FEATURED PROJECTS
"Mother and Child" Series
An Invisible Thread
19th August 2020
Wow, what an amazing end to my last week – to discover that my art quilt “An Invisible Thread” won an NACQJ (National Association of Certified Quilt Judges) Award of Merit.
Initially I was completely stunned and disbelieving – I possibly feel that each time I win an award! But this time the feeling was magnified.
To be honest I had no idea what an NACQJ Award of Merit was….I needed to do a bit of research and this is what I found… "With prior approval of the show coordinator or sponsor, NACQJ certified judges have the option of awarding this special ribbon to a deserving quilt in any show he/she might judge. At the judge’s discretion, it will be awarded to one quilt achieving recognized standards of quilt making excellence."
An Invisible Thread
©2019
100cm x 60cm
Raw edge applique, straight stitch quilting, free motion stitching, hand stitching, hand colouring with Inktense pencils, hand painting with acrylics
Private Collection
Artist Statement
“An Invisible Thread” is a multi-layered exploration of the connection experienced between a mother and child, and a reflection on my experience of connection through adoption. The connection and bond I experienced in adopting my two children was immediate and has grown and developed over the years of parenting them, a bond which might stretch and tangle but it will never break. However in the process of creating this image I have also acknowledged the invisible thread that connects me to their biological mothers and the thread of friendship with the artist (also a mother) of the original sculpture used as inspiration.
"Connections", a juried travelling Members exhibition of SAQA Oceania
"An Invisible Thread" was created as a response to an SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) Oceania region call out to the theme "Connections".
A total of 32 quilts were selected including my quilt “An Invisible Thread”, and the traveling exhibition opened in May 2019 in the A.C.T, Australia before heading over to New Zealand where it travelled to four different venues before going back to Australia to continue traveling to various venues.
Unfortunately the Covid 19 pandemic halted the exhibitions it was scheduled for.
Exhibited:
2019/2020 - Juried into a travelling SAQA regional exhibition, “Connections”. Travelling New Zealand and Australia.
May 2019 - Tuggerangong Art Centre, ACT, Australia
July 2019 - The Refinery Artspace, Nelson, New Zealand
August 2019 - The Artspace, Christchurch, New Zealand
September 2019 - Hamilton Craft & Quilt Show, Hamilton, New Zealand
October 2019 - Auckland Quilt Symposium, Auckland, New Zealand
In the process of creating this quilt I came across the quote – “An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch and tangle but it will never break.”
An ancient Chinese proverb that felt very significant.
‘Mother and Child’ by Libby Levey
Work in progress
An initial drawing of Libby's sculpture
Auditioning fabric
I often create samples to trial my ideas, this is a sample of the ‘cut away’ section
Close up detail
Work in progress
Since creating "An Invisible Thread" I have created three more smaller pieces, continuing my exploration of the "Mother and Child" connection.
Mother and Child
© 2019
30cm x 30cm
Raw edge applique, hand painting, free motion stitching, matchstick quilting, hand stitching
Private Collection
"Mother and Child" began as a sample for "An Invisible Thread" but gradually became an artwork in its own right.
Is it in the DNA
© 2020
Approximately 25cm x 25cm
Raw edge applique, hand painting, free motion stitching, matchstick quilting, hand stitching
Finalist for the 2020 Miles Art Award
Tauranga Art Gallery, New Zealand
Private Collection
This art quilt continues my exploration of the Connections theme begun in the last year. An exploration of our ability to connect and especially our connection/attachment to offspring which contributes to the survival of our species. This work explores the idea that our need to connect and attach to each other and our children is innate; it is in our DNA. It begins with the parent/child attachment, which is the building block for our adult attachments. It is difficult to survive without attachment to others and our communities.
Circles of Support
© 2021
40cm x 40cm
Raw edge applique, hand painting, free motion stitching, matchstick quilting, hand stitching
For Sale: $350
"Circles of Support" symbolises the importance of support for mothers and children. This support begins with the inner circle and ripples out to a wider circle of contacts in the community.