Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Surface Design Association conference

In a few days I will be off overseas again to attend the Surface Design Association Conference in Kansas City, MO, followed by a week in Canada. I also attended the SDA conferences in 2005 and 2007. It is very costly for me to attend these events from New Zealand but I find the conferences totally inspiring and I would be miserable if I didn't attend. The experience 'feeds' me for another two years. I see such amazing examples of surface design and share this all with some wonderful people who I now consider friends.
I will be attending a pre-conference workshop with Kerr Grabowski and a post-conference workshop with Els Van Baarle. I really admire the work of these two artists so am looking forward to learning from them. I shall have lots to share with you when I return.
The Surface Design Association is well worth joining. It has 4000+ members internationally. It is the most well organised and informative association I know of, well up-to-date with technology and services. Membership includes four inspiring magazines a year, hard-copy newsletters, plus monthly e-newletters.

And now just a quick peek at where that dyed band I showed you last blog has been used. Once again I am avoiding showing the whole piece until after it has been exhibited publically. I am planning an installation of five exaggerated garments, all of which are constructed from plain calico (muslin) and each with some portions coloured and patterned using a navy blue Procion MX dye. They are to be suspended in space and all will have one other added common factor to humour.