons, Romanian thread

Techniques: 100% hand-stitched, appliqué, pieced, 3-layer quilted

Size: 15” x 16” (Sorry. I made a mistake in size measurement, so one side is slightly longer.)

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit: http://fifteenquilts.com/

Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 2) Challenge 9

Title of work: Win by a Surprise Move

Theme: Baseball: Swing for the fences

My Feedback: Group Discipline

When I received the challenge about team work, my younger son just joined the army to fulfill his mandatory military service. He is an honor guard in the Republic of China Army. The team has to perform rifle exhibition drill at major celebrations and when foreign dignitaries visit the country. He is very nervous about his performance because the honor guards require exact discipline and spirit of team work. He always reminds himself the sense of honor, hoping to become the elite of the group.

I have the same sense of honor of participating in a quilting group! Not being late. Follow the rules. Shoot for a verity of positive opportunities for the group. We play well with our team.

Artist Statement:

Taiwan is located in the subtropical region. We have rare chance of seeing snow in the winter. Due to extreme climate anomalies in 2014, we got some snow. I observed how plants overcome the threat of extreme weather. They are adorable; especially the small daisies that strive to survive. They show us their surprise move of glorious living. I am sending them my best wishes, and therefore I sew unique colors on them.

What touched me is the energy of team work. When I was creating this piece, we had a mayoral election in Taiwan. The incumbent mayor of TaipeiCity is also a surgeon. He changes the city with his mission of life-saving. He said some nice words, “Ask yourself to do your best at every current situation. Adjust yourself and be friendly to people, events, substances and environments. Make all-out effort to the current situation.” This concept shocks me. Over a long period of time, I have been worked hard, but I didn’t make all-out effort. It will affect my future value of life and reverse my observation and thinking. Both the incumbent mayor of TaipeiCity and small daisies are creating new value of life with their finite lives. I thank them for giving me the opportunity to comprehend the truth and improve myself.

Launching new methods and perspectives, win by a surprise move, swing for the fences, highlight the value of individual honor and enhance the value of the group - this is the challenge I give myself in the second cycle of Viewpoints 9. I hope to apply my daily observations to the 9 pieces of work I create. As a result, "observations" have been accompanying me in the past 18 months and giving me the joy of creating. Coincidentally, the ninth challenge of cycle 2 from Diane is something about “swing for the fences”. What a perfect ending! Thank you, Diane! I would also like to thank members of Viewpoints 9 for giving me such a substantial journey.

Materials: silk, recycled banner, commercial cottons, ribbon, lace, woolen yarn, dyed fabrics, Romanian threads, embroidery floss, selvedge

Techniques: hand pieced, hand appliqué, hand knitted, yoyo, three layers quilted

Size: 18” x 27”

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9-2.blogspot.tw/

Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Monochromatic

Title of work: Joyous Celebration

Artist Statement:

Every culture has their unique way of celebration, so does the Chinese-speaking world. Red is the most representative color in Chinese culture. You can see red and gold at every occasion that related to happiness and joy. In Taiwan, every family has a festive ornament for New Year. As a quilter, I chose red for the monochromatic challenge. I use a variety of materials in this work to enhance the joyful and festive atmosphere. Though the sewing is difficult, it highlights the creative meaning and preciousness of this work.

I hope 2015 brings you peace and joy, and prosperous creating!

Materials: silk, satin, hand-dyed fabrics, metallic thread, beads, glitter, acrylic paint

Techniques: hand-pieced, hand-appliqué, hand-embroidery, hand-quilted, painted

Size: 15” x 15”

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit: http://fifteenquilts.com/

Betty Busby challenged me to post 3 pieces of art a day for 5 days. Each day you nominate a different artist and you tag the person who nominated you originally. Those artists go on to do the same. Today, day 5, I would like to nominate Yasuko Saito.

2 of the 3 works (“Life Celebration” and “Happy Birthday”) are from the second cycle of Viewpoints 9. They will be exhibited at the European Patchwork Meeting in September. The other work, Innocent Happiness, is a part of the ‘Round Robin Quilt Creative Project’. It is now exhibiting at Hilton Tokyo. (January 22 to 27, 2015)

Life Celebration / 18” x 27”

Happy Birthday / 18” x 27”

Innocent Happiness / 86 x 114 (cm)

Betty Busby challenged me to post 3 pieces of art a day for 5 days. Each day you nominate a different artist and you tag the person who nominated you originally. Those artists go on to do the same. Today, day 4, I would like to nominate Leni Wiener.

These 3 works were selected for Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. (SAQA) exhibitions, “Recovery” in Seasonal Palette, “Warm Love” in Color Wheel of Emotions, and “Visible” in 2011-2012 Trunk Show. Visible is a permanent collection at the MichiganStateUniversityMuseum.

Recovery (Seasonal Palette, SAQA) / 32" x 78"

Warm Love (Color Wheel of Emotions, SAQA) / 90 x 110 (cm)

Visible (2011-2012 Trunk Show, SAQA) / 25 x 25 (cm)

Betty Busby challenged me to post 3 pieces of art a day for 5 days. Each day you nominate a different artist and you tag the person who nominated you originally. Those artists go on to do the same. Today, day 3, I would like to nominate Ann Flaherty.

These are 3 works I made for Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group (http://fifteenquilts.com/). They will be exhibited at Open European Quilt Championships 2015, from October 29 to November 1.

Eternal Day and Night / 15" x 15"

Broaden the Horizons / 15" x 15"

Life at the Intersection / 15" x 15"

Betty Busby challenged me to post 3 pieces of art a day for 5 days. Each day you nominate a different artist and you tag the person who nominated you originally. Those artists go on to do the same. Today, day 2, I would like to nominate Lisa-Marie Sanders. Lisa-Marie is also a member of Viewpoints 9.

These are 3 works I made for the first cycle of Viewpoints 9. They will be exhibited at the International House, DavisCA from April to May, 2015.

Please Steal Innocence Away! / 46 x 63 (cm)

Movements of Lines / 81 x 47 (cm)

Out of Control Weather / 81 x 106 (cm)

Betty Busby challenged me to post 3 pieces of art a day for 5 days. Each day you nominate a different artist and you tag the person who nominated you originally. Those artists go on to do the same. Today, day 1, I would like to nominate Elaine Quehl.

These are 3 of my works from "My French Impressions" series. They are currently traveling with Crossing Oceans Textile Artists, an invited group of international artists, each offering their own unique perspective on the chosen theme of NATURE.

My French Impressions I- Poppies in Provence / 150 x 150 (cm)

My French Impressions II- Roses in Saint Martin de la Brasque / 64 x 64 (cm)

My French Impressions III- Roadside Daisy in Marseille / 64 x 64 (cm)

Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 2) Challenge 8

Title of work: Out of Thin Air

Theme: Tet

My Feedback: The Magical Hebrew

Dear Betty and Viewpoints 9 members, ever since the first cycle, I benefited a lot from the challenge topics that bring me knowledge growth. When I read Betty’s challenge topic, I feel like soaring to a new height to explore things I do not know. I am very surprised and curious about what I will come up with in the following 2 months.

On the day when I received the topic, my son sent me some photos that he took on his visit to Kaohsiung (a city in southern Taiwan). One of them looks like an extending form of the letter tet. The road is the new learning opportunity that my son is heading to.

In my spare time, I did a sketch according to the form of letter tet. It looks like a face. It was drawn during my coffee break, so it’s nicknamed “coffee face.”

Then, I started to play with this pattern. Hopefully when I complete the quilt for this challenge, I could also create a sketch book. What an interesting topic! Although I have no idea about Hebrew, I hope I can make good use of this opportunity to explore new things! Thank you, Betty.

Artist Statement:

I have always feared learning unfamiliar languages. When I saw the ninth letter of the Hebrew alphabet ‘tet’ for the first time, I realized that I have to make change and be brave to accept characters other than Chinese. Feeling helpless, I did a sketch freely to relieve my anxiety and increase confidence for a while. And then I try to weave joy out of thin air. Thus, the unknown flower is born.

After careful consideration, I decided to extend the flower based on the fundamental element of freedom in hopes of having a good art performance and experimenting on new creating techniques. During the creative process, I sketched spontaneously and followed my heart to cut fabrics with scissors. I sewed them directly without making any modifications. Besides, in order to pursue my original creative concept of freedom, I stop myself from changing the fabrics. I only choose once for every piece of fabric I use in the work. I know that protecting ourselves is a human instinct. Fearing of language learning is also one of them. However, art helps me to accept Hebrew language and arouses my creative energy to seize every possible opportunity.

