I attended the Pacific Northwest Quiltfest on Friday. I went by myself which is how I like to go to quilt shows. There was a wide range of entries from traditional to innovative (253 in all). The Innovative Pieced category seemed the most spectacular to me. I went away feeling very inspired and in awe of the many talented quilters out there.
Now for the critic in me. The show was incredibly crowded given the confines of the space they had it in. The rows were too narrow for relaxed viewing. I was told they’ll be moving to a larger venue next year. I also overheard some very snarky, rude and impolite commentary by show goers. For some reason I find this to be a common occurence at quilt shows which bugs the heck out of me. I haven’t attended juried shows of other mediums, do you think this is a quilt thing or does it happen at all shows?
As I was uploading all the beautiful photos I had taken (they allow cameras) I was making sure I had appropriate credits for each of the quilts. As I looked through the show book I re-read the policy on use of photos. A portion:
“…Photos are not to be used for any commercial purpose, and are not to be posted on websites without written permission from the copyright holders.”
I was like, wow, how did I miss that. I looked back at the policy in the original promotional brochure I’d received:
“…Photos are not to be used for commercial purpose. If you post your photos on a web site, include appropriate credit for each quilt artist.”
That’s a BIG change. I’m certainly disappointed given I had so many GREAT photos to share but I don’t want to violate anyone’s copyright. I’m really glad I saw the updated policy before I finished this post. (Since I read somewhere I can’t do a post without a picture, I included the latest block for my Halloween quilt.)
Here are a few links to some of the quilt artists I discovered at the show:
Kitty Corner by Janet Fogg won Best of Show.
Blueberry Chrysalis by Heidi Lund won Best Small Quilt. Heidi is a member of the Kitsap Quilt Guild and I’ve had the opportunity to see her pieces on several occasions. She’s an amazing talent.
Ree Nancarrow had two pieces in the show. This link doesn’t quite capture the beauty of what I saw but I look forward to keeping an eye out for more of her quilts.
Some of the other pieces I enjoyed: Serendipity by Lisa Jenni, Competition by Janet Steadman, Fences Two #8 by Borg Hendrickson, and two innovative applique quilts by Carol Von Stubbe.
Oh, those quilts are amazing! That is incredible to me, to come up with a free-form idea and manipulate fabric and thread into that idea. Truly incredible. My goal is to one day make a simple patchwork quilt.
thank you for the lovely links…
i think the rule about posting without a photo is right next to the intructions on the secret handshake…
Thanks for digging up the links — I love the wearable art!
I’m envious of that level of vision……
A few years ago, I went to the International Quilt Show in Houston. It was amazing, and while I’m sure there were critical comments made, everyone seemed to be talking quietly to their friends. Although it was crowded, the feel of it was more like a museum. It would have bothered me as well if people were loud enough for me to hear them and their impolite comments.
I’m glad you got to enjoy it and spend some time there alone. It sounds like fun! Now off to check out some of your links…
Great links … thanks for posting them! Looks like a great show judging by some of the quilts that are shown in your links. That “Blueberry Chrysalis” is spectacular. It definitely makes me want to attempt a small quilt … they’re easier to play with embellishments in that scale. Thanx again.
Thanks for the links…
I’ve yet to go to a quilt show, but someday, I plan to! Either Houston or Paducah maybe….
And I like your dancing skeletons in your halloween house! Can’t wait to see the whole thing.
Sounds like a wonderful exhibition, shame about not being able to use your photos but understand why. At least you can enjoy them.
I ordered a bunch of halloween fabric and no skeletons, darn! They are so cute! You saved me from a mistake I would have caught after the first goofed house! I saw that your roof was off from the house edge and thought, “oh she’s not even with the roof…then D’oh it HAS to be like that or the roof is wrong!” I’d have caught it after the first mistake!!
Those quilts are very pretty! Sadly, women are snarky about eveyrthing with other women. We should hold each other up and support, but we often fall into petty comments and criticism.
Can’t wait to see where these houses all eventually reside!
What a bummer! I would have loved to have seen your photos. It is so disappointing to hear rude comments at a show. Considering the loud overbearing voices of the inner critic that most artists/crafters have, we really need the encouragement and kindness of others! To me, that is what an art community is all about. The competition and pettiness is really discouraging. I’ve never been to a juried show, but for several years I attended the Craft Hobby Association trade shows and saw a side of the craft industry (among designers and such) that I’d rather have not seen. I guess that’s why I’ve retreated to the blog world of crafting where, it seems to me, goodness prevails
I attended on Saturday and it wasn’t that crowded. There must have been way more people there on Friday. Have you been to the show in past years? When the quilts were displayed in the Northwest rooms it was much more crowded – at least that’s the way I remember it. The way they had them displayed in the Exhibition Hall was much better. I didn’t hear critical comments either – most everyone was polite, attentive and courteous. My pet peve is people who pay no attention to others taking pictures. Many times I’ve stood waiting patiently for a group to finish looking at a quilt so I could take a picture, only to have someone else step right in front of me – totally oblivious to what I’m doing. Or have someone make a “ducking” motion as they cross in front of me just when I click the shutter. Since the ducking motion indicates they know I’m taking a picture, but they walk right in front of me anyway, I think those people are the worst.
I thought the quilts were wonderful, with a very good mix of traditional, contemporary and art quilts.
thanks for the great links, too bad you couldn´t post the pictures. Have you emailed the show association and asked for permission? I did that for a project at the university years ago and they gave me permission immediately when I explained that it wasn´t for commercial reason but for credit
, it was great!
As for rude and impolite comments by visitors, I only heard something like that once and found myself turning around with the sweetest smile I had, telling the “art critic” that I was looking forward to seeing her entry next year… she shut up, I felt good but horrible at the same time.. lol.. oh well.. – My Mom always tells me that I just don´t have much tolerance for ignorance..
I just love your house block with the skeletons peeking out!!! Makes me want to start a Halloween quilt.
Darn! I wish I would read Ticket so I would know what is going on. I hate that I missed that! I have gone a couple of times and loved it. Too bad about those phhotos, I have always seen folks taking photos at these events and did not know it frowned upon.
So different from here (Portugal)! A quiltfest!!!! It must have been a fantastic kind of show!