Visions Museum of Textile Art

11/27/2024

A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
As we reflect on an incredible year at VMOTA, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of you who made it possible. Your generous donations, enthusiastic participation in workshops, attendance at our events, dedicated volunteer efforts, visits to our galleries, support for our artists, and patronage in our store have all contributed to our mission of uplifting textile art in the heart of San Diego. Together, we celebrated the beauty and creativity of textiles through 20 vibrant exhibitions, featuring both local and international artists. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey to honor and elevate textile arts in our community and beyond!

With Gratitude, Katrina Bruins
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Your generous donations allow us to offer free admission, making art accessible to all and enabling us to create innovative exhibitions, educational programs, and community events for every age.

Donate Today at https://vmota.org/donate/

11/27/2024

Shop with a cause! Join us for 2 days of holiday shopping, purchasing items directly from artists to support their work and the museum at the same time. Expect to find handmade linens, dolls, felt art, hand painted scarves, small quilts, jewelry, cards, and more!

So join us on December 7 & 14!

11/25/2024

Quilt Visions Spotlight: Phil Jones – Reunity, 2024
Winner of President's Award

"I am deeply concerned by the ugly, divisive environment in our current world state of affairs. As artist, my task is reflecting and responding to the world around me. “Reunity” is a spiritual compass--beaconing towards unity, totality, wholeness, and inclusion." – Phil Jones

Materials: Cotton fabric, silk & cotton thread, cotton batting, fiber reactive dyes, acrylic paint

Technique: Hand dyeing, Kumo (spiderweb) shibori, freehand cutting, machine piecing & quilting, hand-finishing, overpainting

11/24/2024

Quilt Visions Spotlight: Melanie B. McFarland – Self Portrait Paper Quilt, 2024
Winner of Miriam Machell Award for Beauty

" I am often conflicted while sewing and not painting, and vice-versa. I like both mediums and long to combine them. Painting a variety of travel ephemera, I collaged and stitched to a thin foam layer. This idea of a paper quilt (if I added a third layer to the back) formed of multiple separate squares was inevitable. To give the impression of a quilt, I added separating zippers to connect each side of the panels. Infinite configurations can be arranged and rearranged, just by zipping and unzipping. I hate waste and incorporate recyclables into my work. I resist trimming threads when possible." – Melanie B. McFarland

Materials: Paper, acrylic paint, gel medium, oil pastel, cotton thread, cotton fabric, nylon mesh, metal zippers, plastic foam, wool felt

Technique: Painting, collage, machine stitching

11/23/2024

Join us as we celebrate the arrival of winter through art, culture, and community in partnership with Persian Place for a special Yalda workshop on Saturday, December 14th, from 10 am to 2 pm. The Art of Persian Textiles, on the Occasion of Yalda event honors both Persian and American winter traditions, creating a welcoming space to share meaningful moments, forge connections, and deepen our appreciation for diverse cultural expressions through the joy of creativity.

Learn more at https://vmota.org/classes/experience-persian-textiles-on-yalda/

11/22/2024

Visions Museum of Textile Art (VMOTA) is pleased to invite textile and fiber artists for solo or group exhibitions to submit proposals to exhibit in our galleries in 2026. VMOTA hosts three exhibition cycles for our main galleries and eight exhibition cycles for our Spotlight Gallery. We seek to exhibit a variety of artists working in various textile and fiber art mediums. This call for proposals is open to national and international artists at all career levels. Get your submission in by December 15th, 2024 to be considered!

11/16/2024

With heartfelt gratitude for the generous support of our donors and community, Visions Museum of Textile Art (VMOTA) has thrived, evolving into much more than a fine art institution. We’ve grown into a vibrant cultural hub that not only showcases the beauty of textile arts but also celebrates their profound relevance and connection to the diverse stories of today’s world.

Help us reach our $40,000 goal to expand our impact by bringing vibrant children’s programs to life and fostering international engagement by welcoming artists from around the world to share their stories, culture, and creativity. When you make a gift today, a generous donor will double your contribution, matching every dollar up to $20,000. Be a part of our mission and support VMOTA today!