This piece, Out of Thin Air, depicts a flower reborn from complex inner fears. It is joyful, confident and creative. It is also a meaningful self-learning! It’s wonderful that Betty brought this challenge topic to us. I’ve learned so much from it. It has made me not only better understand myself and accept the learning concept of starting from scratch, but also complete an interesting work! Thanks for that! It is the last piece I made in 2014. “Out of Thin Air” brings me expectation for 2015. I wish you all a Happy New Year!

Materials: commercial cottons

Techniques: hand pieced, hand appliqué, hand quilted

Size: 18” x 27”

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9-2.blogspot.tw/

Lin Hsin-Chen and Korean quilt artist Ms. Lee, Mi Kyung. Ms. Lee is also a selected artist of Taiwan International Quilt Exhibition 2012. Thanks for sharing the photo, Ms. Lee!

Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Roads

Title of work: Life at the Intersection

Artist Statement:

Millions of butterflies migrate to northern summer habitats each winter for breeding or wintering; it’s the famous “Butterfly Path” in Taiwan. Unfortunately, their migration route and one of Taiwan’s main freeways become a “death cross”, blocking their flying route, thousands of butterflies died on the freeway. Selfish human beings destroy natural environment and sacrifice ecology for major construction projects, which resulted in many butterflies are extinct or endangered. Taiwan has one of the highest butterfly species concentrations in the world with over 400 known species, but only about 370 species remaining now. The reputation of "Kingdom of Butterflies" has gradually declined.

Freeways escort people home safely, but they can’t guard butterflies’ migration route. The tragedy educates people to be in awe of nature. The rescue works have started with the help of research teams and volunteers, in hopes of ensuring the life intersection of people and butterfly ecology. Wish everything runs smoothly.

I pray for butterflies with needlework. It is what artists can contribute their mite to natural environment. In Taiwan International Quilt Exhibition 2016, we will have a group of international artists to speak for friendly natural and ecological environment, showing another creative depth. It should be exciting!

Materials: commercial cottons, woolen yarn, metallic thread

Techniques: 100% hand-stitched, appliqué, pieced, 3-layer quilted

Size: 15” x 15”

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit: http://fifteenquilts.com/

Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 2) Challenge 7

Title of work: Dry Gorge

Theme: Environment and Ecology Picture Book

Artist Statement:

Taroko National Park, situated in the east of the Central Mountain Range of Taiwan and across the LiwuRiver, is facing Pacific Ocean and surrounded by mountains. Water rushing down from the magnificent mountains to the narrow U-shaped gorge, the white gorge is carved into the marble by the erosive power of the LiwuRiver for years. Due to climate change, dry season has extended. The riverbed looks like old cheese.

There is a truss bridge on the hillside. I had strong feelings when I was sewing the truss structure. Standing between the mountains, I observed the subtle feel between the bridge and the mountains and felt the combination of natural and unnatural. The interval between trusses looks differently when you stand in different positions, as if different standpoint affects communication between people. I got lost when I was sewing the truss bridge because I was so keen on making the interval between trusses looked equal. I didn’t believe in what I recorded on the spot, so I spent lots of time readjusting them. I even read several books about it but it only helped me to learn more about bridge structures. Finally, I had to go back to my original design and try to recall what I saw from where I stand there. I realized that people are born with "visual adjustment"; there is nothing to do with the interval between trusses as long as it’s well-constructed. The beautiful combination between the bridge and mountains reminds me of mutual acceptance of shortcomings between people.

We can never learn the big heart that how Nature embraces unnatural structures. I was so ignorant that I tried to make adjustment of the truss bridge arbitrary. Learning opportunity is everywhere and the dryness seems to remind us this philosophy. Thanks to this challenge, it brings me new perspective. Thank you all for supporting this project.

Materials: commercial cottons, woolen yarn

Techniques: 100% hand pieced, hand appliqué, hand quilted. The wool is transplanted into fabrics and made undetachable.

Size: 40 cm x 80 cm

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9-2.blogspot.tw/

Feeling very exciting to have my work, "The Moving World-Winter" being included in well-known American artist Joen Wolfrom's new book, “Color Play Second Edition”!

Feeling very exciting to have two of my works, "The Untraceable Path of the Butterfly" and "Formosa Taijiang" being included in Linda Seward's new book, “The Ultimate Guide to Art Quilting”!

Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 2) Challenge 6

Title of work: Melancholy Era

Theme: A stitch in time.

Artist Statement:

It’s a scattered flower. It’s fragmented, beyond borders, beyond imagination. It has been forced to change the reason for living in order to protect the innermost vitality. The flowers in this era will be out of our impression and bloom beautifully in another way. Learning about reverse thinking is an important lesson.

July and August in 2014 are sorrowful to me. It’s a very different summer, due to environmental issues, climate, natural disasters, man-made disasters, earthquakes, typhoons, plane crashes, war, disease, etc.; we no longer feel the happiness that summer brings to us. Dozens of major disasters occurred worldwide during this period. Living in Taiwan, the gas pipeline explosion which happened in the neighbor city makes me extremely anxious. I used to believe that if we think positively, unfortunate things will never come. However, that’s not the fact.

Does the comfortable and safe world no longer exist? Sketching before making a quilt used to be an easy thing for me, but this time I couldn’t make a decision after I drew several pictures. I couldn’t sweep the sorrow away so I had to give up. I followed my heart to cut the fabric freely and sew them by hand. I pray for healing the sorrows by the warmth of hand sewing. Sadness will pass and bring out opportunities for changes and miracles. I used the hand dyed fabrics that I got from Sue in this quilt. They strengthen and enrich my work.

Living in this generation, we need to have not only the courage of accepting diverse challenges due to global environmental changes, but also the ability of overcoming the fears. “A stitch in time saves nine” reminds me of a Chinese saying, "Be prepared for danger in times of peace". Thank you, Sue, this challenge topic gave me another chance for introspection. I hope everyone is safe and sound.

Materials: dyed fabric, commercial cottons, satin, beads, metallic threads, statuette, cross

Techniques: hand pieced, hand appliqué, hand quilted

Size: 18” x 27”

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9-2.blogspot.tw/

Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Progress

Title of work: Broaden the Horizons

Artist Statement:

Confucius says, "The wise find pleasure in water; the virtuous find pleasure in hills. The wise are active; the virtuous are tranquil. The wise are joyful; the virtuous are long-lived." That’s why I explore Nature to broaden my horizons.

Wise men are as stable as mountains. They are considerate and reasonable. Whenever they encounter difficulties, they react quickly and solve the problem. Their personalities are like water, quiet but active, like a non-stop flowing stream.

Most importantly, they are aware of their shortcomings and seeking the right direction for learning.

Materials: commercial cottons, metallic threads

Techniques: 100% hand-stitched, appliqué, pieced, 3-layer quilted

Size: 15” x 15”

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit: http://fifteenquilts.com/

Ann Hammel, Creative Writing Specialist of American Quilter’s Society, shared her visit to 2014 China Keqiao International Textile Expo. Please click the link below for the article.

AQS Explores Quilting in China:

http://www.quiltviews.com/aqs-explores-quilting-in-china

I was invited to participate in ‘Around the World Blog Hop’ by fabric surface design artist Carol R. Eaton. Carol is the curator of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) - Color Wheel of Emotions. It’s so honor to have my work, Warm Love, selected in the show. We’ve never met in person before, but we have several emails with each other. She is a talented and enthusiastic artist. Please take a look at her blog: http://carolreatondesigns.blogspot.com/

The ‘Around the World Blog Hop’ is based on four questions. Here are my answers.

What am I working on?

I have completed 85 pieces of work so far. My creations can be divided into 3 different categories:

(1) Works that are not very big made with simple hand-sewing techniques can be completed rapidly with a flexible schedule.

(2) Specified or invitational works which must follow a set of specifications were usually created within a tight time frame. Free time would be diverted to finish the work before the deadline.

(3) Supersized projects measuring up to 400 cm x 360 cm with many specifications are sometimes used in to teach courses or collaboratively worked on in societies or groups. These large designs usually need a scheduled sewing plan as well as a plan for sharing risks and liabilities as these projects face potential challenges in the level of participants and materials used. Finished projects were usually used in collaboration with world environmental topics. The participation of social groups helps to achieve the objective of public promotion. Design of these collaborative projects was carried out by one person and the sewing work divided between every participant.

These 3 design categories will persist because they each have their own reason for existence.

I am a quilter who loves hand-stitch more than machine-stitch. As a result, to endure the lacking of time and overcome complicated affairs have been a long-term training for me. Facing difficulties calmly, thinking carefully and reach the goals is what I practice everyday. I am very thankful to every adversity that giving me the chance to grow and improve myself.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

My works mainly focus on the exploration of “natural patterns”.

