Feeling like I'm in an Ansel Adams Photo

January 1, 2023

Happy 2023 to everyone! The past five months for me have been busy, meaningful and intense. I am looking forward to a time of dormancy. I always love January. A time to reset, refresh and enjoy quiet time in my studio. At the moment, though, I am sitting in a hotel in Rock Springs, Wyoming because Interstate 80 is closed due to snow.

Last week my husband and I helped our son and daughter-in-law move to Utah. The drive out from Michigan was amazing. I love the western landscapes and always wanted to live near mountains. Today we tried to beat the snow storm as we left Salt Lake City and headed to Kansas. We did finally get in front of the storm (Howard) only to hit another. But the views were magical.

Hoytsville, Utah January 1, 2023 © Pamela Loewen

A good way to develop your eye is to take photos. Today you can do this for free! I remember having to wait a week to get photos developed, and it wasn’t cheap. But, I digress. As my husband drove I took lots of pictures. Since we were moving I just tapped the button rapidly on my iPhone. Then I went through and deleted the photos with poor compositions or little merit. Teaching yourself to pick out the best photos will really develop your compositional discernment.

Another good way to develop your eye is to look at black and white photography. Ansel Adams is a good start. I have used his desk calendars in my studio many years.

If you really want to hone your compositional skills do some studies in black and white. Years ago when I began studying with Nancy Crow, who always has her students start working in black and white, I bought bolts of black and white Kona cotton and did lots of sketches. I promise you will not regret it.

May your January yield you time to hibernate and regenerate in your studio.

Making Something that Lasts (Poland 2/2)

December 10, 2022

The Archcathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul in Poznan is filled with portraits and monuments of prominent people from ages past. Made in different mediums, each one made me ponder who each person really was. Who decided to memorialize them for posterity? Was it merely a matter of money or did they really help their community so much that their peers wanted to honor them in this way?

I love the economy of line in this portrait. I think this was chiseled in stone, but it almost looks like someone drew lines in wet cement. As an artist, I know the fewer the lines, the more difficult it is to achieve a pleasing composition. Your proportions have to be perfect.

Again, I love the line work. I especially love how the hands are surrounded by echoing lines of draped fabric. I also enjoy the organic lines of the greenery at the top.

This one borders on ostentatious, in my opinion. I’m sure my mother would agree. However, I find the figure interesting. His pose is almost jaunty. I am sure that a historian could tell me the meaning to the pose and all of the items included in the sculpture. Overall it is powerful and imposing, but a close up makes me wonder if this person had a joyful soul.

Again, I love the repeating lines in the sleeves and breard and the more organic lines in the ornamentation on the garment. Reminds me of my quilting lines.

“Red Coral” 2008/2021 detail
© Pamela Loewen

This was huge, nearly 15 feet tall. It is the only monument I saw in the Poznan Cathedral for a couple and the only one that had a woman, other than the Virgin Mary. Who was this woman to be included among so many prominent men?

As I visited this cathedral my father’s passing was fresh in my mind. Thinking of the millions of people who have died throughout the span of time with nothing to mark their time on earth, I realize that one of my motivations in creating art is to make something that will outlast me.

Quiltmaking in the artworld is similar to the lone woman’s monument in the catheral. It is not an art form well represented in traditional galleries and museums. It is a medium dominated by women. With my gallery I hope to change this by showcasing and promoting the important work being made in the medium of quilt making today. To learn more visit loewengallery.com.

Inspiration from Art & Artifacts through the Ages (Poland 1/2)

October 14, 2022

Traveling in Poznan, Poland with my husband I find myself surrounded by beauty. Decoration and pattern are everywhere. We visited sites as old as 968 AD. We toured a palace, a castle, an arboretum and a cathedral. Each held treasures from different time periods, the oldest a mosaic from the island of Pomeii. The best art stands the test of time.

Mosaic from Pompeii at Kornik Castle © Pamela Loewen

Love this little dog with its fancy collar! Dog lovers also span the ages!!

Also love the interlocking pattern on the floor of Kornik Castle. First built in the late 14 century, the castle had many additions and updates through the years. Filled with collections of natural, historical and art objects from around the world and thousands of books, the last owner set up a foundation and bequeathed the castle and its contents to the people. Some of my favorite objects are in the gallery below

Medieval floor tiles Kornik Castle, Kornik, Poland © Pamela Loewen

In the early 1800’s one of the castle’s owners established the Kornik Arboretum on 40 hectares. This is now the oldest and largest arboretum in Poland with over 3300 species of trees and shrubs. We had a glorious walk through the arboretum on a sunny afternoon enjoying the fall colors.

Magnolia Kornick Arboretum, Poland © Pamela Loewen

I also love to compare and contrast similar things. Both the castle and Rogalin Palace had beautiful libraries. Each were exquisite in detail and filled with books and other artifacts. On the left is the Moorish Library at Kornik, the right is beautifully hand carved wood library at the palace.

