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Riffe Gallery Hosts Quilt National '05
by Shane Cartmill
 The Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery will present an exhibition showcasing some the most exciting and innovative trends in art quilts. Quilt National ‘05 will be on view January 26 through April 16, 2006. The exhibition is produced and circulated by the Dairy Barn Southeastern Ohio Cultural Arts Center in Athens, Ohio. An opening reception will be held Thursday, January 26 from 5 – 7 p.m.
Quilt National '05 is the 14th in the series of international juried competitions dedicated to promoting the contemporary quilt as an art form. The jurors selected work that represented unique approaches to the art quilt medium and that demonstrated the breadth and diversity of contemporary expressions. The jury panel consisted of internationally recognized artists M. Joan Lintault and Miriam Nathan-Roberts, and Mark Richard Leach, deputy director of The Mint Museums in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“My personal responsibility and goal was to select quilts where the media and manner of working would be relevant in this new century,” wrote Lintault about the jurying process. “I always want to see creativity, some critical thinking and visual expression in use of the fabric, subject matter and content.”
The Riffe Gallery will exhibit 30 quilts from the Quilt National ’05 collection, including work by Wooster, Ohio artist Susan Shie. Artists in the exhibition hail from all over the United States and the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom and The Netherlands.
During Quilt National ’05, the Riffe Gallery also will exhibit Dreams and Hopes, a collection of quilts created in Punta Arenas, Chile by young adults with mental and developmental disabilities. Through the Ohio Arts Council’s International Program Passion Works art director Patty Mitchell conducted the 2004 artist residency at Cruz del Sur, a center supporting young people with disabilities. The residency resulted in a collection of 24” x 24” painted art quilts that have been described as beautiful, colorful and exotic. Mitchell worked with resident artist Lenka Guisande, who traveled to Athens, Ohio in early 2005 and worked with the clients at Passion Works Studio to continue the fiber and paper art collaboration.
Passion Works is a program of the MRDD of Athens county that creates art opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.
On Thursday, January 26, 2006 from 5 – 7 p.m., the Riffe Gallery will host a free public opening reception.
A free exhibition tour with Quilt National Project Director Hilary Fletcher will be offered on Friday, January 27, 2006, from 12 – 1 p.m. Fletcher will discuss the heritage of art quilts as well as their burgeoning future as she leads a tour of the exhibition. Fletcher will explain the elements of design and techniques used in creating these innovative quilts.
On Sunday, March 12, 2006 at 2 p.m., Make Your Own Paper Quilt! The Riffe Gallery will present a free family day for children and their adult companions. Try your hand at quilting with assistance from Passion Works art director Patty Mitchell and artist-in-residence Wendy Minor. Using provided materials, you will cut, glue and hand stitch your very own colorful paper quilt. This family day is recommended for children ages 5 to 16. For reservations, call 614/728-2239 or email riffegallery@oac.state.oh.us.
The Riffe Gallery will offer free group tours Tuesday through Friday throughout the run of the exhibition. To schedule a group tour contact Riffe Gallery Director Mary Gray at mary.gray@oac.state.oh.us or 614/728-2239.
A 111-page, full color catalog of the exhibition is available for $25.
Quilt National ’05 is produced and circulated by the Dairy Barn Southeastern Ohio Cultural Arts Center in Athens, Ohio. The Riffe Gallery is supported by Ohio Building Authority. Media sponsors include Alive, CityScene, Movie Media, Ohio Magazine and Time Warner.
The Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery showcases the work of Ohio's artists and curators, exhibitions produced by the Ohio Arts Council’s International Program and the collections of the region’s museums and galleries. The Riffe Gallery’s Education Program seeks to increase public appreciation and understanding of those exhibitions.
The gallery is located in the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, State and High Streets, Columbus, OH. Gallery hours are Tuesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 12-8 p.m. and Sunday 12-4 p.m. Closed Monday and state holidays. Admission is free. For information, call the Riffe Gallery at 614/644-9624 or visit us on the web at www.riffegallery.org.
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.
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