President Obama: A Celebration in Art Quilts
Location: Cafritz Art Center at Montgomery College 150
King St., Silver Spring, MD
Dates: February 9 - March 5, 2009
Opening Reception: Friday, February 13th
contact: Sue Walen 301-469-6969, by email:
suewalen@me.com
(high resolution photos available)
This show, organized by Susan Walen, comes from an
all-volunteer,grass-roots, multi-ethnic group of fiber artists from
all across theUnited States and as far away as Australia. Our work
is in tribute to ournew President, in gratitude for the hope and
inspiration hehas brought us. We present these art quilts at an
unforgettablehistoric moment in our country's history.
President Obama: A Celebration in Art Quilts
Susan Walen was bringing her Obama quilt home from the
Bethesda headquarters of the campaign, wondering how
many other "quilts of joy" about the election were
being made. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could all
be shown together, in D.C.? She sent out a call for
quilts on major web sites (SAQA and ArtQuilt) and
within 30 hours, over 40 quiltmakers responded. Now,
we present a show from more than 60 of us: a
grass-roots, multi-ethnic, all-volunteer group of
women from all around the US and as far away as
Australia. This is a quilt show of amazing diversity
-- among the quilters and their art. Our
extraordinary diversity mirrors the diversity and
international support that Obama's election has
generated.
The works in this show are art quilts, distant
descendants of the folk art tradition. Visitors will
discover how contemporary fiber artists have
translated and transformed this tradition to create a
dynamic collection of fiber art work, all of a common
theme: celebrating this historic election. Artists in
this show use a wide range of techniques including
painting on fabric, fabric dyeing, photography,
beadwork, appliqué, stitching, embroidery, and digital
transfer. Most of the artists work individuals, but
one quilt is made by a small group (the Pixiladies),
and another by a 10-person group (Fiber Artists for
Obama). Most of the quilts will have their first
showing here, but some have already been shown at a
major quilt show in Houston.
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