Another thing to compare are rosettes on cathedrals. On the left The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Poznan, and All Saints’ Church, Kornik. Love the brick work!

And I will end with imagery from inside The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul on cathedral island, Poznan. I love the juxtaposition of mediums, methods, materials and moments in time.

Tree of Life Audubon Park, New Orleans, Louisiana © Pamela Loewen

When time stands still...

September 13, 2022

In early August, after my last blog post, it became apparent that my builder was not going to meet his completion deadline. After deciding to postpone the opening until next year, my father’s health took a sudden turn. The last two weeks have been a blur as my family gathered in Lancaster to care for my dad and support my mom.

One of the major influences in my life has been my father. My dad was diagnosed with a rare aggressive cancer in 2012. No one had survived this cancer more than two years. My dad’s response was two fold. First, he said “I’m not average.” Typical dad. Second, he said ”I am going to be thankful for the time that I have had, instead of ungrateful over time I may not have.”

Against all odds he lived another decade — beautiful years full of his grandchildren’s sports events, concerts, graduations, weddings, births of great grand children and travel. He loved his family. He loved life.

My dad was also a very successful entrepreneur — honest, hardworking, courageous and visionary. He started with selling Easter flowers and Christmas trees and ended with a collection of businesses across several industries in multiple states. A source of great knowledge and wisdom, he also mentored many people in life and business, including me.

My father encouraged my dream to open a gallery promoting quilts as art. We spoke of business models and revenue streams. On days when I wondered, “Who am I to open a gallery?” My dad would say, “Wouldn’t you rather try and fail, than have never tried at all?” In one of our final conversations I told him, “Opening the gallery is going to change my life.” He said, “I know.” He always encouraged me to have courage. Dream BIG! Take the risk. Life is more fun when you join in the conversation. I will miss him.

The huge live oak trees I saw at Audubon Park, New Orleans in 2021 reminded me of my dad. He was a man of great stature in many ways, but especially in his faith in God. For 58 years I have sheltered under my father’s limbs. On September 10, 2022 my father passed from this life into eternity. He was the inspiration for the work below that is pieced, but not yet quilted.

Live Oak Portrait of my Father work in progress begun 2021
approximately 7 feet wide by 4 feet tall

“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;

I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.” Psalm 52:8

Creating an Image Bank

August 5, 2022

After keeping focused and diligently working for two months, I’m on a brief vacation with my family. It took an adventurous full day of travel to arrive at a beautiful house in Costa Rica on the side of a mountain overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The view reminds me a bit of our former home in New Zealand overlooking the Hauraki Gulf.

A change of scenery is good for the soul. Having the opportunity to be together with my husband, sons, daughter-in-law and in-laws is a special treat. From our perch we are enjoying nature—howler monkeys, lizards, butterflies, moths, spiders and, of course, birds. It especially makes my soul sing to see my 27 year old boys so excited to spy a lizard on a rock. It reminds me of when they were 5 turning over rocks on the beach in New Zealand looking for little crabs. My dad told me I would miss those days. He was right.

My son Austin has been honing his photography skills for several years now. He has a naturally good eye. Must be all the museums I took him to during his childhood! While he began focused primarily on bird photography, he has expanded to anything in nature that interests him. His goal is a compelling composition. I think he achieved his goal in the photo below.

I am also finding more inspiration for my own work. A great way to develop your eye as an artist is by taking photos. And of course cell phones make this so much easier and inexpensive. No more buying film or paying and waiting to get it processed. You see your results immediately and can take multiple pictures at no extra cost. You can also edit photos easily.

Taking photos also helps you discovery what interests you. Part of developing your voice as an artist is honing in on what is important to you. What do you notice? What peeks your interest? Why? How do these images feed your work? Exploring these questions will deepen your work. This is also one way to create your image bank.

Last piece finished for the opening show!

July 10, 2022

While the building is still not quite finished, I am still planning the gallery opening for September 16! If you would like a personal invitation to the opening, please send me your address!! The easiest way to do this is using the contact me page on my website. You can also message me on Facebook.

My Garden Series will be the opening show and will be up until the end of the year. The town of Williamston is only a little over an hour drive from the Detroit Metro Airport. And since we are so close to Michigan State University, there are plenty of nearby hotels and restaurants.

This past month I finished machine quilting the last piece for my opening show. This piece is part of my leaf studies. As I composed this, I was missing my husband. We had been apart for almost two weeks, and I was anxious to be home. After over 30 years of marriage, he truly is my other half. I am very grateful to have paired with such a supportive partner.

**“Paired Leaves”** 2018/2022. 42.5” w by 42” h
commercial cottons, double cotton batting, machine quilted
© Pamela Loewen

One of the distinguishing characteristics of my work is the variegated thread I use in machine quilting. I especially love how the same thread looks different depending on the color of the fabric beneath the thread. A great example of this can be seen below. Looking at the peach fabric, connecting to the tan fabric and then the pink — the same variegated thread reads differently on each color. I believe this gives the entire work more movement and interest.

