Balancing Act (SAQA Global Exhibition)

Throughout history, women have had to balance responsibilities to community, home and family while pursuing other interests, jobs, or careers. From those who helped farm the land or worked in factories during wartime, to those who stand shoulder to shoulder with men pursuing careers, or serve as caregivers; women have always had to juggle the various aspects of their lives.

This show celebrates women past and present; what we have accomplished that we now enjoy as rights and freedoms that our grandmothers and their grandmothers did not; and what obstacles we have left to conquer. As art quilting is a predominantly female pursuit, this exhibit is particularly personal. It is an opportunity to show works that explore the daily lives, both internal and external, of women. As artists we were free to explore what and who inspires us; what we find frustrating; what we are most proud of.

From serious to lighthearted, from literal to abstract, there are many ways to find balance. It can be found in formalism; in the pursuit of compositional balance and mastery of the medium that is fabric and stitch. It can be historic, spotlighting the people and events that contribute to our ability to achieve balance. But mostly, it’s personal. Viewers are invited to find their own stories in the pieces presented and ask, what does balance mean to me?