Hanging a Quilt Exhibit

It really has been months since I last posted hasn't it? Oops. Reality is I have been doing more organising than stitching.

For many months now I have been working on the planning for an exhibit, the third biannual, at ArtSpace Herndon. And today ,at last, I can say, it is open and ready for viewing.

 "Threaded With Green" comprising 80 quilts presented by the Center Street Cotton Collective is on exhibit at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon VA from today thru until February 14, 2016.  Above is the view above the reception desk. You might recognize my "TOM Flies Free" quilt on the left and on the right are two small pieces, framed and under glass, by Anne Smyers. Below that is the poster showing the title of the show and the names of the nineteen participating fiber artists.

 For the front wall, facing the front door, I came up with the concept of hanging long "threads" of quilts as a way to, on one wall, showcase the myriad of styles of contemporary quilts that might be seen in the exhibit. This display is much more vibrant in person than my photo above suggests.

The heart of the exhibit is the collection of 41 wall quilts from the "There Is a Season" challenge. This is divided into four sections beginning with Spring (on the left) and moving round  through Summer, Fall and Winter. Each participant was given a vintage block (sourced as a collection of blocks that had been completed but never used in a quilt top or finished quilt). The requirement was to create a finished 24" x 24" wall quilt, use as much of the original block (in whatever form) as possible, use green somewhere on the face of the quilt and depict the assigned season. Above, beginning from the left, we see 6 spring, 12 summer and 2 fall quilts.

In addition to the two main collections there are 23 other quilt works to round out the show. My aim with these exhibits is to present a representational variety of the styles of works being created in this area currently. Thus quilts range from traditional style all the way through to art quilts. Above is an example. Beginning on the left we have "Groundhog Day" by Cheryl Kotecki and the Remarkable Robins, one of two round robin style quilts in the show. Next are two mounted art quilts by noted local fiber artist Cindy Grisdela  http://www.cindygrisdela.com/about.php.

Continuing on the long narrow piece (above) is "Road to Jerusalem" originally created for the "Sacred Threads" exhibit in 2015 by Sarah Entsminger http://www.studioatripplingwaters.com/

And on the far right is "Everett's Ties" a poingnant memory quilt made by Gertrude Sherman to honor her late husband Everett. Featuring his neckties it also includes photographs of Gertrude and Everett as a couple and some lovely ribbon embroidery. When the gallery lights are fully on you may better apprecaite this piece.

Moving out of the main gallery space and into the front/blue room we hung Pat Wyatt's big bed sized quilt "Mystery Maiden Voyage:Celtic Solstice" which was the November 2013 - February 2014 mystery quilt designed by Bonnie Hunter. On the left you  might recognise my small "Uluru: Star of the Outback".

It is all on display at ArtSpace Herndon, 750 Center Street, Herndon VA 20170. Open hours are: Tuesday thru Thursday 10am to 2pm, Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 2pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Admission is free.  For more information look here http://www.artspaceherndon.com/

This is the third quilt exhibit I have had the priveledge of being able to hang at ArtSpace. It is a huge thrill to see our quilts in a gallery presentation and I do most sincerely thank all at ArtSpace Herndon for inviting we quilt/fiber artists into their space.

My thanks also go to my co-curator Sarah Entsminger and all the hanging team (most particularly Gayle Maisel for driving me and the quilts there and back and helping all day long) these past two days.

More photographs may appear in upcoming days. As always, clicking on the photos will show them in a larger form. Later I will hope to have time to give you better quality photographs. But I was so excited today to finally have the show hung that I wanted to share it with you right away.

Now do me a favor and go see our show!