As we observe nature from a human perspective, we discover that everything has its own innate reason for existence. Every matter has its own natural form. From this natural form we derive a definition for aesthetics. Any naturally-occurring form would support the transformation of creative works without the use of force. Complicated logic would affect an otherwise robust creative space. Mystery links relationships together, forming a manifestation of mutual understanding. Artists have the privilege to voluntarily allow nature to guide every reaction when expressing their understanding of nature. Each natural reaction felt represents a wondrous transformation and model of beauty.

I tried to stick to the feeling of learning from nature, relying on my shallow understanding as I traced the contours of nature. The beautiful subconscious origin of my creativity is combined with my awakened principles of design.

Abstract imaginations in fiber design and design highlights of natural, regenerated or imitation fibers are either for human use or to provide abstract spatial decoration. It can be manifested in a conceptual form or intangibly, unrestricted by scale to expand its metamorphosing effects on space.

Contour designs we learnt from nature can be used to transform fabric, allowing our vision to leap between different emotions brought forth by fiber and contour. Creative visualizations emerge from the intersections of lines, giving a dancing visual where uniqueness appears from unity.

Why do I write/create what I do?

Literature, creative writing, music, fine arts or any that involves art, I create only for my interest.

Learning experience of fiber art originates deeply from life instinct; it is the creations of integration encompassed a culture of life. I put all my effort into expanding my horizons to achieve the goal for design and make every detail well-connected to one another. To go beyond the limitation, sometimes I have to break the given standards to pursue the ultimate spirit. Needles and threads are like my mentors; they lead me to absorb and mature. My thoughts and feelings are well-expressed in various forms and beyond boundaries through the narrative talents of works. The unlimited inspirations of Nature are my ideas for creation. I love to play with various kinds of fabrics. Exploring possibilities of combination always brings me new visions. I comprehend the delicate sentiment of every stitched fabric; it is an extension of a unique and moving story. Just like a storybook-a rich loaded with people’s thoughts and feelings. Artworks are more than themselves; they are like “intellectuality” that people can peruse. This meaning of creation gets involved in each work and absorbs the subtle relationship to lines, colors and needles and threads.

How does my writing/creating process work?

I am in my studio from 7 am to 9 pm. My works are divided into three major parts – creating; teaching and doing research, and organizing group activities of TAQS (Taiwan Art Quilt Society). There isn’t a clear schedule on the time of dealing each thing.

Creating is as important as life. My life seemed to be occupied by scheduled work. I usually work on 3 to 4 pieces intermittently. Hand-sewing requires careful time management and careful sewing. Researching new work and projects also occupy a great deal of my time. We must compose and compile research plans according to the needs of the theme, and carry out our work stepwise.

My listening is the weakest when sewing as I would be extremely concentrated on the positioning of my needle. I love hand-sewing best, and both my hands work in tandem often, guiding the threads like a pen writing words. Each stitch was done carefully. At this moment I usually play soft music to provide a background ambience in a quiet space. The music can’t have singing as it may disturb my emotions. Ambient music helps me to concentrate between my needle and my work, allowing me to weave and record every stitch.

For more information about me, please visit my website: http://www.linhsinchen.idv.tw/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hsinchenlin.artquilts

Now, let me introduce artist Martha Wolfe to you! Martha is a very talented fiber artist and printmaker. I met her at IQF-Houston in 2012. We are both members of Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) and Viewpoints 9. We often share global environmental issues and creative inspirations. To learn more about Martha Wolfe, please visit: http://www.marthawolfe.com/

Title of Work: My French Impressions VI- London Plane Trees in Paris

Materials: commercial cottons, cotton thread, Japanese fabric, wool

Techniques: hand appliqué, hand pieced, hand quilted, embroidery

Size: 64 X 64 (cm)

Artist Statement: The autumn of the Seine River is very poetic. The road trees are glamorous. The wrinkled yellow leaves are withering, but they look gorgeous hanging on the tree branches. I like the atmosphere around it. Showing the atmosphere in this piece is a big challenge to me.

Title of Work: My French Impressions V- Backyard Garden in Villefranche-sur-Saône

Materials: commercial cottons

Techniques: hand appliqué, hand pieced, hand quilted, embroidery

Size: 64 X 64 (cm)

Artist Statement: It’s a garden in early summer. I liked to take a walk and meditate there in the morning. The surroundings were very quiet. I had some thinking and found some innermost answers there. I’m thankful to the early summer garden for accompanying me during the period, therefore I completed this piece.

Title of Work: My French Impressions IV- Woods in Fourvière, Lyon

Materials: commercial cottons

Techniques: hand appliqué, hand pieced, hand quilted, embroidery

Size: 64 X 64 (cm)

Artist Statement: Going up the mountain with a pilgrimage mood, all the things I heard and saw were memorable. I had special feelings to the woods on the way back. It seemed like an old man who wanted to say something to me. It’s appealing and full of artistic conception. I tried to put the feelings into this quilts as a memento of my journey.

Title of Work: My French Impressions III- Roadside Daisy in Marseille

Materials: commercial cottons, woolen yarn, glitter, beads

Techniques: hand appliqué, hand pieced, hand quilted, embroidery

Size: 64 X 64 (cm)

Artist Statement: I saw daisies on the roadside in late afternoon with a holiday mood. I was surprised by the gorgeous colors of them under the sunlight. The daisies looked like wearing creative clothes. I sew on different color petals. The resulting work makes me surprised.

Title of Work: My French Impressions II- Roses in Saint Martin de la Brasque

Materials: commercial cottons

Techniques: hand appliqué, hand pieced, hand quilted, embroidery

Size: 64 X 64 (cm)

Artist Statement: I stayed at Saint Martin de la Brasque, a township in southeastern France. While taking a walk on the street, a lovely lady invited me to come to her house to have afternoon tea. The roses in the doorway looked vivid and beautiful, as if they were also welcoming me. It’s an enjoyable afternoon.

Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Memories

Title of work: Piecing Impressions

Artist Statement:

I cherish the memories of forest environment that I saw when I was young. The environment and ecosystem have changed by human. It becomes chaotic and disturbing. Every time I visit the forest, I feel like piecing impressions. I wonder if what I see is a friendly environment. Is it original or artificial? The emerging issues keep disturbing me.

Materials: fabrics from Kenya, Jamaica, Australia, commercial cottons, dyed fabrics

Techniques: 100% hand-stitched, appliqué, pieced, quilted

Size: 15” x 15”

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit: http://fifteenquilts.com/

Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 2) Challenge 5

Title of work: Happy Birthday

Theme:

“One universe

Nine planets

Two hundred and four countries

Eight hundred and nine islands

Seven seas

And I had the privilege to meet you.”

My Feedback: Nine-floor Lighthouse

There is a lighthouse in my childhood traveling memory. It’s the guardian of Taiwan’s southernmost tip and it prevents vessels from the threat of complex ocean currents. I revisit the lighthouse after 50 years. Surprisingly, due to the change of time, now visitors can come closer to the building and take a closer look. I count carefully and it looks like a nine-floor lighthouse. The lighthouse is made of iron and well-preserved. It was built in 1883. It is 21.4 meters high, 1.8 million candle power with the irradiation distance of 27.2 nautical miles. It is also known as “The Light of East Asia.”

Ever since I got married, I started to see things from different angles. I might not be curious about the floors of the lighthouse if my husband is not an architect. I have a special feeling when the number nine comes to me. According to my blurred childhood memory, the lighthouse wasn’t that tall and there was a spiral staircase. What a chance to refresh my memory! Many imaginations are also derived from the trip. I kept thinking about “rotating” during the trip. I was so happy and felt like going to heaven.

The reveal day is approaching. Thought I've found a feeling to create something, I have not yet found the time to start sewing. It makes me feel nervous and want to climb up a spiral staircase so that I could "reach heaven in a single bound." Best wishes to everyone!

Artist Statement:

When I read the quote from Alicia, I was deeply touched. It’s so nice for us to know each other in such a big universe. Time and space can’t stop our communication and distance can’t separate our friendship. As long as we remember each other in our hearts, we are dear friends.

Out of curiosity, I started to explore the meanings behind the number 9. I kept thinking about it and amazingly I bumped into so many surprises that I haven’t experienced before. It makes me thinking of many people, things and issues in a new perspective. It feels like going to school and start to learn things that I have never focused on in the past. The school is the universe.