The power of incremental achievment

June 6, 2022

While I did not have much time in my studio in April and May, I did finish the large leaf study below. I really like the energy and color play in this composition. It makes me smile. The power of incremental achievement is real. Yay, for small victories!

Colorful red leaf quilt by contemporary fiber artist Pamela Loewen — **“Lively Leaf”** 2018/2022 47.5” w by 48.5” h”
commercial cottons, cotton batting, machine quilted
© Pamela Loewen

Earlier in my career, when my kids were little (twin boys and a daughter only 3 years apart in age), I wouldn’t even try to work in my studio space unless I had at least 2 or 3 hours of uninterrupted time. As you can imagine, that didn’t happen very often in the early years. I was not working consistently. The progress of projects was painfully slow. What was I thinking?

Let’s be honest. When you are working creatively, it takes time to get into a creative head space. It isn’t like flipping on a light switch as soon as you walk into your studio. At least it isn’t for me. But an all or nothing approach was not working for me.

So I adopted a new strategy. Even if I had only 15 to 30 minutes, I would run up to my studio and try to get something done. In quilt making there are many tasks that do not require a high degree of creative decision making, such as sinking knots, tidying fabric, some sewing tasks and even some kinds of machine quilting. Not only did this increase my productivity, it gave me greater continuity in my creative workflow. And more often than not, when I thought I could only get half an hour in my studio, I was able to work much longer.

It is amazing how our own minds can limit us. How is your thinking limiting you?

The Promise of Easter: We will go to him

April 17, 2022

While working on my blood series, a family tragedy occurred. My younger brother and his wife were expecting their fourth child. I was particularly excited because I was going to be in the States for this birth. I had been in New Zealand for the births of their first three children. Just a few weeks before the due date, the placenta detached and their baby boy died in the womb. Absolutely heart breaking.

My sister-in-law was induced and she gave birth to a beautiful blond headed boy who looked just like his older brother. Close family gathered at the hospital. We cradled Joshua Charles in our arms. We kissed his head. We wept with his parents. Later we held a funeral and almost 200 people gathered to mourn the loss of this precious life.

In my early quilting days I made several baby quilts. My brother asked if I would make Joshua a quilt. I said of course.

The small white cross represents Joshua Charles in the arms of Jesus, the large red figure. The ground is the colors of heaven— gold and jewel tones. I don’t usually use metallic thread in my machine quilting, but for this composition it seemed appropriate.

quilt small white cross within large Red Cross artist Pamela Loewen — “Our Hope in the Resurrected Christ: We will go to him.” 2006, 28” w by 29.5” h
commercial fabrics, cotton batting, machine quilted cotton and metallic threads
© Pamela Loewen
Private Collection

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11: 25-26

"Stained Earth" -- Blood 4/4

April 10, 2022

Continuing to explore the motif of blood in Scripture I came across this verse “Earth itself will point out the bloodstains; it will show where the murdered have been hidden away.” Isaiah 26:21b The Message. History shows that the 20th century was most violent yet: two world wars, Stalin in Russia, Mao in China, the Kumar Rouge in Cambodia, the Armenian genocide, Rwanda’s genocide, Hitler’s death camps. Will this century be any better? Atrocities continue— genocides, human trafficking and actual slavery in more places than we as a society care to recognize. As long as the powerful elites refuse to recognize the humanity and worth of each individual these crimes against humanity will continue.

There is something in the human soul that longs for justice. The imagery of the earth itself keeping record of these atrocities is powerful. The thought that one day these stains will be revealed and the guilty will be held accountable is compelling.

abstract art quilt: elongated red figures embedded in stone/dirt by Pamela Loewen — “Stained Earth” Isaiah 26:21b. 2007/2009 27” w by 60” h
© Pamela Loewen
commercial fabrics, cotton batting, machine quilted

The red figures in this work represent slain bodies; the ground is colors of the earth—grass, dirt, stone.

detail harsh variegated red quilting lines by fiber artist Pamela Loewen — “Stained Earth”. detail
© Pamela Loewen

The red stitching represents violence and blood shed.

“Stained Earth”. detail back
© Pamela Loewen

"Washed" -- Blood 3/4

March 20, 2022

The next concept I explored in this series was the idea that blood washes away sin. This imagery is counterintuitive. How can blood wash away anything?

In the Old Testament, God appointed priests to offer animal sacrifices for the sins of individuals and the community. In the New Testament Jesus is described as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

The red figures in the composition below represent the cross. The background depicts the cleansing of sin as it turns from black to white. The red quilting lines were inspired by rain glazed on a window pane. Rain washing the earth parallels the idea of blood washing away sin.