Donate today at https://vmota.org/donate/

11/14/2024

Quilt Visions Spotlight: Candi Lennox - Soul Spies, 2024
Winner of Emerging Artist Award

"They are referred to as the window to the soul, and I have relied on the eyes to tell me the story to my fellow humans during our masking season." - Candi Lennox

Materials: Commercial cotton fabrics

Technique: Improvisational machine piecing, domestic machine quilting, big stitch hand quilting

11/12/2024

Solace in wilderness, both near and far, is essential to Charlotte Bird. Most of us spend entirely too much time indoors, nose deep and hunched over in front of blue screens, computers, and smart phones. The Japanese deal with this phenomenon by Shinrin Yoku, “forest bathing,” as an approach to gaining emotional and spiritual equilibrium. For most of Charlotte's adult life, she has enjoyed the wilderness with her lifelong companion. Solitude–quiet, slow, and intimate encounters with the vast and tiny–has provided calm and energized Charlotte's curiosity and imagination in a way that continues now independently.

Exhibit open until December 28th. We can't wait to see you here!

11/08/2024

Artist Spotlight: Amy Sands
"I have been exploring the concept of women’s work in my art. Imagery sourced from lace and craft doilies and other lace artifacts emerge from my paper abstractions, giving homage to the history of women’s work and raising the question of what is valued in our culture."

"Constellation" exhibition open until December 28

Learn more at https://vmota.org/constellations/

11/08/2024

Visions Museum of Textile Art (VMOTA) is in an exciting period of growth, seeking applications from individuals who would like to expand their impact by sitting on our Board of Directors. Though our regular board terms begin at our annual meeting in March, our application is open year-round for new members to fill our current openings. Join us for an information session on November 13th to learn more. Email [email protected] by November 11th to RSVP.

Learn more at https://vmota.org/join-our-board-of-directors/

11/07/2024

Join us for ’s December First Friday make-and-take felt craft project on Friday, December 5 at Visions Museum from 5-8pm. Attendees can create holiday ornaments out of felt and sew the outer edges. Cost is FREE and we will provide the supplies. Sponsored by Ann Olsen.

11/04/2024

Join us for a 3-part lecture series to learn behind-the-scenes details about the artistic process of three artists - Charlotte Bird, Carlton Brown and Luana Rubin, owner of eQuilter.com! The price includes access to all 3 lectures plus their recordings.

The cost for all 3 lectures is $40 for VMOTA members and $45 for non-members.

To register or for more information, please visit https://checkout.square.site/buy/PKSJCOIBVRZUBLABNK7DSRUT

Join us for a 3-part lecture series to learn behind-the-scenes details about the artistic process of three artists! The price includes access to all 3 lectures plus their recordings.Lecture 1: Charlotte Bird - How did you do that? A...

11/01/2024

Join us starting today for two days of community, color, and celebration! 🎨

Friday, November 1 | 5 PM - 8 PM
Saturday, November 2 | 10 AM - 3 PM

Bring the whole family to experience the beauty of Día de los Mu***os on this First Friday. 🧡 Add a photo or memento to the evolving community display, honoring and celebrating loved ones. Create traditional crafts, place them in the ofrenda area, or take them home as a heartfelt keepsake. Share this beautiful tradition and keep memories alive. 🌺

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11/01/2024

Don’t forget to come by the museum tomorrow afternoon or on Saturday morning to partake in our Dia De Los Mu***os activities!

Bring your family to create crafts, or take part by adding a photo or memento to our evolving community altar. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to honor loved ones and experience the beauty of this cherished tradition. Place objects, photographs, or written memories in VMOTA’s ofrenda (altar) area. Enjoy opportunities to create traditional crafts and add them to the ofrenda or take them home.

Sponsored by Arts District Liberty Station

10/31/2024

Check out our photos from our HalloWeave event yesterday! Special shoutout Songbirds Music and Arts District Liberty Station for funding this fun event.

10/25/2024

In honor of Filipino American🇵🇭 History Month, check out Rachielle Sheffler’s blog regarding her recent trip to VMOTA and what she thinks about when she sews.

One instance, she stated, “I thought of the women who stitched the Philippine flag, first flown in battle in May 1898 to proclaim independence against Spain.”

Check out the article at Link In Bio

Photo credit: Rachielle Sheffler