For the week of September 17 - 23, 2003

Gallery holds break-through class with Rego

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Quilt making once was just a part of the art of domestic sciences, and thus was accomplished by women who had nimble fingers inbred into them. As machines took over, mass produced quilts became the norm. But the art of quilt making lives on in extraordinary ways.

Here, in the Wood River Valley, is one of those nimble fingered ladies: Leslie Rego. Her award winning quilts, like the artist, are infused with a modern yet traditional sensibility.

"Processional Carpet" by Leslie Rego. This quilt was accepted into the international Quilt Association. It's homage to the carpets made for the church processions in Antigua, Guatemala on Good Friday. Rego’s husband is Guatemalan and the family is a steward of his ancestral family home

Rego will be holding a lecture and hands-on class, Designs Elements in Art, at the Big Wood Artists’ Gallery in Ketchum Sept. 22, 25, 29, Oct. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m.

The combination lecture and hands-on class is a four-day series focusing on specific exercises to help artists work through moments of "artist’s block."

"The focus is really going to be design," Rego said. "It’s not a technique class on quilt making, but it’s good for quilt makers as well as any other visual arts."

Rego, who exhibits her own work at Big Wood Artists’ Gallery, has taught art all over the country. One of her quilts is currently on a Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machines and Quilts world tour. Her work was the subject of an exhibit, "Journey through Color" in 1999 at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts.

"Since then my quilts have gotten juried into international shows," Rego said.

Her work has also been featured in the "New Quilts from Old Favorites," and "Great American Quilts" catalogs.

Throughout the workshops students will examine the approach of other artists and play with major design elements to create a new look for old artistic themes.

"We’ll take the elements in art—contort them, fold them, shred them, blur them—while reinventing."

Rego is donating the proceeds from the class back to the Big Wood Artists’ Gallery.

"I think this gallery with local artists is such a wonderful organization to have in town. I’m hopeful that if we do a bit to help the gallery, it will be tremendously successful."

The cost of the class is $150 for nonmembers or $100 for members of the Big Wood Artists’ Association. Pre-registration is required, call the Gallery at 726-6572.

 

 

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