Your attitude changes when you see things from different angles. During the creative process, I was keen to include the number 9 in my work. As a reward for all the things that I’ve learned from this challenge, I sewed this piece in a very delicate way with some special fabrics. However, I accidentally hung this piece upside down so that the 9 becomes 6. I’m delighted with the result. My husband is very supportive to my quilt making, but he seldom comment on my works. I completed this quilt on his birthday. He said happily, for the first time, “Is it my birthday gift?” Happy birthday to you, my dear! Happy birthday to everyone!

Thanks for everything that this topic has brought to me.

Materials: floss, silk, hand-dyed silk, commercial cotton, linen, woolen yarn, metallic threads, beads, glitter

Techniques: hand stitches, hand appliqué, hand pieced, hand quilted

Size: 18” x 27”

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9-2.blogspot.tw/

"The Ultimate Guide to Art Quilting" by Linda Seward

I am so happy to receive Linda Seward's new book, “The Ultimate Guide to Art Quilting”, in my mailbox! What a wonderful book! I've been enjoy reading it during the weekend and feeling very exciting to see my 2 works, "Formosa Taijiang" and “The Untraceable Path of the Butterfly" being included in the book! 

Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Nature

Title of work: Blossom Time

Artist Statement:

Flowers make a deal of blossom time with each other in the natural world. They take turns to decorate the world and show their beauty. It makes me think of why human beings could not complete things on time like flowers do. During the creative process, I once get lost and I regain inspiration, so I select bright colors to remind myself and expect a new direction in the future! Thanks to the theme.

The theme of Nature seems easy to me because my inspiration often comes from natural environments. However, making this piece is harder than ever! I take it too seriously and get lost.

Materials: commercial cottons, dyed fabric, beads, Romanian thread

Techniques: 100% hand stitched, appliqué, pieced, quilted, embroidery

Size: 15” x 15”

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit: http://fifteenquilts.com/

New venues have been added to SAQA’s Color Wheel of Emotions!

Lin Hsin-Chen’s work, Warm Love, is on the front of the SAQA Post Card!

Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 2) Challenge 4

Title of work: Intertwined

Theme: Memories of movies and September

My Feedback: The Southernmost Tip of Taiwan

The entire February can be seen as the continuation of Chinese New Year in Taiwan. Planning for excursion becomes an important thing for every family. Sometimes it makes me confused about the significance of holidays. Approximately one-third of a year is holiday in Taiwan. I wonder if it’s necessary to have so many days off. I was puzzled about Europeans’ "slow living", but now I understand why people are yearn for it. If we have more holidays, we can slow down our pace to see the beautiful world and ‘digest’ our life experience. However, as a pragmatic person, I don’t like to dream away my time. For holidays, more is not always better!

I took a trip to the southernmost tip of Taiwan in mid-February, a good chance for me to relax, release pressure and see Nature. It’s one of the only national parks of Taiwan that limits the number of visitors, 200 people a day. What a happy policy that allows us to enjoy the beautiful scenery solitary and maybe find sea beans on the beach. Unfortunately, we encountered a fire that burned away the coastal plants in a few hours. It was horrible. Fire and water have no mercy.

The burnt plants make me curious. How fortunate to encounter such a rare learning opportunity. We found that the plants are still alive after being burned. Their roots and stems retain a lot of water, so only the leaves and skin are damaged. It’s hard to imagine that they are costal plant, screw pine. Taking off the beautiful appearance, they show their glorious light of life. Thanks to this special class.

The "Hahn" that deep in the heart might just like those burnt plants. It might only be transient “once”. All things will pass.

Artist Statement:

Life is full of tangled things. Depression and worries are trials that test our ability constantly, just like the intertwined tree branches in the forest that their tree leaves battle with one another. It makes us confused and disturbs our thoughts.

Mother Nature is everywhere. She is like a prophet hiding herself in the dark. There is a distance but you still feel the intimacy. She often narrows the scope of her existence and shows the direction for those who want to open their visions. She gives her wisdom to those who are frustrated. What an honor to sew this piece of my beloved mentor.

Whenever there is a student, there is always a teacher. The pursuit of perfection often brings more disturbance and challenge. That was how I felt during the creative process of this piece. Maybe I cared too much about this piece and lack of concentration. While sewing this piece, I realized that seeing is not always believing. The meanings are hidden behind the works. Without faith, I can‘t sew the huge tree in the dark. Without sincere willingness, I can’t complete the bright miniature forest in solid-void space, just like people’s ignorance of facing all things. To my surprise, Mother Nature gives me trials in sewing this piece. I’m thankful for Nature’s guidance.

Materials: cotton, woolen yarn, wool, Romanian thread

Techniques: embroidery, 100% hand stitched, appliqué, pieced, three-layered quilted; The wool is transplanted into fabrics and made undetachable.

Size: 18”x 27”

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9-2.blogspot.tw/

Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 2) Challenge 3

Title of work: Self-breakthrough

Theme: Nine=Nein=No

My Feedback: The Wisdom of Big Tree

Somebody told me that what we really have is much more than what we think. I believe it’s a right point of view and I’m willing to take the challenge and accept the unknowns. The value will be determined only if we could make ourselves standing at the high point of prophets. Like a tree guarding the Earth and the Earth protecting humans, they linked to each other to survive.

I’ve been listening to the elders’ words, learning from their experiences and respecting their opinions ever since I was a child. Some friends said that it would make me lose myself, but I think that elders’ advices are valuable and wonderful learning opportunities to me. The more I learn from the elders, the less I have to strive and struggle. There are many wise men in my life. They are my role models who show me the direction and make me become wise gradually in treating others and daily lives. I’m an old soul living in a young body.

I also apply the experiences that I learned from the elderly on my quilting. They push me to somewhere high that others can’t see. When I started to learn quilting, I chose to learn by myself and say “No” to the Japanese learning system. Then, I establish my own teaching system. I say “No” to the popular quilting market in Taiwan and go my own way bravely. Thanks to saying “No”, I have the opportunities today to serve in Taiwanese quilting and plan a series of NPO activities.

I wish everyone peace and happiness.

Artist Statement:

I’m keen on learning things that I’m not familiar with in order to make self-improvements. I believe that it’s a life lesson for all of us. However, reality is often not as easy as what we imagined. Bias, preconception and different levels of understanding of people and things usually block us. Sometimes confidence would influence our choices and judgments. All these problems would be solved or gain positive response if only we can open our minds to learn. I’m willing to overcome my shortcomings. It’s also my lifelong learning goal.

Over a long period of time, I have known that there is a bottomless black hole inside me. There is nothing horrible as people might have imagined, but the need of profound knowledge makes it hard to access and reveal. The real world is gorgeous, colorful and full of hope, which is encouraging me, supporting me and giving me power and blessing because of my efforts to learn. I am like a colorless big tree that accepts various challenges through different learning experiences. I try my best to learn the wisdom and expect to bloom confidently just like the transparent flowers on the tree. I always believed that to learn humbly is the best way to breakthrough oneself. I wish myself and everyone all has the courage.

To me, this challenge gives me another opportunity to talk with my inner-self and re-understanding myself. It’s a very special experience to examine new feelings with every stitch. I cherish the creative process of this quilt. It’s going to be an unforgettable memory. Thank you Lisa-Marie for giving this topic!

Materials: woven fabric from my old collection, silk, satin, commercial cotton, glitter, beads, ribbon, lace, woolen yarn, metallic threads

Techniques: 100% hand-stitched, pieced, appliqué, 3-layer quilted

Size: 18” x 27”

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9-2.blogspot.tw/

Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Contrast

Title of work: Eternal Day and Night

Artist Statement:

I attend various international quilting exhibitions frequently. The most difficult part is probably dealing with time differences. Adapting to the reverse day and night makes me dizzy. However, sitting on the plane and seeing the contrast view of day and night is breathtaking. I always want to make a quilt of it, thanks to this challenge topic.

The Universe is so huge that a humble man like me could not understand. The power of Mother Nature is magnificent so that all things on the Earth have to follow the operation of day and night. Time zones, boundary between today and yesterday, theories of the constant exchange of space and time etc. are far beyond my understanding.

The rule of Nature is everywhere. The philosophical theories are too profound so that I can only depict the grace of the Universe via a tree. This piece also describes the double sides of human, darkness and brightness, good and evil, both mentally and physically. Learning to adjust is a life lesson. In short, there are too many things that I want to write for this piece only if I have more time. I wish everyone has a healthy life.

Materials: commercial cottons, dyed fabric, metallic thread, beads, glitter

Techniques: 100% hand stitched, appliqué, pieced, three-layered quilted, embroidery

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit:  http://fifteenquilts.com/

Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Rhythm

Title of work: Rhythm of My Life

Artist Statement:

Everyone has their own rhythm of life. Living in a quiet and natural environment is my dream. Though I haven’t found my ideal place to live yet, I feel I am lucky enough to live near a quiet and slow-pace park now. In my opinion, rhythm is connected widely with people, things and eco-environment in our lives.

