Penny Berens, Fibre Artist and SOFAAR Member

Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 1pm!

Penny Berens, Fibre Artist and SOFAAR Member

Penny Berens was born in Bournemouth, England. She emigrated to Montreal’s West Island with her husband and two baby boys on January 1st, 1975 in a snowstorm of course!
Their third son also arrived in a heavy March snowstorm a few years later. From Montreal the family moved to Newmarket, Ontario where Penny was introduced to quilting and machine embroidery. Since retiring in 2007, Penny and her husband, Richard, have made their home in Granville Beach.

Penny has a City & Guilds diploma in Embroidery & Design but her education in stitch started much sooner at the age of four under the loving guidance of her mother and two grandmothers.

Penny’s work has been shown in solo and group shows across Canada and internationally. Teaching and encouraging others to follow their own stitching path has been an important part of Penny’s creative life. She shares her process and sources of inspiration on her blog Tanglewood Threads.

Her work has evolved over the years but since arriving in Nova Scotia she has returned to her roots of hand embroidery. Penny finds her inspiration on her early morning walks in all kinds of weather with two dogs. She shares her love of being in nature with it’s changing patterns and seasons in her extensively stitched wall hangings.

In recent years she has been working with her friend and fellow artist Judy Martin from Manitoulin Island and a young curator, Miranda Bouchard, on their show “In the Middle of the World”. This show has been shown twice in Ontario and will be coming to ARCAC in September next year. The three of them have recently published a book about their work for the show.

Penny’s presentation will lead you from her childhood embroideries through quilts, machine embroidery and finally back hand embroidery again.

SOFAAR is very pleased to present a trunk show by Penny Berens on Oct 29th, 1pm at the Clementsport Legion. Admission is $10 for members/ $20 for non members. Refreshments will be available. Join us for this wonderful opportunity to learn about Penny’s process and approach to art-making!

Gaspereau Valley Fibres Workshops

Gaspereau Valley Fibres Workshops

Learn to Spin on a Drop Spindle with Jenna Holtz October 7th
Beginner Spinning with Sam Haley October 14th
Double Width Weaving with Tammy Bast October 21st
Needle Felting with Nancy Keating October 21st
Drum Carding and Drafting for Designer Yarn with Lorna Ash October 22nd

Fire in the Sky Mittens with Cheryl den Hartog October 22nd
Trio of Trees with Cheryl den Hartog October 29th

Gaspereau Valley Fibres website

Members’ Exhibition 2023

SOFAAR presents the Art of Fibre 2023. We are pleased to announce that our annual Members’ Exhibition will be held at the Chapel Gallery, ARTSPLACE, 396 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal, from September 1 until September 26, 2023.

SPECIAL NOTE: This information was included in our January newsletter. Unfortunately, because of some communication mishaps on our end, it was not re-shared with our members more recently. We recognize that many of you may have forgotten about the exhibition and also that the deadline is very soon. As such, we have changed the deadline from August 16th to August 23rd and encourage you to submit up to five pieces of work. Depending on how many pieces are submitted, we may not be able to display more than two of your submissions. You may indicate which two of your submissions are your “favorites.”

This year’s exhibition will not have a specific theme but we want to feature the excellence and the wide range of fibre art created by SOFAAR members. Submit your latest work or an older piece of which you are particularly proud to have created. We encourage original work but if it is not your own design, we ask that you credit the original designer.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you are preparing for the exhibition:

– You are invited to submit up to five pieces of your choice. Entries will not be juried but, depending on how many pieces are submitted, we may not be able to display more than two of your submissions. You may indicate which two of your submissions are your “favorites.”

– We ask that you include a full digital image of your work for each entry. This helps us plan the layout for the exhibition before installation.

– Email your photos to exhibitions@sofaar.ca with the following information for each entry by the deadline for receipt of entries, Wednesday, August 23, 2023:

  • Title of the piece
  • Size, height X width
  • Materials used
  • Is the piece for sale? If so, what is the price?

–Please include an artist’s statement with your submission. The statement is simply one or two sentences explaining what inspired you to create the piece.

– Each piece must be clearly labelled on the back with the artist’s name and the title of the work.

– Work to be hung must be ready for hanging, including a hanging rod, if applicable, and any special hardware if a simple nail will not suffice. If your work requires a special display, please provide it.

– Work may be for sale but the piece must remain in the exhibition until the closing date. ARTSPLACE will handle all sales and will take a 30% fee.

– Although every care will be taken of the submitted work, the responsibility for loss and damage whilst in exhibition cannot be accepted by SOFAAR or ARCAC. We strongly advise that each artist obtain commercial insurance to cover their work on exhibit.

– We ask that you deliver your work to ARTSPLACE Wednesday, August 30, 2023. The gallery is open from 10 am – 12 pm and 1 pm – 4 pm. If this is not possible, contact us at exhibitions@sofaar.ca to make alternate arrangements for delivery.

– We ask that you collect your work at ARTSPLACE Wednesday, September 27, or Thursday September 28, from 10 am -12 pm and 1 – 4 pm. If this is not possible, contact us at exhibitions@sofaar.ca to make alternate arrangements.

