Ohio SAQA Members, Debra Lunn and Michael Mrowka Lecture on Batiks

Debra Lunn and Michael Mrowka of Artisan Batiks, a division of Robert Kaufman Fabrics


On June 27, 2010 , Michael and Debra of Lunn Studios presented a lecture on the design and production of their exclusive batiks at Olivedale Senior Center in Lancaster, Ohio. Michael and Debra are internationally known batik artists who started up a batik manufacturing business on the island of Java in Indonesia several years ago. They design and manufacture approximately 600 batiks a year.

Michael Discussing Batik Design and Production in Java

Michael stated that it takes about 2oo weaving machines to produce enough cotton fabric each year to supply the production of Artisan Batiks. All of the batiks are handmade outdoors in the very hot and humid environment close to the equator, which actually helps to heat set the dyes. The facility employs well over 200 local workers and Debra and Michael take their commitment to the community seriously. They live, eat and work with their employees and attend ceremonial events such as engagement parties, weddings, funerals and other events. They have constructed a dedicated water treatment plant to ensure that they are not polluting the environment.

Michael Presenting Use of a New Line of Striped Batiks

In addition, they recycle much of the wax used in the production of their famous line of batiks. A strict quality control process is a part of the production, and fabric that does not meet their high standards is used to sew shirts for employee uniforms.

Lager View of Quilt Featuring Striped Batik

While the company manufactures one to two millions yards of fabric a year for shipment to quilt stores around the globe, Michael and Debra state that they are committed to giving back to the employees enaged in producing this cherished fabric. To that end, they have started up a non-profit lending library called Ganesa. Libraries and reading have not traditionally been a part of the Javanese culture, and Michael and Debra have the only library in the area. As librarians, the couple make book recommendations to even the most reluctant of readers. They are in fund raising mode in order to continue to add books to their current catalog of 3,000 titles. So, during the event, half yard samples of their fabric were on sale, with the proceeds benefiting the library. The couple met in a bookstore so it seems appropriate that they should undertake this endeavor. After talking with this amazing pair of artists, it is clear that they live passionate lives. Their zest encompasses their dedication to design, the Indonesian people and their culture and each other. So, the next time you take out your wallet to purchase this staple of the art quilter's supply chest, please take a moment to remember why it may cost just a little more and consider it a bargain.

SAQA 2011 Trunk Show

Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA) invites all SAQA members to submit work for its 2011-2012 traveling trunk show. This trunk show is designed to showcase SAQA artists, to help educate the public at large about the art quilt, and to serve as a teaching tool for our members.*Theme:This is a Quilt! How do we as SAQA members explain what we do - create quilts - without people immediately thinking of a nine-patch that goes on your bed? By example, of course! SAQA defines an art quilt as "a contemporary artwork exploring and expressing aesthetic concerns common to the wholerange of visual arts: painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design,assemblage and sculpture, which retains, through materials or technique, aclear relationship to the folk art quilt from which it descends." This definition ispurposely broad to accommodate the wondrous and exciting art quilts SAQAmembers are creating.

General:Create one piece that constitutes an art quilt as defined above. All work will be photographed, matted, and prepared for exhibition by SAQA. The SAQA exhibition committee hopes to publish some or all of the quilts in a book exploring the diversity of art quilts. All quilts will be returned to the artist after thetravel schedule has ended.Size:Minimum 9" per side, maximum 11" per side. The pieces will be matted behinda 12" white or off-white mat with an 8" square opening in the center. Only 8" sq.of your quilt will be visible. Because the artwork will be behind a mat, the edges need not be finished. A very small number of three-dimensional pieces may be included. Please contact the curators for details.Statement: Write a statement to the curators explaining why, in your mind, this quilt fits the definition. Why did you choose to create this piece as an art quilt and not in adifferent medium? (200 words maximum). The statement will be attached to the back of the mat.Materials:Write a separate statement listing the materials and techniques used in thepiece.Submission: Send the piece to curators. Email the statement and materials list in .doc, .rtf, or.odt format to the curators. In your email, please include: your name, address including country, email address, and the name of your SAQA Region (ex.“Europe/Israel” or “NJ/DE”).Curators:Deb Cashatt (deb@pixeladies.com) and Kris Sazaki (kris@pixeladies.com)4061 Flying C Road, Cameron Park, CA 95682 Tel. 916.320.8774Dates:Jan 21, 2011 -Art piece due at address listed above Feb-Apr 2011 - Works mounted and made ready for travel May 18-22, 2011 - Works premiere at 2011 SAQA Convention, Denver, CO Through 2012 - Trunk Show travels to regions by request *To learn more about the benefits of bringing a SAQA trunk show to your region and usingit as a teaching tool, read the Winter 2010 SAQA Journal, pg. 14-15.

Welcome to Our New Blog

Hello! My name is Sue King and I am your SAQA Ohio Regional Representative. I live in Lancaster in the southeastern region of the state. This brand new blog was created with you in mind. I hope it will be a dynamic place for members to get to know each other and share their ideas and art. Ohio may not be the largest state, but it has wonderful diversity in culture and geography and it is the place we all call home. Our members also have diverse artistic backgrounds and styles. I hope this site will be a place we can celebrate and express our individuality as well as a place to share our artistic voice and spread our love of the quilt as an art form. It would also be a great place to post events in your area of the state so that our members don't miss out on an exciting show, lecture or seminar. I am open to suggestions on how to make this blog and our Ohio organization meet your needs.

When it comes to technology, I'm still in a big learning curve and undoubtedly many of you have valuable knowledge and ideas that would greatly benfit our group, so please don't hesitate to make suggestions or put forward ideas that would make this a better site. One such talented and generous member is Gisela Towner, hailing from North Olmstead. She has graciously volunteered to set up and moderate this blog as well as a new SAQA OHIO Yahoo Group. Thank you so much Gisela. You rock! So now that this blog is up and running, please don't be shy, we need your ideas to move forward. Let's start talking to each other and start setting some organizational goals. I am so excited to see how this blog and the organization develop in the coming year. Again, a big Buckeye Welcome to everyone and don't forget to join the SAQA Ohio Yahoo Group too. Cheers! Sue