During my travels on the Internet this morning, I thought I’d stop in at IQA and see if the entry form for the 2008 show was available yet, thinking I might be able to finish up The Misery Quilt in time to enter, and wondering in the back of my mind what category I’d enter it in. It’s beyond “traditional,” what with the embroidery already there, the original layout, the mixed techniques, and the embellishments that I plan to add later.

…there were only two lonely categories for traditional quilts, one for appliquéd quilts and one for pieced quilts…

The entry form wasn’t there yet, but I looked at the page with the winning quilts from the 2007 show, and I was quite surprised when the categories for art quilts just went on and on and on, in multiple (but seemingly) minuscule variations for different sizes, types, and styles, and then way down at the bottom, there were only two lonely categories for traditional quilts, one for appliquéd quilts and one for pieced quilts which were not even further divided into “small” and “large.”

I didn’t enter the IQA show last year, but seeing the winners page reminded me that I’d been meaning to go on about this very issue for quite some time, ever since I read Paula’s post that referred to Jeanna Kimball’s post about judging the Houston Show in late September, 2007. Jeanna Kimball is a traditional quilter, obviously a good one since she’s out there judging, and she made some interesting observations about the number of traditional quilts that were entered in the Houston show:

One element of the contest, however, surprised me a great deal—I still can’t get over it. The last time I paid attention to quilt contests, the categories with the most quilts seemed to be traditional quilts.

It is not so any longer. The entries have dropped so low in traditional pieced and traditional appliqué that there is only one category for each—no longer are there two categories with one being large quilts and the other being small. What happened!? Where are all of the traditional quilts?

I have to second that question, but I’m afraid I know what happened to the traditional quilts. The quilters who enter the larger shows have discovered that traditional doesn’t win big. Oh sure, if you have the best traditional quilt in the show, you get the first place award in the traditional category, but when was the last time a quilt from the traditional category was awarded “Best of Show” with the big money attached? Truthfully, I don’t know the answer to that, but I’ve watched (and entered) the major shows since 2001, and my overall feeling about it just from what I’ve seen and experienced is that it’s been many years. Read the rest of this entry »

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Well, the Stars in my Hand quilt was shown at the AQS show in Paducah in April, and now it’s on the way to the Albuquerque Fiber Arts Fiesta in New Mexico on Memorial Day weekend (and then it will go to my aunt and uncle, since it is their anniversary quilt). I emailed the woman who handles the quilt show entries in Albuquerque to tell her that the quilt was coming to her directly from Paducah since there wasn’t enough time to ship it back here and then on to New Mexico. The list of winners from the AQS show in Paducah was posted on the website after the show, and I looked at it of course, and didn’t see my name there. I was bummed, but it wasn’t totally unexpected or anything.

So yesterday, I got an email from the lady in New Mexico:

Congratulations on your entry at Paducah. I received in good shape. You received an Honorable Mention white ribbon along with the judges comment sheet. The comments were under the Best Features of this quilt are: Embellishments well placed; quilting designs. Nothing in the Areas that need improvement. All three judges signed it: Diane Gaudynski, Libby Lehman and Anita Shackleford.

I sat here and stared at what she wrote, and said “What??? Huh??? What the heck??” (ITMan was sitting at his computer across the room listening, and wondering what my issue was!) I went back to the page of the winners, and all the way at the bottom, well, there was my name in black and white! I missed it when I looked at it before! How crazy is that? Sheesh. I mean, how can you miss seeing your own name and quilt on the winners’ list for the AQS show??? I even remember seeing the person and the quilt listed directly above mine, and another one in the list as well, I think, but I’m obviously going to have to head to the eye doctor soon!

So my quilt actually won something at one of the two biggies! I think I’m floating!

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I’ve been sitting here for at least an hour, probably much longer than that actually, trying to write an artist’s statement for a quilt I’d like to enter into a juried special exhibit. I’m beginning to think it’s a completely wasted exercise, right down to entering the dang thing to begin with. The quilt in question: Material Marquetry.

The exhibit: In the American Tradition V.

The point of the exhibit:

This special annual exhibit features the very best in contemporary traditional-based quilting. You are invited to submit work for consideration for the fifth year of this very special exhibit, In the American Tradition. We are looking for both contemporary interpretations and traditional quilts, either by hand or machine, appliquéd, pieced, or wholecloth.

Material Marquetry seems to fit right in, contemporary quilt based in tradition that it is. So where’s the issue, you ask? The “write an artist’s statement” requirement for entry seems to be beyond me. Here’s the assignment:

The artist statement explains the artist’s impression for creating the quilt and/or how it relates to the theme; concise, well-written, and no longer than one-half of an 8.5″ x 11″ page

What the heck do they really want here? Is this artist’s statement to be used in the jurying process, or is it for the end viewer’s benefit? I feel like the most that I could say would be stating what the viewer can already see for themselves, Read the rest of this entry »

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