Materials: Silk, commercial cottons, beads, glitter, embroidery floss

Techniques: 100% hand stitched, pieced, appliqué, three-layered quilted

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit:  http://fifteenquilts.com/

Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 2) Challenge 2

Title of work: Life Celebration

Theme: What would you do with 9 lives?

My Feedback: The Story of Women

It’s so nice to meet Martha and Betty in IQF-Houston. It was also great to see my large quilts being exhibited in such a grand venue; this is something that I have been dreaming of for many years. The 10 quilts were made with many people in different times. We sewed our emotions, negative or positive, and lots of memories of the growing process of women in the quilts. We take sewing as therapy to find a new self to face our lives. When the quilts were hung in IQF-Houston, it not only comforts my hard-working times, but also encourages everyone who has participated in the project. It was significance.

I shared my story of Houston with my mother. Again, she took out my grandmother’s Lotus shoes and told me the story of my grandmother and her needlework. In Eastern culture, women used to bind their feet (also known as “3-inch Lotus Feet”). Women at that time need to sew their own shoes. They usually embroidered the shoes with the newest pattern by using the newest skill they learned. Or, with age, they showed the understated beauty and supple texture on the Lotus shoes. They were “women’s wisdom on the foot”.

The “Mirror Cover” is another thing from my grandmother. It was a representative of the unique culture of women who grew up in an ancient aristocratic family. In the old times, mirrors must be covered up when they are not in use. It was considered as a modest virtue for women. The mirror cover was embroidered and hand stitched by my grandmother. It’s so delicate. I can imagine that women in different ages had to learn to adapt themselves to the environment at that time and keep themselves supple.

There are a variety of special learning experiences in my life. Whether it’s in progress or already past, they have been encouraging me to continue to make large collaborative quilts and keep helping vulnerable women to complete their own stories and improve themselves over time and space. I do enjoy this precious opportunity a lot!

Thank you, Kate, for giving us this challenge. In my Oriental thinking and understanding, women not only have 9 lives, they are far more pliable in every stage of life. I’m pleased to be able to share this understanding. All the best to everyone!

Artist Statement:

I have to admit that I’m not a smart enough woman. Being down-to-earth is my principle of doing things. People might think that I am a serious person, but that’s not true. I’m more like a self-motivated person. I have high standards for myself. In Chinese culture, the concept of accomplishing a goal can be described as a circular ring. It’s just like a flower head wreath which is filled with celebration. This challenge reminds me of the worthy achievements in the past and the celebration of life.

I would not say that the past is something hard to bear, because I’ve learned a lot through the times. If a woman’s wisdom is accumulated by countless ordinary fate, then I strongly believe that every challenge I encountered is sweet processes of my life journey. They are just like flower wreaths for our heads. Every painful challenge is worthy to try and experience because you will substantially benefit from them.

I used many small pieces of fabrics to make this quilt. Because of my poor health condition, I took a few days off from work. Therefore, I have more time to create this piece in a detail way. I enjoy the sewing process of this piece a lot because it was just like piecing my bright and happy memories together. This is the “Life Celebration” of me and thanks to this quilt, I recovered faster than I had expected. I cherish everything I have. Thank you, Kate, for this challenge.

Materials: Commercial cotton, ribbon, beads, metallic threads

Techniques: 100% hand-stitched, appliqué, pieced, 3-layer quilted

Size: 64x45 (cm)

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9-2.blogspot.tw/

Curator of Aigu'illes en Luberon, Mrs. Nathalie Locquen, received the Christmas card from Mrs. Lin Hsin-Chen.

She shared her emotion on her blog!

For full content please visit http://labastidane.fr/petitsriens/?p=15063

2013 has been a warm year that filled with family love and friendship.

Time flies and disappears like magic, but it converts into fresh wisdom.

Wisdom remains and becomes the catalyst of self-growth at every moment of our lives.

I would like to share the little story of my quilt with you.

May we all have a blessed new year!

Merry Christmas!

Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Connect

Title of work: Shuttling Between Ripples 

Artist Statement:

Any trivial thing in life, happy or sad, would evoke ripples, big or small, in our mind. Complicated emotions shuttle between the ripples and seem like they’re testing the bottom line of humanity. Do we have a thorough understanding of the diverse environments and do we capable to handling all these things without bringing troubles to ourselves and others? Through practice and connected with realities, I hope to live a colorful life just like how this quilt has been depicted.

Materials: Silk, wool, ribbon, beads, commercial cottons

Techniques: 100% hand appliqué, hand pieced, three-layered quilted

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit:  http://fifteenquilts.com/

Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Time

Title of work: The Life of Flowers

Artist Statement:

The time of flowers blooming and fading is short. Flowers themselves know their life time is limited, so they cherish every second in their lifetime to show the most beautiful aspect of them and make the best use of their existence to the extreme. Whether it’s a flower bud, a glamorous bloom or even a solitary fading flower, it spends the lifetime in beauty. How about us? Do we also cherish every stage of life and seize the time? 

Wish everyone live a bright and beautiful life. 

Materials: Wool, hand-dyed fabrics, commercial dyed fabrics, commercial fabrics 

Techniques: The wool is transplanted into fabrics and made undetachable. Hand appliqué, hand pieced, hand quilted

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit:  http://fifteenquilts.com/

Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group

Theme: Texture

Title of work: Sincere Greeting

Artist Statement: 

Nature has been the source of my creative inspiration for a long time. Texture is an amazing product of Nature. Everything we see and feel has its beauteous texture. I’m very fascinated by its pure and true beauty, which is always changing, just like a prophet guiding me to learn and create. I tried to sew the supple beauty into this quilt. This quilt is a “Sincere Greeting” for all the members of 15 x 15. I would like to thank every one of you for letting me join this creative group. 

Materials: chintz, chiffon, cotton, silk, glitter, beads 

Techniques: rubbing, hand stitches, hand quilted

For more information about Fifteen by Fifteen Quilting Group, please visit:  http://fifteenquilts.com/

Viewpoints 9 (Cycle 2) Challenge 1

Title of work: Bringing Back the Stories

Theme: Where does the time go?

My Feedback: Moments

Last month, I had a chance to visit the Daylily Mountain in Eastern Taiwan with my husband. The whole mountain is full of daylily flowers in blossom. The orange daylily flower is a traditional dish in Taiwan. The flowers are very beautiful, but people can only see them blooming in July and August. Unfortunately, there were many typhoons in July and August this year. The typhoons disrupted the flowering period, so that we had to postpone our schedules.  

Plans can never catch up with changes. No matter how perfect plans you have, the right time and right weather are always much more influential. We have to rely on the weather in our daily life. It seems to be an inevitable situation for us living in the 21 century.

I took these 2 photos of daylily flowers just at the right moments. After taking the photos, the sky suddenly became overcast with clouds. It was very impressive. Time is fleeting so we must treasure it.

Artist Statement: 

Where did the time go! I have to take a time machine and look back on the past, rummage around the spaces where I once familiar with, unpack the story boxes in the dark, unwind the winding thread and explore the stories of mine. I place the present as the bright, vivid and colorful background. This is a valuable experience, just like blooming new flowers for the future. What fun!

Time and space are my partners who have been accompanied me to enjoy this wonderful world. It made me to think carefully about “Where does the time go?” Surprisingly, I found the old things are connected, entangled, tugging, twisting, joyous, moving and recorded… My immaturity, emotion and knowledge have been adjusted and improved by the old times. Reentering the time and space and refreshing my attitudes, I feel joyful and fulfilled.

Thank you, Martha, for giving us this challenge. It gives me a chance to reflect and adjust the use of time. I have to admit that I am a workaholic, especially for NGO issues. I know that I didn’t love myself enough and I didn’t take good care of myself. After hand sewing this piece, I decided not to assign too much works for myself in year 2014, so that I can focus more on my health. I hope I can do it!

Viewpoints 9 Challenge 9

Title of work: Out of Control Weather

Theme: Unnatural

My Feedback: Cognitive Correction 

The quilting world in Asia is mostly under the commercial domination and this problem is particularly serious in Taiwan. There are fewer people in fiber arts that can set up their self-learning goals and accomplish their dreams as a fiber artist like I do. Getting a foothold in Asia is relatively hard. The unwritten rules are just like a rope that ties the freedom of creativity, which not only harms creative quilters but also distorts the true intention of fiber arts. I’m quite envious of the creative environment and atmosphere in the U.S. and Europe. That’s why I set up TAQS (Taiwan Art Quilt Society) and try to find a way out. Hopefully I can see the environment to be changed and improved gradually. Being a part of Viewpoints 9 has helped me to widen my vision and influenced my perspectives in many aspects.  

