Quilt and fiber art show this weekend
Journey 2011, A Contemporary Quilt and Fiber Art Show, a juried and judged show presented by Art Quilters Unlimited Inc., will be held Friday and Saturday, Jan. 21 and 22, at Faith Presbyterian Church Faith Center.
The show will feature award-winning artists who live both in Florida and out of state who have had their art work shown at international and national quilt shows throughout the United States.
Joyce Grande, chair of the show, said this is the first year Art Quilters Unlimited has put on the show. This initial show is being dedicated to Joan Fran, a member of the guild who died of ovarian cancer in 2008.
“We are very excited,” Grande said about the show, adding that the quilting organization will have a special exhibit of Fran’s work on display.
In six years of quilting, Fran completed more than 20 large quilts, which received blue ribbon awards at local, national and international shows.
Grande said typically when a guild puts on a quilt show, it raises funds for either education or charity work. The guild will raise money for the Art Quilters Unlimited Inc. Education Fund, along with some of the proceeds going towards ovarian cancer research.
She explained that the guild will raffle off a quilt that Fran’s husband, Gavin, donated. In honor of “Let’s Go Girls,” a famous whimsical quilt of Fran’s, Gavin will present a special ribbon award for the Most Whimsical Quilt.
Sixty of the 105 members of the guild will have their work on display at the show this weekend.
Grande said the show is for both fiber artists and the traditional quilter in order to provide something for everybody.
“Over half of what we show will be an original design,” she said, adding that they will also have traditional quilts at the show as well.
More than 200 quilts will be on display this weekend, along with wearable art. Grande explained that many of the members, who are also artists, create such things as silk jackets and vests that have been treated for surface design and foiling, along with hand-dyed fabrics.
The show will also have a merchant mall, special exhibits, demonstrations, silent auction of members designs and an art gallery where original designs by members can be purchased.
Grande said they have 14 vendors coming in from all over the country for the show who will sell supplies and speciality items.
The show will also include appraisals by professional quilter Nan Moore and a raffle quilt by a featured artist.
Grande said they are hoping to have 3,000 people attend the quilt and fiber show this weekend.
“If we get 3,000 people, we will be very happy,” she said, adding that so far they have two buses coming to the show for sure.
For information, call Grande at (239) 540-9038.