IMPORTANT DATES
Deadline for receipt of entries – Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023
Work delivery date – Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, ARTSPLACE, 10am-noon, 1-4pm
Exhibition opens – Friday, Sept. 1, 2023
Opening reception – Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, noon–2pm
Exhibition closes – Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023
Collect your work at ARTSPLACE – Wednesday, Sept. 27 and Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, 10am–noon, 1–4pm

Members’ Exhibition 2022

SOFAAR presents the Art of Fibre 2022 – Annual Members’ Exhibition 

Call for entry and guidelines

All members of SOFAAR are invited to participate in the annual member’s exhibition at ARTsPLACE, 396 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal, from November 12 until December 17, 2022.

This year’s exhibition will not have a specific theme but we want to feature the excellence and the wide range of fibre art created by SOFAAR members. Submit your latest work or an older piece of which you are particularly proud to have created. We encourage original work but if it is not your own design, we ask that you credit the original designer. 

Here are some things to keep in mind when you are preparing for the exhibition;

– You are invited to submit one or two pieces of your choice. Entries will not be juried.

– Each entry may not exceed 120” in perimeter. The Mym and Library galleries are small and intimate spaces.

– We ask that you include a full digital image of your work for each entry.  This helps us plan the layout for the exhibition before installation.

– Email your photos to exhibitions@sofaar.ca with the following information for each entry by the deadline for receipt of entries, Friday, October 28, 2022:

–Title of the piece

–Size, height X width

–Materials used

–Is the piece for sale? If so, what is the price? 

–Please include an artist’s statement with your submission. The statement is simply one or two sentences explaining what inspired you to create the piece.

– Each piece must be clearly labelled on the back with the artist’s name and the title of the work. 

– Work to be hung must be ready for hanging, including a hanging rod, if applicable, and any special hardware if a simple nail will not suffice. If your work requires a special display, please provide it. 

– Work may be for sale but the piece must remain in the exhibition until the closing date. ARTsPLACE will handle all sales and will take a 30% fee.

– Although every care will be taken of the submitted work, the responsibility for loss and damage whilst in exhibition cannot be accepted by SOFAAR or ARCAC. We strongly advise that each artist obtain commercial insurance to cover their work on exhibit.

– We ask that you deliver your work to ArtsPLACE Wednesday, November 9, 2022. The gallery is open from 10 am – 12 pm and 1 – 4:30 pm. If this is not possible, contact us at exhibitions@sofaar.ca to make alternate arrangements for delivery. 

– We ask that you collect your work at ARTsPLACE Saturday, December 17, 2022, from 1 – 4 pm pm. If this is not possible, contact us at exhibitions@sofaar.ca to make alternate arrangements.

IMPORTANT DATES

Deadline for receipt of entries – Friday, October 28, 2022

Work delivery date – Wednesday, November 9, ARTsPLACE, 10 am – 12 pm. 1 – 4:30 pm

Exhibition opens – Saturday, November 12, 2022

Exhibition closes – Saturday, December 17, 2022

Collect your work at ARTsPLACE – Saturday, December 17, 1 – 4 pm

Upcoming Events – Mark Your Calendar

July 30. 2022

World Embroidery Day

Join us in Annapolis Royal at 212 St George St (Across from Bainton’s) from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm

This is an outdoor event so bring your fibre art and a chair to celebrate World Embroidery Day with  us “weather permitting”. Shade umbrellas will be available.

World Embroidery Day began with Skåne Sy-d, a local group of Broderiakademin, the Swedish Embroiderer’s Guild. The first World Embroidery Day took place in Vismarlöv, 30th July 2011.

Their Manifesto states: “The importance of embroidery must be made known and World Embroidery Day will spread around the world. Make July 30 a day filled with creativity for the sake of Peace, Freedom and Equality.”

August 18, 2022

Meet us at the Annapolis Valley Exhibition from 2-4 pm and 7-8 pm in the Homecraft Building

September 10, 2022 – 2 choices!

Saturday Snips

Come out to the Paradise Community Hall, 10300 Hwy 1, Paradise.

1-4 pm – The September Saturday Snips Sponsor is River House Rug Hooking Studio

100 Mile Food and Fibre Festival 

Find us at the Northville Farm Heritage Center on Saturday from 10 am until 4 pm. Rain date (significant rainfall) is Sunday, September 11th. Save both dates!

September 18, 2022 – Program

If you enjoy gardening, dyeing or just beautiful flowers and vibrant colours, you’re in for a treat. SOFAAR’s September 18 program will feature the owners of Vibrant Acres Colour Farm, who will share their experience in growing dye plants in Nova Scotia with our members. Details will be announced closer to the date.

In the meantime, visit their website at vibrantacres.ca. Pure Nova Scotia colour!

October 29, 2022 – Come Play with us

At the Annapolis Royal Fire Department – A chance for the public to meet us, learn about all the different aspects of fibre art AND get some hands experience.

We need volunteers from our membership who love to share their fibre art and craft with others. Contact Leslie McFarlane at PlayWithUs@SOFAAR.ca