This spring, when I was attending an exhibition in Provence, Nature gave me a “hint” by showing me “black flowers.” It brought me new inspiration for the future and altered my original cognition of Nature colors. The color of Nature is ever changing and beyond our expectation. It helps me to learn to accept something that exceeds the original cognition.

Nature is just like a Master who guides us to renew our knowledge and vision and allows us to see our shortcomings and change our concept. It is always a happy thing to participate in Viewpoints 9.

All the best to everyone!

Artist Statement: 

Thank you, Mary, for giving us this challenge. 

Global warming becomes even more serious in summer 2013. Human beings are luckily enough to be able to hide into an air-conditioned room to regulate body temperature. The pursuit of comfort is a human instinct. How about all the other living things on Earth? Are they as lucky as we are? The temperature is getting higher and higher every year. The problem of global warming seems out of control. What a hazardous time we are in! It’s hard to imagine that we human beings will become “climate refugees” in the future.

I attended a cruise trip in July. As a first-time cruiser, I enjoyed the facilities on the ship and felt everything was so novel. But I felt confused when I was listening to the tourist guide on the cruise explaining how the coastline landscape has been changed due to climate change, flood and drought. It swept away my joy and made me feel sad. Why does the environment change? How will it affect the future?

Viewpoints 9 Challenge 8

Title of work: Health and Happiness

Theme: Preconceptions 

My Feedback: Different from Our Thoughts 

I attended an exhibition in France in mid May and met many European artists. I found many groups are quite similar to our Viewpoints 9. Some of them use social network for public viewing and some of them don’t, but they have one thing in common, which is the long histories. Some of them even have been lasted for 20 to 30 years. I was stunned by their attitude and spirit of cooperation. It was truly a valuable opportunity of exchanges and I’ve seen diverse insights from them in the world of quilting, including creating styles, discussion, communication, art work publishing, obligation and cooperation between members. There’s a lot I can learned from them.

I’m lucky to have the opportunity to visit different cities and experience various local cultures. During each journey, I often encounter something that is “different from my thoughts”, not only in quilting professions but also in trifling matters of everyday life. I always try to blend in and learned from the local people, but maybe I am not knowledgeable enough, I often feel upset and start complaining. Worst of all, the unsatisfied current situation not only affects my emotion, but also violates my creating and self-learning plans. 

In fall, 2009, I visited Chicago and stayed there for 5 days to enjoy the arts and architecture and so on of this city. The Millennium Park located beside Lake Michigan let me absorb in its cultural and leisure atmosphere. What a great chance for meditation and rethink about those things that I used to complaint about! When I stood in front the tremendous work, Cloud Gate, all of the people and things looked distorted. Both our attitude and the environment keep changing, so if we don’t keep learning and adjust ourselves, maybe the friends around us would see a “distorted” person. The world is always different from our thoughts. Keep learning and accept the fact seems to be the only solution. 

The sudden enlightenment in Chicago helps me a lot in dealing with people and things. Also allows me to adjust myself in a very short period of time in Europe and accept and appreciate diverse groups. Thanks to the previous learning experience that have changed my views. All my best wishes for the future development of Viewpoints 9.

Artist Statement: 

Thank you, Lisa-Marie, for giving us this challenge.

God loves us and let bad things happen in due course, giving us the opportunity to learn from mistakes and live a better life. I learned an important life lesson from a “pain-removing process”. The lines of a varied, adventurous, complicated and challenging life story are imprinted on this quilt. 

The red flowers on the quilt represent happiness and the white flowers represent both physical health and mental health, which not only should be co-existed in harmony, but also the goal for everyone. I hope all my friends are healthy and happy like the red and white flowers.

Everybody knows that health leads to happiness. However, my conception of this idea was reversed. I wished everyone was happy even I had to sacrifice my health. During TIQE2012 (Taiwan International Quilt Exhibition 2012), Sue, Mary and Misik told me that I looked exhausted. That’s true, but I was still keen on accompanying with all the artists till they left Taiwan. In fact, I was facing the crisis of heavy bleeding. Only my husband and daughter knew it, so they shared my works. Until this year, after several visits to Europe, I finally had to do the surgery. My preconception “grew” the tumor up. I am lucky enough to be able to choose the time for surgery. Who has such courage to accept this kind of life crisis? Thanks to my husband and family for the huge and selfless support of my dangerous “experiment”. Thank God for guiding me through this life challenge. I will put health and happiness in my first priority from now on.

This is a story of a stupid adventure. After I overcome my ignorance, this story will “bloom” like bright flowers in this quilt. I’m glad that I still have enough time to sew it after the surgery without delaying the deadline. Everything is going well and I truly appreciated.

I wish everyone healthy and happy forever. 

Materials: silk, cotton, ribbon

Techniques: 100% hand-stitched

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9.blogspot.com/

Viewpoints 9 Challenge 7

Title of work: Warm Love

Theme: Image from Tradition 

My Feedback: The Vanishing Culture 

Life is a combination of numerous coincidences. When I completed the 6 challenge, I shared the idea of making a quilt with my collection of old traditional fabrics with my friends. Then, I received our 7 challenge, “Image from Tradition”. What a great coincidence! Thank you Misik for giving me this incredible opportunity!

I attended an opening ceremony of a cultural exhibition at a museum in Taiwan on March, 24^th. The theme was “The Vanishing Culture of Taiwanese Aborigines - The Pingpu Tribe”. The exhibition introduces the people who lived in Taiwan Island around 4 to 5 thousand years ago. The people are what we called “The Pingpu Tribe” today. Their traditional culture and customs are replaced by the Han Chinese culture gradually in the recent 4 hundred years. Many of the valuable antiques are also taken away from Taiwan by the new residents. Many of the exhibits displayed in the exhibition are from overseas. It’s nice to see them “coming back” to Taiwan again. I am especially attracted by the fiber and costumes of Pingpu people, so I decide to do some research about them.

The Pingpu people use natural plant fibers, such as cotton and linen, to make their clothes. They use waist looms to weave. Plaid is the most common pattern they use, and natural dyeing colors such as red, yellow, green, purplish blue, orange…etc are common to see. The most gorgeous costumes of Pingpu people are usually decorated with delicate brocade. The handmade techniques present the simple and pure lifestyle at that time.

I was born and grown up in Taiwan, but it’s my first time seeing the primitive culture. I’m so touched and feel very lucky to experience the vanishing culture. All the photos posted here are not the antiques of thousand years ago (but 400 years ago), because I can’t take photos of the oldest antiques. They are too old to be attacked by flashlights anymore.

To be honest with you, the exhibition changes my original design plan for the 7^th challenge. My plan of challenge 7 now remains unknown.

Artist Statement: 

Thank you, Misik, for giving us this meaningful challenge. By this challenge, Image from Tradition, I got the chance to take a look at the vanishing culture of Taiwanese Aborigines. Then, as I tried to explore the definition of “tradition”, an image that has existed in my life for 25 years rose before my eyes. I decided to use the image for my quilt and share the story with everyone.

Admittedly, every contemporary culture will become ancient traditional images in another generation. New culture that has been influenced by traditional culture must be recorded. The red sweater that my mom gave me not only gives me warmth but also appeases my negative emotions. The power of it is as beautiful as flowers. The sweater is worn out and now it becomes part of my quilt. I would like to dedicate this quilt to my mom and thanks for her love and support. Happy mother’s day and stay healthy to mothers around the world! 

Marriage is a tradition itself. It’s also the hardest challenge in my life. My mom was definitely worried and anxious about my new life. She bought me some clothes, so that at least she could make sure that I wouldn’t feel too cold. One of them was a red sweater, which was just like an angel to me, and it “escorted” me through my “hard times”. 

In Taiwan, following the tradition is the most basic obligation for a married woman to obey. I was assigned to prepare for traditional ceremonies and 3 meals a day for the entire family of 30 people or more during Chinese New Year (usually for 10 days). During the 10 days, no one else could help me. I had to do all the preparing and cooking by myself. I was pregnant, but it wasn’t an excuse to escape.

I didn’t have any cooking experience at my maiden home, not to mention housekeeping. The traditional value was just like a monster, and it made me wanted to run away. Beside the household chores, I had to try to get along with my husband’s family and adjust myself to the new living environment. All the things just came to me at the same time, and I was extremely struggle with them. I used to cry a lot and feeling helpless like a melancholic.

It was a cold winter, so I wore the red sweater that my mom gave me. Magically, the red sweater not only gave me warmth, but also brought me joy and luck. I started to look at the bright side of life and learned to do those things step by step. The interpersonal relationship was the first problem that I overcame. After that, life seems become easier gradually. 

