PAQA Water Exhibit

In 2006 I was invited to teach at a wonderful quilt show in Duluth MN, called Quilting By the Waterfront. The organizer Helen Smith Stone asked if I could curate a small exhibit of quilts from my art quilt group PAQA to premier at the show. I said sure, having no idea what that really meant. So I put out a call to the group for quilts based on the theme “WATER”. I was wonder struck and over whelmed when I received 75 entries!! Each quilt had to be 18” square or smaller and each person needed to submit a quilted self portrait 4” x 5” to hang with the quilt.

This is the description that traveled with the show.

WATER

In the PAQA tradition of encouraging our members to explore new territory, the eighth PAQA challenge explores WATER.

The PAQA Water Challenge is a collection of

75 small quilts all using water as the inspiration for their work. The

quilts show an amazing variety of techniques, fabrics, colors and

subjects.

Water is a necessity of life.

It refreshes, cleanses and relaxes us. Each quilt shows the unique view of its maker, which can be seen in the individual approach of each quilter to the idea of water when viewing this exhibit. Techniques used include using hand printed and hand dyed fabrics as well as a variety of other kinds of fabrics, incorporating beadwork, several methods of appliqué and traditional pieced quilting.

PAQA is the Professional Art Quilters Alliance

located in Glen Ellyn IL. The membership is dedicated to promoting

art quilting and expanding the influence and boundaries of quilting. Artists from IL, WI, MI, IA and IN come each month to network and show new work.

Member Frieda Anderson, author and prize winning quilter organized this exhibit. For further information you can contact her at quiltgoddess@gmail.com

This show has finally finished traveling. It traveled for three years to a variety of diverse   venues and from the show six quilts were sold in all. I learned a lot of things about organizing and caring for a traveling show and I am very glad that I had the opportunity to do this. If the chance presents itself again I will probably accept. You can go to the following link to see all the quilts and their self portraits at http://www.friestyle.com/paqawater.htm