Special Exhibits

The Miami Art Quilters set a challenge this last spring with the "Bromeliad" family. It is part of the "bromeliaceae" family of more than 2700 species. The bromeliad is native of the southern part of the USA all the way to Chile and Argentina. The most famous bromeliad is the pineapple. We had our first group showing of the "Bromeliads" at the world famous Fairchild Tropical Gardens as part of their Bromeliad Festival in May. The Bromeliad encompasses such a variety of different colors and shapes that it was very inspiring and was a great theme to promote our creativity as a group as well as individually. It was interesting to see that everyone had different results using the same theme.

Colorganics and Zipt
Two Exhibits from Quilters Innovative Design
The art quilt group called Quilters’ Innovative Design or (QID) will show its "Colorganics" quilts because everyone needs to know more about the color wheel and the "Zipt" quilts which was a fun personal challenge where each artist just had to use at least one zipper. QID has been an art quilt group for over 20 years in the Palm Beach County area and this group is dedicated to learning about and making art from fabric.

Explorations of an Art Quilt - Art Quilters Unlimited
Art Quilters Unlimited (Fort Myers, FL), founded in 2004, has grown from 19 art quilt enthusiasts to almost 100 talented, vibrant, excited fiber artists who hold a unique niche in the local art community, sharing their passion for textile art and educating the public to fiber pieces as fine art. These artists use fabric as their medium of choice utilizing whatever will produce the vision and the image they are trying to express. Their work has been exhibited in many major shows and various art galleries around the country. Members provide encouragement and a strong support system for each other and are continually fine-tuning their skills with the many classes and excellent teachers provided. They reach, they explore and they explode with color and vitality.

Fiber Force: A Futuristic Approach
The Fiber Force exhibit is an opportunity for fiber artists, who are trying to stretch the boundaries of quilt making, to gain exposure in a public forum. The exhibit is curated by Lisa Chipetine, a New York City quilt artist and encompasses artists of all age ranges, cultural and geographic distinctions. The genres range from representational to abstract and represent the artist’s current state in their professional development.

Flower-Powered Quilts Traveling Exhibit
Jennifer Rounds just can’t give up making floral quilts - problem is, she’s roped her friends in also. She thought writing A Dozen Roses: Beautiful Quilts & Pillows (Martingale & Company) was the cure, but no, she’s still got petals a-flying and beads a-popping. Enjoy her garden of flower-powered quilts with its variety of techniques and embellishments; look closely, you just might spot the floral stylings of quilting glitterati. Jennifer’s from Palm Beach County, although she lives on another coast these days.

Flowers Challenge
presented by Gone to Pieces Quilters
The Gone to Pieces quilt group began meeting in December 1995 and over the years the group has grown from a dozen or so quilters to over fifty. The group is comprised of quilters from several counties, including Martin, St. Lucie and Palm Beach and includes seasonal as well as year-round residents who come together each week to share their love of quilting. We have quilters who are working on their first quilt and quilters who have won many prizes at national shows. The balance makes for an enriching and sharing environment. Each year we choose a different them for a challenge. The quilts are exhibited at the Morgade Library in Stuart for a month during which time we receive accolades from viewers who may not quilt, but appreciate our exhibits. The 2010 Challenge was "Flowers". We hope that you enjoy our exhibit as much as we enjoyed making them.

The Gold Coast Quilters Guild 2010 Challenge:
A Perfect 10
Incorporated in 1985, the Gold Coast Quilters Guild’s initial membership of eight local residents of Boca Raton, Florida has grown to a vibrant and creative organization of over 200 talented women living and working in Palm Beach and Broward County. With a long waiting list of potential new members, its growth is limited only by the size of its meeting space. Quilts from the Gold Coast Quilters Guild’s 2010 Challenge, a judged competition entitled "A PERFECT 10", are the source for this exhibit. The challenge was for members to portray in quilt form, a personal vision of "A PERFECT 10." It did not require a theme fabric, had to be at least 36 inches wide by no more than 84 inches long, and be a designed and executed "A PERFECT 10" quilt entry by 10/10/10. The Challenge Chairman was Guild member, Natalie Abderhalden.