Techniques: hand pieced, hand quilted, yoyo

Materials: sweater, mono printed cotton, commercial cotton, beads, paillette 

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9.blogspot.com/

Viewpoints 9 Challenge 6

Title of work: Encircled with Friendship

Theme: The Extraordinary in the Ordinary

My Feedback: Meditating 

Thanks to Ms. Sue Dennis for giving us this interesting challenge.

Recently, I have been busy handling various business reports, budget and final accounts…etc. It’s a long-term stressful job. I’m familiar with dealing these matters, so it seems to be easy and trivial for me. However, those matters are complicated actually. In short, the combination of a series of simple things becomes extraordinary.

I often leave my working environment with complicated emotions, worries or some problems that awaiting to be solved. I expect the change of time and space would help me up with those matters. This week, with an unhealthy heart, I went on an adventure of mountain hiking with a group of experienced elders. Mountain hiking seemed to be an easy thing for them, but for me, I could only follow their path and walked slowly behind them. While walking, I felt kind of nervous, helpless and very unconvinced. I am at least 20 years younger than those walking in front of me, why aren’t I as healthy as them? Undoubtedly, this trip didn’t solve my worries, but increased my hard works and fatigue.

When I finally reached the destination, I shared my hard feelings with the elders. One of them told me it’s just like I could make a quilt easily, but it’s an impossible mission for them. Everyone has their “ordinary” abilities and “extraordinary” expertise. Indeed, the elders concentrated on walking, and focused on the adjustment of footsteps and breathing, while I was walking around and taking photos for my creating. I didn’t concentrate on mountain hiking at all. No wonder the 10-kilometer journey was too exhausting for me.

While we were discussing, a shop nearby showed us an interesting scene. It’s just like reminding us that it’s ordinary for chameleons to change colors, but it’s extraordinary for them to pile up and change the body temperature and color together. What a perfect answer for this trip!

Artist Statement: 

I received the 6 challenge when I was working with the “stories” that happened last year. By handling the details of each plan, I could have an in-depth view and absorption of those practical experiences. It also helped me to enhance and widen my vision of both private and public perspectives. It feels like I’m a university student learning for credits. Thanks to 2012.

Among the collation of gifts, many are fiber materials. They are a wide variety of fabrics that I’ve received from Sue Dennis, Mary Pal, Misik Kim and many other friends around the world. I decided to make them connected in my quilt. It’s a fresh thinking, and it made them a meaningful existence in my work. Making it for my 6 challenge is really an extraordinary thing.

I’m the kind of person who hates getting in troubles, so my daily life is very simple, and I follow plans and care every detail. It’s also my attitude in official business. When I was organizing TIQE2012 (Taiwan International Quilt Exhibition 2012), I had many chances to communicate with international artists by e-mails or face-to-face and exchange gifts. These working conversations and meetings always give my body and soul a sense of floating, because I want to take everything seriously and be highly concentrated. These conversations and meetings are just like a biological cell, which stores and expands my life memories and feelings. The cells are knowledgeable and often being stored in the dark for a while, but they are always ready to let me take them out any time and add new elements in. They are everlasting nuclei of life, which carrying the stories of my life.

Precious friendship comes from ordinary days. Delicate literal conversations and enthusiastic meetings with friends are the warmest life exchanges. Its extension is an invisible circle, like a ring. Such profound friendship is beyond distance and time, and connects us firmly.

While sewing this quilt, I made the seams visible, because real friendship needs not to care about outside appearances. I believe every stitch is heartfelt appreciation for year 2012 and every valuable learning experience.

In Chinese thinking, people believe that a circle is a fusion of ordinary and extraordinary things. I use circles to convey my feelings. Wish every letter and gift will be my eternal memory.

p.s. the size of this quilt is much bigger than the original request, because I want to put all the gifts and fabrics on it.

Technique: 100% hand pieced, hand quilted, painted 

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9.blogspot.com/

Viewpoints 9 Challenge 2

Title of work: Please Steal Innocence Away!

Theme: Pi

Artist Statement:

The notion of “challenging a symbol that can represent something” is a question no one ever thinks of. Interestingly, this question leads directly to another question. Many questions regarding people, occurrences, and objects exist within this question waiting for us to discuss and explore. Therefore, it seems to be a design objective that extends to other fields.

Time allowed me to get together with some of my friends and discuss “self-growth” on a regular basis. Together we analyzed the large line picture we drew and assigned one corner of the picture to each person, and referred to these as the “key corners.” The corner that was assigned to me had five lines and for me these five color lines represented five exits in life, five places we can settle into, and five directions we can learn and develop in. They infused me with new thoughts, enabling me to understanding more about myself.

“Key corners” made us consider countless questions, just like the wide variety of question marks images. These images, like human beings, have different characters and represent human intelligence, as well as an unwillingness to realize some questions in life, even to the extent that there is no awareness of self. If people don’t know their self, surely they can’t experience the details of life, not to mention solving all kinds of problems. Problems left unaddressed will become unsolvable, just like it can’t be brought under control once seeds of evil grow into a forest.   

There is a Chinese saying, “Sometimes asking is in vain, and that which is not understood remains so.” It means that if we don’t pay attention to what we don’t understand and make efforts to learn, problems will always be with you, bringing negative consequences.

The Chinese character here means “problem.” The blank part signifies meaningless knowledge and the lines represent growing woods, representing the anticipations of ever-going, positive power for learning.

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9.blogspot.com/

Viewpoints 9 Challenge 1

Title of work: Enjoy the Rhythm

Theme: Music

My Feedback: Adventure 

Starting to connect from first adventure.

I am curious about how my inspiration could be connected with music? I have never tried like this before. No similar experiences? May not.

But I do like listening to some music while creating. I don’t have certain favorite type of music. However, VAVALDI’s melody and rhythm are brisk.

I only made little progress since listening to it a few times; it was like a barrier that awaits for me to go through.

Don’t wanna reel deep inside but somehow I realize my “Adventure” is waiting to guide me in somewhere.

I returned to listen to the music I usually tune in.

It reminded me of visiting Chopin’s former residence in August, 2011.

I saw a chair that can play music in the garden. (Once you sit on it the music will automatically plays.)

I was so touched by the quiet and elegant atmosphere there. It made me feel better; every tree and bush was like dancers dance trippingly. Sunlight was the best lighting engineer and they performed a moving dance drama for me. It was very memorable and rememberable.

What if the trees dancing with music and leaves jumping up and down?

I immediately draw some lines of what I pictured at that time. What kind of encounter will be between the lines? It surely will be an interesting adventure. I tested a few methods while creating and realized lines will be my purpose. I will arrange time to finish it.

My favorite is still hand sewing creation, I can use needle and thread meticulously to express what I feel. Even though it is much slower than any other methods, I am sure time pressure and beauty of work have relativity between them. This is will be my adventure.

Artist Statement:

Trees enjoy music and sunshine, they are dancing in a happy atmosphere, growing up lightheartedly.

Materials: Commercial fabrics

Techniques: Hand stitched, hand quilted with 3 layers. 

For more information about Viewpoints 9, please visit: http://www.viewpoints9.blogspot.com/

Mrs. Lin Hsin-Chen’s quilt, Recovery, from Seasonal Palette has been published in SAQA Journal Spring 2013.

Quilt National ’13, the eighteenth international juried competition for new innovative quilts, on display May 25 – September 2, 2013 at the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio (USA).

Jurors are internationally recognized artist quiltmakers Judith Content (Palo Alto, CA) and Linda Colsh (Belgium); and Penny McMorris (Bowling Green, OH), quilt scholar, author, and co-founder of The Electric Quilt Company, which produces software for quilters.

Open Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 11 AM – 5 PM / Thursday: 11 AM – 8 PM / Saturday – Sunday: 12 NOON – 5 PM

One of the selected artists, Deidre Adams, have taken wonderful photos for the exhibition and posted them on her website. Please visit her website for beautiful photos! URL: http://abstractions.deidreadams.com/2013/05/28/quilt-national-2013-opening-reception/ 

For more information about QN, please visit: http://www.dairybarn.org/quilt/index.php?section=226&page=381

In the last day of 2012, 
I would like to thank everyone for your blessings.
Happy New Year!

If we stick to goals, once the value us identified, we will step into a higher level. It’s like exiling in the forest and then you could create works that is vital.

This is what I expect out of the inspirations of Recovery and blessing given.

In every single damaged touching moment, the lonesome feeling and adjustment in the eyes reveal a creative beauty that is uneasy and can be expected to be reborn.

