Sandra Meech
Quilt Art and Stitched Textiles

Profile

Originally from Ontario Canada and trained as a graphic artist and designer at the Ontario College of Art in Toronto, Sandra has I has always been interested in the possibilities of fabric and stitch.

While completing the Diploma in Stitched Textiles, she researched the textiles and clothing of the Caribou Inuit in Northern Canada and this fascination with the Arctic landscape led to a large series of work called
‘Arctic Expressions’. After visiting Inuit communities in Nunavut in 1998, Sandra still continues to be inspired by the white, blue and turquoise of snow and Ice that contrast with the brown, rust and copper of caribou skins and the tundra.

Issues of global warming (urban cities, population and pollution) have since been explored, work that features retreating glaciers and threatened woodlands, particularly in a recent her Near North series. The places where we live, work and holiday have been explored in The Way We Live Now. These textile studies include diary writings and images of high rise buildings, holiday retreats and homes around the world.

More recently a new theme - ‘Within 4 Walls’, has addressed issues of protection, security, containment and inspiration - how walls can be a haven for some, but a prison for others. Continuing with photo imagery, Sandra has incorporated brick, granite, ice, glass, stone and slate onto the surface, celebrating buildings from the canals in Bruges, the Tate Gallery in London, sky-scrapers in Chicago to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

‘Transferring photographs onto cotton using an acrylic medium, has been my favoured technique over the years, but imagery isn’t enough. The use of light and shade with machine quilting and stitch ‘marks’ brings the surface to life.’

Author of Contemporary Quilts…Design, Surface and Stitch, Sandra teaches, lectures and exhibits throughout Europe and Canada.

Qualifications

1994 City & Guilds Patchwork and Quilting – Windsor, East Berkshire College.
1995 City & Guilds Adult Education Teaching certificate – Part 1 & 2.
1997 Diploma in Stitched Textiles with Distinction – Windsor School of Textile Art - selected for Society of Designer Craftsmen with Distinction.
2000 C&G Photography – Part 1 & 2

Memberships

Quilt Art - an international group of textile artists
Connections - stitched textiles exhibiting group, Canada
Licentiate member of the Society of Designer Craftsmen

Exhibitions

Sandra has work in collections in the UK, Europe, Canada and a recent Arctic piece was purchased by the Museum of Art and Design in New York.

2006
Creative Quilts… Inspiration, Texture and Stitch - published August 2006
with solo exhibition Festival of Quilts, Birmingham NEC

2005
Quilt Art 20th anniversary – touring exhibition, Collins Gallery, Glasgow
‘Fusions’ collaboration with Contemporary Jewelers touring exhibition

2004
Arctic Journeys and Beyond’ solo exhibition Textile Museum, Alsace, France
International Quilts exhibition at Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
Within 4 Walls – Henley Exhibition Centre, Festival of Quilts, Birmingham

2003 
‘Contemporary Quilts - Design Surface and Stitch’ author, BT Batsford
‘Journeys’ one woman quilt art exhibition at Missenden Abbey
‘Quilt Art’ Exhibition ‘Re-interpretations’ touring exhibition
Contemporary Art Quilt – Uffington and Bristol
Quilts ‘99 – 2003 juried selection by Creative Exhibitions

2002
World Quilt and Textile USA – Best of country - UK
Quilt Art – ‘Limited Edition’ touring exhibition,
Transforming Traditions – Quilters Guild, Halifax
Six Continents of Quilts ‘Shoolfy’ selected and purchased by the
Museum of Art and Design, New York.
‘Journeys’ – Arctic Expressions - Henley, Oxfordshire
Headway – Studio 21 stitched textiles, Guildford House Museum, Surrey
Quilt Art – ‘Moving On’ touring exhibition

2001
World Quilt and Textile, USA - ‘5 Days in May’- Prize for ‘Innovation’
Ontario Juried show, Waterloo Art Gallery, Ontario
Quilt Art ‘Moving On’ touring exhibition – the UK and Europe

2000
Contemporary Art Quilt - Cutting Edge, Uffington, Oxon
‘Arctic Expression’ solo exhibition at Threadneedle House, Oxon.

1996-2000
‘Reflections on Locality’ graduate exhibition - Henry Foyle Trust
Licentiate of the Society of Designer Craftsmen, distinction, Mall Galleries
Diploma in Stitched Textiles, Windsor - distinction.
Quilts UK Championship trophy for ‘Northern Reflections

Contact

Email: texarts@aol.com
Website: www.sandrameech.com

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