It’s Time to Play
presented by the I Candy Quilters
The I Candy Quilters is a group of eleven quilters who have come together with one purpose: to push the boundaries of quilting and blur boundaries between the Quilting and Fine Art worlds. To accomplish this, we incorporated quilting techniques along with fine art and mixed media materials, including, but not limited to canvas, colored pencils, fabric paints, dyes and photographic transferring techniques. To accomplish this, we chose for our challenge a Round Robin. We began with a 12" pieced square quilt block. At the first meeting, the blocks were exchanged between the members. The block was returned to the owner after all the members had a chance to work on it. The owner completed the final art piece. Our rules were simple: Members could do whatever they wanted to each other’s blocks! Canvas would be included within the piece and be the backing. Any materials used must be professional art and quilting materials. Respect each other and each other’s block.

My Cabin
The Martin County Florida Quilters Guild 2010 Challenge

Since its founding five years ago, the Martin County Guild in Stuart, Florida has held an annual challenge to encourage members to stretch their talents and to inspire other quilters. Now with membership well over one hundred, our Guild is fortunate to have all levels of quilters from beginners to multiple "Best of Show" winners! The 2010 challenge struck a high note of interest among our members whether they prefer to create in traditional or contemporary / art style. The "My Cabin" challenge allowed members to have free choice of color, fabric, embellishment and especially imagination as long as the remarkably versatile log cabin block was showcased. You will be amazed at the creativity!

My Quilt Shoppe Presents Quilt Works from the Shoppe
My Quilt Shoppe has become a meeting place for quilters. We provide a wide range of clubs and activities including hand and machine appliqué, a history club utilizing Civil War and 1930’s fabric and an embroidery by hand club. Our Second Saturday Block of the Month Club is very popular. Santa Club has been joined by a Doll Club. The popular Mystery Quilt Classes are great fun with the final results always a spectacular surprise. The most recent club to join at My Quilt Shoppe is the new wool appliquéd quilt called Snowpennies. Our newest event is our Christmas in July when we un-wrap all the new holiday merchandise, but the most fun is the party. Not forgetting what the holidays are about, we collect food for our local food banks. We are proud to be a part of the Toys for Tots Program and other various charities. The works in this exhibit are a collaboration of our customers and employees handiwork.

No Place to Call Home
Homelessness exists all around the world. There are a myriad of conditions that result in homelessness: poverty, unemployment, lack of education, drug addiction, abandonment, mental illness, war and civil unrest, along with man-made and natural disasters. This exhibit takes a look at homelessness in all its implications. Presented by the artists of SAQA and curated by Kathleen McCabe, SAQA Curator-in-Training.

Once Upon a Time . . . in Quilts
presented by Cabin Branch Quilters & Stone House Quilters
We all have a favorite children’s story—one our parents read to us or one we read to our children. This collection celebrates these stories in a twenty-four inch square quilt. Each participant selected their (or their kid’s) favorite story and hopes that these quilts might encourage you to share the adventure by reading to a loved one today. Cabin Branch Quilts and Stone House Quilters preserve, promote, educate, encourage, maintain, and exhibit the art of quilt making in Prince William County, Virginia. Visit www.cabinbranch.org or www.stonehousequilters.org.

Quilters Treasure Challenge 2010
The winning entries of Quilters Treasure’s 6th annual challenge were announced at Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival. The theme was "What Memories Are Made Of" and entrants used "Orange Chasing Red" from the Quilters Treasure line of fabric. A Wearable Art category was added in 2006. Sponsors for this challenge include Singer, Superior Thread, Hobbs and Quilters Rule. Quilter’s Treasure’s 7th challenge was announced January 1, 2010; visit www.QuiltersTreasure.com for details and an entry form.

Seams Unique Fiber Artists
The Seams Unique Fiber Artists is a group of 13 fiber and mixed media artists, from Melbourne, Sebastian, and Vero Beach, Florida.  Many of the artists’ have exhibited at major International Quilt Shows, Art Galleries and in Juried Art Exhibits and have also been published. The group formed 4 years ago and meet once a month as a support group to share ideas, learn new techniques, inspire one another and promote the recognition and appreciation of fiber art. As a group, we plan 2 challenges each year. Our exhibit is a selection from this year’s and last year’s challenges.
                  

Zing Me Once Challenge
presented by the Sunshine State Quilters Association
This exhibit is a judged exhibit open only to Sunshine State Quilters Association members. The challenge is to use only Black, White and one other "Zing" color which can utilize the entire range of tones from light to dark. Fabrics need not be solids. The quilt can be pieced, appliquéd, paper pieced or use any other quilting technique or combination you choose. It may be hand or machine quilted or both. Embellishments are acceptable. Size can not be smaller then 144" and not bigger then 200" on the outside perimeter. It will be judged on Design & Workmanship, Creativity and Best Use of Color and prizes and ribbons awarded in these three categories.