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Quilt National '99 Stitched Together with Creative Energy
Thirty quilts from the eleventh Quilt National Collection will be on display at the Riffe Gallery November 2, 2000, through January 7, 2001. This exhibition is produced and circulated by the Dairy Barn Southeastern Ohio Cultural Arts Center in Athens. Quilt National '99 is a juried international exhibition of the work of innovative contemporary quiltmakers that showcases transformations in the world of quilting.
An opening reception will be held Thursday, November 2, from 5-7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The works in Quilt National '99 were chosen from more than 1,320 entries submitted by nearly 640 artists in 27 states and 13 countries. Every work in the exhibition had to fulfill several criteria including mastery of technique, overall design and concept. Quilts were chosen for their depth of style, content, technique and emotion.
"Today's artists are adding to the rich foundations of the heritage quiltmaker, while transforming color and texture through modern technology. Their innovative methods provide visual experiences that are always fresh and invigorating." said Hilary Fletcher, Quilt National project director.
Several special events will be held in conjunction with Quilt National '99 . Michael Mrowka and Deborah Lunn of Lunn Fabrics will provide a demonstration of their quilting and fabric dyeing techniques on November 5. On November 19, Hilary Fletcher will present a lecture titled Traditions and Transitions .On December 3 Susan Shie and James Acord will conduct a hands-on workshop called Tiny Outsider Art Quilts for young people 12 and older.
Although their materials, techniques and messages may differ from those of the heritage quiltmaker, today's quilts are products of the same creative energy responsible for great-grandmother's Double Wedding Ring. Quilts have always been personal expressions and the works in this collection are no exception.
Quilts in the 1999 collection continue to reflect the artists' interest in using their medium to give voice to concerns about environmental, social and political issues or feelings relevant to the quiltmaker's inner world. Techniques such as painting, burning, transparency, color removal, surface design, embellishment and elaborate stitchery often are enhanced by the artist's words, explaining the work and heightening the impact of the imagery. Photo-transfer materials and methods create limitless possibilities for today's fiber artists. This diverse and beautiful exhibition will enrich everyone's perception of a great American tradition.
Contemporary Quilts , published by Lark Books, Asheville, North Carolina, is full-color, 122-page volume with photographs of all the quilts in this exhibition as well as statements by the jurors and artists. The book will be available for $20 at the Riffe Gallery during the exhibition.
The exhibition is supported by the Ohio Building Authority. Media sponsors include Columbus Alive, Small Business News, WCBE 90.5FM and Time Warner Communications.
The Riffe Gallery, operated by the Ohio Arts Council, showcases the work of Ohio's artists and curators and the collections of the state's museums and galleries. The gallery is in the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, State and High Streets, Columbus, OH. Hours are Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.-8:00 p.m., Saturday 12-8 p.m. and Sunday 12-4 p.m. Admission is free. For information or to schedule a tour call the Riffe Gallery at 614/644-9624.
The Ohio Arts Council, a state agency established in 1965, builds the state through the arts-economically, educationally and culturally-preserving the past, enhancing the present and enriching the future for all Ohioans. The Council believes the people of Ohio should share the arts. The arts arise from public, individual and organizational efforts. The OAC supports and encourages those efforts.
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