Vacay Part 2 – Quilt National, 2025.
My last visit to Quilt National was 2021. QN is considered the world’s premiere showcase of the Best of Contemporary Art. Out of 695 quilts submitted, only 84 were chosen. What impressed me the most this year was the use of sheer material, which is right in the epicenter of my interests; the exhibit was highly inspiring! I wrote about my other travels here, here, and here.
I have a zillion photos, so I only comment if there is something unusual about the materials used, or if it was one of my favs. I am so happy that QN changed their policy to allow photos. Enjoy the ride!
It was first a dairy barn after all!
Ring Tones; John Lefelhocz.
As I walked in, a vibrant discussion was taking place over this quilt: Is this a quilt? This piece is LED animated and sound reactive – it changes color with your voice. There was chiffon, fleece and muslin involved. The couple initiating the discussion felt like it was not a quilt. I got my phone out and read SAQA’s definition of a quilt and that confirmed my opinion, it was indeed a quilt.
Buzz and Me.
Buzz was the docent on duty that day. We all had a great discussion about perception, definition and the nuances of the quilt. No one was familiar with SAQA, so I schooled them on SAQA and pointed out all the SAQA member’s work in the show. I was a SAQA evangelist.
Clandestine; Irene Roderick. This is a spectacular piece!
Metanoia; Jennifer Candon. Another spectacular piece in person.
Encounter of Lines and Surfaces II; Jongkyeong Lee. Organza burned with a soldering iron. Loved this ethereal work.
Elmore & Duke Reminiscing; Anne Smith.
Flying; Vicki Conley. Hundreds of birds of varying sizes.
Let’s Talk Color; Jane Haworth.
Viriditas (Greeness); Shin-Hee Chin.
Nimble, Nimble; Heidi Parkes.
Composition 3; Laurie Paquin. A remarkable piece!
The Sea; Eunhee Lee. One of my favs.
What Remains; Susan Brubaker Knapp.
The Soul of the Ocean; Isabelle Wiessler. This gives off such a gentle vibe.
Mercato Del Friuli; Patty Kennedy-Zafred.
Detail; Mercato Del Friuli; Patty Kennedy-Zafred.
Two Fish, Blue Fish; Jan Soules.
Swish; Diane Melms.
Whitcross; Carson Converse. Her work is always quiet and impactful.
Dye Vats; Mary Arnold.
Will You Love Me When I’m Blue; Tania Tanti.
Tied Up In Knots; Kerri Green.
Something to Say; Susan Else.
Wings of Freedom; Ruth de Vos.
Piot Noir; Susan Braverman.
Shadows in the Log Cabin; Fiona Gavens. Made from shoelaces!
Sweet Tooth; Julie Smith.
Children of War; Wendy Richardson.
Apollo and Dionysus; Brent McGee. “Extreme trapunto and exagggerated boutis”.
Tea-bowl of Mama; Jungeun Tark. Made from fabric strips, dimensional.
Dawn’s Early Light; Myania Moses.
New Penelope; Genevieve Attinger.
Dialect No. 1; Heather Akerberg.
Boiler Shop; Peggy Favour.
Seen and Unseen; Kathy Ford.
Field Counts 2; Susan J Lapham.
Abundance; Niraja Lorenz.
Survivor’s Guilt; Sand Curran.
Hosomaki; Anne Wu.
Detail, Hosomaki; Anne Wu.
Musings II; Cindy Grisdela.
Mind Map: Compartments; Hele Geglio.
Home Away From Home; Roberta Lagomarsini.
Echoes of Time and Magic; Kestrel Michaud.
Adrift; Holly Cole.
Sweet Surrender; Jennifer Strauser.
Three Red Dots; Martye Collard.
There was also an exhibit by Holly Cole: Funny and Fragile, which explores various aspects of threatened and endangered species. She uses a variety of materials and techniques to create workt that resonates with the viewer. A few pieces in the exhibit:
Waiting; Holly Cole.
Work by Holly Cole.
Veterans: Grizzly Bear; Holly Cole.
Vanishing: Polar Bear; Holly Cole.
Fragile: Forest Triptych, Holly Cole.
Work by Holly Cole, forgot to photograph the tag.
In addition, the back gallery contained the work of Adruan DesJardiunsD, Reanimated. This body of work was “about transformation. Mundane objects are isolated, arranged and reanimated to give a completely new narrative to the object.”
It was a spectacular visit! I wish I had more time. Next week’s post will include photos of my visit to the Iowa Quilt Museum as well as a bit of a travelogue of my Midwestern Adventure.
I’ll be linking up:
Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday
Makes a person just trying to get better want to give up. Such wonder, creativity, and creativity!
How’s the wedding dress hunt coming along?
Oh think of it as “doomspiration”! Yes, maybe briefly feel inadequate, but then consider how it can inspire you! What part of what you saw speaks to you? Can you incorporate that into your work? I didn’t show those photos but i took photos of LOTS of less-than-great details. We all have flaws. The dress….. ugh.
Wonderful. Thanks for all the pictures. I took a class with Irene Roderick and her quilts and class are spectacular. I am surprised at how many of the quilts have rippled edges.
I took her also; excellent teacher. I love her work. And YES, LOTS of wavy edges.
Another great collection of Quilt National work. Yes, there were quite a few SAQA friends in the exhibit.
It was like a SAQA convention!
Thanks for all the great pictures from the show. This show does represent a wonderful collections of quilts. Would like to see them in person one day.
Oh it is worth the trip!
thank you jenny for shering the photo from the exebishen. i enjoy very much to look at this wonderful works.
flora cohen
You’re welcome Flora! I hope all is well with you.
Wow, wow, wow! so much incredible fantastic work. I have been to QN three times and it was amazing. Those days are long gone, so thank for for sharing your photos. Now I am going back to look at them all over again.
Oh wonderful Norma! Enjoy.
Great photos Jenny, thanks for taking the time to photograph the quilts and then sharing them with us. By the way, Carson Converse is a woman.
Oh thank you! I corrected it. I do my own editing, can you tell?
It is sometimes difficult to know with some names and the artists statements are often no help either ;)
Editing takes up a lot of time and with long posts there is even more labour, I appreciate all your posts.
Yes, true Pip! I am glad you appreciate my work; it does take a lot of time but I so enjoy it.
Thanks from me as well for this episode of “Jenny’s Pictures from an Exhibition” . I wish someone would put it to music. I was just now thinking about how vastly wider, taller, deeper has my range of appreciation of quilting styles grown. May you have safe travels and success in finding a wedding dress !!!
So glad you enjoyed it Kathy! I think someone that was in QN did do a video with music. Forgot who. My travels were safe but there is no dress yet.