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International juried art quilt exhibition to open in Springfield September 5th
Monday, August 11, 2008
For perhaps the first time ever, an international juried art exhibition is happening in Springfield, MO. The event opens with a reception at 4-6pm Sept 5th at the MSU Art & Design Gallery at 333E.Walnut in the Historic district of downtown Springfield and in the heart of the First Friday Art Walk. The show will be up from Sept. 5th through 26th.
Juror, Jason Pollen, is the president of the Surface Design Association, an international association of textile and fiber artists, as well as Professor and Chairman of the Fiber department at Kansas City Art Institute. He is an internationally known textile artist who has exhibited worldwide. A separate exhibit at the gallery will feature Pollen's work in conjunction with the ThreadLines 2008 exhibit.
Mr. Pollen will be commenting on the work at the opening reception and will award prizes totaling $1000 for Best of Show, Juror's Choice, and First, Second, and Third place.
The field of entries was quite broad. There were a total of 275 entries from 114 artists, including 8 international ones from Canada, Australia, Uruguay, Belgium, UK, and India -- and US artists from 32 states. Forty-five pieces were chosen including 2 international entries from Canada and India.
Unlike most art exhibitions, this show will feature only art quilts. An art quilt is defined as original work of art with two or more layers held together with stitches. They may contain any materials or use any technique. All quilts must be an original design. Creativity and non-traditional materials were encouraged.
ThreadLines is sponsored by the group Uncommon Threads, a regional group of art quilters. The group's members exhibit both nationally and internationally. This is their second foray into an exhibition featuring art quilts. In 2006 the group sponsored an invitational exhibition entitled Gilded: Art Quilts at the Creamery that was held in conjunction with the Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild Show and was a part of the First Friday Art Walk.
In addition to the exhibition mentioned above, there will be at least 5 other art quilt or quilt oriented exhibitions happening simultaneously. At the Creamery Arts Center , 411 N. Sherman, across from Hammond Baseball Field, Pam RuBert will have brand new work in a show entitled "Wish You Were Hair" –a playful look at the big hair phenomena. Joining her will be two additional members of Uncommon Threads, Emmie Seaman and Lettie Blackburn. Their show is entitled "Nature of Things".
Nearby at the Gillioz Theater, 325 Park Central East, Susan Leslie Lumsden aka Rebel Quilter will show her large scale art quilts in a show entitled "Visions of Plenty". These exhibitions will be up from Sept 5th-30th.
The Ozark Piecemakers Quilt guild will have its biennial quilt show September 18-20 at the Expo center , 635 St. Louis St. All venues are within easy walking distance of each other.