TIQE2012 Taiwan International Quilt Exhibition – Related Information

Dear TAQS members and people who love and support art quilt,

First challenge for Viewpoints 9- Enjoy the Rhythm, made by Lin Hsin-Chen

Title: Enjoy the Rhythm
Techniques: Hand stitched, hand quilted with 3 layers.
Materials: Commercial fabrics

Adventure-Lin Hsin-Chen

Starting to connect from first adventure.
I am curious about how my inspiration could be connected with music? I have never tried like this before. No similar experiences? May not.
But I do like listening to some music while creating. I don’t have certain favorite type of music. However, VAVALDI’s melody and rhythm are brisk.

Lin Hsin-Chen’s work and paper selected in International Plant Dyeing Art Exhibition & Conference.

The colorful pace of life, fast or slow….
We need endless creations in order to maintain our zeal and vitality, and bind all beautiful things together.
It is delightful having your wishes of the year.

Lectures given by invited international pattern designers

Date: October 16, 2011
Venue: Nan-Shan Campus, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou
Organizer: China Academy of Art, Hangzhou University

 

International Pattern-Culture Interpretation Seminar

Date: October 15, 2011
Venue: Nan-Shan Campus, China Academy of Art, Hangzhou
Organizer: China Academy of Art

The Opening Reception at International Creative Pattern Designer Exhibition 2011

 Exhibition Dates: October 14-16, 2011
Venue: Hangzhou Peace International Convention & Exhibition Center

Lin Hsin-Chen was invited to participate in International Creative Pattern Designer Exhibition 2011 and Patterns of Culture Symposium2011

Exhibition Dates: October 14-16, 2011
Venue: Hangzhou Peace International Convention & Exhibition Center
Opening Reception: October 14, 2011

 2011 Fiber Art Exhibition by Lin Hsin-Chen was a great success!!!

 Closed on September 25.
Hsin-Chen appreciates the assistance and supports from everyone during the exhibition.
Thanks Mr. Lin, Curator of Tainan Living Art Center, Mr. Young, Ms. Chiang and many many friends at the venue.

Please accept my apology if your names are not listed here.

Thanks for coverage of my show (Click on the thumbnail to bring up a larger image.)

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The exhibition venue of Fiber Art Exhibition by Lin Hsin-Chen

Exhibition Dates: 13-25 September, 2011

Fiber Art Exhibition by Lin Hsin-Chen

Participating in an International Conference in Mexico

"Considerations between Textiles and Society: a Recapitulation", held at the Museum of Anthropology of Xalapa-Museo de Antropologiá de Xalapa (MAX) of the Universidad Veracruzana, from the 16^th to the 19^th of May, 2011

Thesis: Turandot in My Impression

A diplomas and a file of selected abstracts

A Certificate of Participation of VI WTA International Biennial of Contemporary Textile Art-AIR

Italian Fiber Art Artist: Tiziana Tateo
Gli arazzi nel XXI secolo(Tapestries in the XXI century)
April 30-June 6, 2011

(Pictures courtesy of Tiziana Tateo)

Mirjam Pet-Jacobs, a textile-mixed media artist from the Netherlands

An exhibition of art quilts by Australian textile artist Sue Dennis

The Art Quilt Gallery˙NYC
Noriko Endo’s impressionist quilts, 
solo exhibition

Running 06.16.2011 through 08.06.2011

Horizons of Art Quilts 2011 Taiwan

Current status of VI International Biennial of Textile Art Mexico 2011

Regina V. Benson-Digital Textile Art on exhibit

Lin Hsin-Chen participated in the 2011 Albuquerque Fiber Arts Fiesta Quilt Show.

One of Lin Hsin-Chen’s works has been selected for A Sense of Adventure.

Lin Hsin-Chen’s paper has been selected for VI International Biennial of Textile Art Mexico, International Conference 2011

One of Lin Hsin-Chen’s works has been selected for VI International Biennial of Textile Art Mexico 2011

Lin Hsin-Chen’s work and paper have been selected for 11th China Textile Design Competition & International Conference 2011

Rosemary Claus-Gray, Fiber Artist Solo Exhibition

Lin Hsin-Chen participated in “This is a Quilt” Traveling Trunk Show

 Lin Hsin-Chen, including 7 artists from Taiwan participated in “This is a Quilt” Traveling Trunk Show.

Congratulations on Noriko Endo's solo exhibition!
Grand Opening: January 25, 2011
Mr.Fukushima, Hsin-Chen's brother-in-law, attending this great exhibition

Many thanks to Miss Lu for sharing these beautiful photos with us!

 Congratulations!!

 “When Bees Disappear” was selected for SAQA’s juried exhibition, “Beyond Comfort”.

Source from Schweinfurth Art Center website
http://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/exhibits/QAQ.html  

Congratulations!!
Lin Hsin-Chen : the November 2010 Featured Artist on the SAQA website.

Japanese Quilter NORIKO ENDO will be having her solo exhibition at Art Space Ryabina.
Date: 1/25~1/30 2011

Lin Hsin-Chen on the list of the best art quilters "The Art Quilt Collection" around the world.

Only two Asians were selected
Taiwan Area: Lin Hisn-Chen, Japan Area: Noriko Endo
Two pieces of works of Lin Hsin-Chen’s have been selected.

Lin Hsin-Chen became Taiwan Representative of STUDIO ART QUILT ASSOCIATES (SAQA)

The aim is to assist the Taiwanese artists of SAQA in the future and contact and integrate with worldwide events.

SAQA’s Mission and Goals
Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. (SAQA) is a non-profit international organization whose mission is to promote the art quilt through education, exhibitions, professional developmet, and documentation. Founded in 1989 by an initial group of fifty artists, SAQA now boasts over 2,500 members worldwide: artists, teachers, collectors, gallery owners, museum curators, and corporate sponsors. Over 400 members of SAQA are professional artist members.

Lin Hsin-Chen was invited to “6th From Lausanne to Beijing International Fiberart Biennale Exhibition (Henan)”.

From 1962 to 1995, “Lausanne Biennale Exhibition” had held 16 biennale exhibitions in all. In addition, it originally took place every two years in Lausanne, Switzerland. It had been the most important stage for fiber artworks. It not only recorded the development and circulation of fiber, but also explored the definition, distinguishing characteristic, possibility and all the issues of dyeing and fabric. Finally, Lausanne Biennale Exhibition gradually began to lose the initial category of dyeing and wall-mounted due to the performance and definition of fiber arts. Furthermore, the use of materials in art world became multivariate and the cross-border innovation turned into the review of needs for holding this biennale. After five years of silence, Mainland China ambitiously attempted to take over. Started from Beijing, they have been organizing in the name of “From Lausanne to Beijing International Fiberart Biennale Exhibition” since 2000.
The date of “6th From Lausanne to Beijing International Fiberart Biennale Exhibition (Henan)”: October 22~November 6, 2010 at He Nan Art Museum.

Excellent works of American Art Quilter Ruth Powers will be on display from September 1-17 at Topeka Art Guild Galley. She will be there on the 1st and the 15th from 11-2 and during the Friday Art Walk Reception from 5-8pm on the 3rd.

Lin Hsin-Chen was invited to “Changed and Unchanged Vegetable Dyeing: Ten-Year Track Exhibition”

Dyeing workshops, National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute’s aim is to foster Quality People, build staining techniques, and design programs. Programs, practices, and interchange’ aim are to promote the research of hand dyeing, knitting, weaving, knotting, and embroidering. Also, enable the traditional techniques to use in Aesthetics of Everyday Life and Cultural Creative Industries. Sincere invitation to the artists- main theme is “Changed and Unchanged Vegetables Dyeing”. Provide your individual creative works to us; present the artists’ remarkable achievements. Exhibit hours: September 4th –November 7th 2010. Venue: 3F Weaving Craft Museum, Taichung County Culture Center.

One of Lin Hsin-Chen's quilts participated in Quilt National 2009

Quilt National is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. This biennial exhibition has been the navigation of American contemporary art quilta since 1979.
89 out of thousand pieces of works has been selected. More than 20 countries participated in it.
Selected results will be announced on October 4th, 2008.

One of Lin Hsin-Chen's quilts participated in PAQA 2010 ARTQUILTSilluminations

Selected work: When bees disappear
Exhibition Period: March 26th –May 30th, 2010
Venue: Durham Arts Council, North Carolina

Lin Hsin-Chen has been selected to representative works of the year of Art Quilt Exhibit.

2010 Art Quilt Exhibition is a worldwide juried selection which chose 22 finalists.
Selected works: Blue Poppy Flower
Exhibition Period: May 15th-August 15th, 2010.