Our Modern Quilt Guild Show

Sunday evening was the Artist's Reception for the first Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild Show.  We had a great turn out, lots of interest and conversation from visitors, and several of our members collaborated in an impromptu gallery talk with Q&A.

A few photos from the show (more can be seen in our Flickr pool):

The Gallery in the Round is in a contemporary building, with curved walls.  These first three photos are from a smaller, outer room and the lighting is somewhat "yellow" so please excuse the photo quality!

Some of our member's non-quilt entries to the show:

A small display of mug-rugs displayed "clothesline" style...

The main gallery during the reception:

The show will be on display through July 25th, so if you close to Ames, Iowa, stop in and have a look!

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Reminder for members: 5:00 pm tomorrow is the deadline to enter the Bag Swap!  

Gallery Opening of Modern Quilt Exhibit This Sunday!

The first ever show of the DSMMQG is currently on display in Ames, Iowa!  The show includes work from 15 of our members; ranging from pillows and bags to a Queen size quilt, from hand quilting and embroidery to custom long-arm quilted pieces:

JOIN US THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 23rd 6:00-8:00 p.m. FOR A GALLERY OPENING! The show will be up through July 25 at 1015 Hyland Avenue in Ames at the Gallery in the Round of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Hours M-Th, 1-5 and by appointment (515) 450-6572. Note: Please call ahead for reservations during June hours.

Iowa State Fair Now Has A Modern Quilt Category!

Last fall I contacted Dorothy Faidley, the Superintendent of the Fabric and Threads division of the Iowa State Fair, and asked if it would be possible to add a Modern Quilt category.  Based on the feedback she got from one judge, it seemed like it wouldn't happen.  So imagine my surprise today as I was skimming thought the quilt categories to find:  183 Modern - a quilt using a new design or reinterpreted traditional design, including improvisational piecing, alternative block structures, or emphasis of negative space and asymmetry.

Wow!  We are in there people!  So, please, please, please enter something in the Modern Quilt category!  I am going to feel really lame if we asked for a new category and there are no entries.  :)

To enter something in the Iowa State Fair:

1. Go to the Iowa State Fair 2013 Categories/Premium Books Page
2. Read the Fabric and Threads Booklet to see how many things you would like to enter.  Only one entry per category.
3. Fill out an online entry form.  You do not have to know for sure what you are going to enter at this time.  It will simply ask you how many entry tags you would like.  Each tag can be used for any of the Fabric and Threads categories. 
4. Drop off your item on July 27th.
5. Pick up your item on August 19th

What do you say?  Are you in?

DSMMQG Show Entry Reminder!

This is the week to submit your entries by either email or mail them to Greta Anderson (address on entry form) or giving them to Doris at Thursdays meeting.  Forms, Photos and Entry Fee are required by Thursday the 16th.

You will be notified in approximately one week, whether or not your entries were accepted.  Therefore, if you don't want to add a sleeve to your quilt unless you have to, there will be plenty of time after being notified of acceptance before you need to submit the actual quilt to sew one on.

The gallery will be installing the show on June 15th, so the quilts will need to be delivered by June 14th... either to the gallery in Ames, or to Doris.  NOTE: this date is prior to our June Meeting, so it will be your responsibility to bring items to either Doris' home in Des Moines or to the Gallery in Ames.  Additional details will be included in your acceptance notice.

MUG RUGS and MINIs can be submitted without entry fee as the curator plans to create a special display of small items/mug rugs in the gallery.  

See you THURSDAY at 6:30 at the Urbandale Library for our monthly meeting!

AQS Modern Quilt Challenge

Quilt from the AQS Modern Quilt Challenge website

Have you heard about the AQS Modern Quilt Challenge?  There are tons of quilt categories and prizes!  Check out all the details here.

And don't forget about our next meeting!  Friday, April 19th at 6:30 pm at At the Heart of Quilting.

Our Own QUILT SHOW!

DSMMQG will have a Show Summer 2013!!!

DSMMQG was accepted for a show at the Gallery in the Round in Ames, for Summer, 2013. (note: you will have your quilts back in time to deliver them to Iowa State Fair for hanging). Entries will be juried by one of the rotating curators of Gallery in the Round, herself a modern quilter.

Gallery in the Round, a Unitarian Universalist fellowship, has is a total of 90 linear feet for us to fill, along with Lucite display cubes. The “modern quilt” aesthetic will complement the modern architecture of the buiding quite well.  A few views of the gallery:

For the show, members are asked to prepare 1-3 submissions that exhibit some aspects of the “modern quilt” aesthetic, including:

* focus on functional quilting * alternative block structures or lack of visible block  structure * inspired by modern art and architecture * bold colors, solid-color fabrics, graphic prints * increased use of negative space

* asymmetry in quilt design * reinterpreted traditional blocks * embracing simplicity and minimalism * improvisational piecing * gray or white as neutrals

The purpose of the exhibit is to share the “new aesthetic” with viewers who may have preconceived ideas of what quilts and quilted items look like.

A few of the details we know at this time:  At the same time quilts should exhibit originality of design, stretching the bounds of the new aesthetic beyond just following the latest kinds of patterns or using the latest styles of fabrics.  Quilted works may express humor, but “cutesy” elements should be avoided.  Functional items such as purses, aprons and pillows can be entered.  If they are show-worthy, we will find a way to display them securely!  Crib-size quilts or wall-hangings should have a sleeve sewn in the back. Bed-size quilts can also be entered, with the understanding that they might be folded over a hanging rod/dowel.  Your work will be insured against damage. “Please do not touch” signs will be prominent.  Entry forms will be forthcoming as the event approaches. A small fee ($10) per entry will cover materials used to hang the show, transportation costs, and publicity, and will be administered by Doris. 

The deadline for submission will be May 15. 

The Gallery will host a reception for you to bring your friends, coworkers, neighbors and family to come see your work and celebrate your quilts!

More details to come as time gets closer...

Show Girls

Several of our Des Moines MQG members are also members of DMAQG, and submitted projects to the show.  It was fun to see MQG member’s names jump out at me as I walked around the show.

This is Katie’s snails trail:

Penny’s New Wave quilt made primarily from Denyse Schmidt fabrics:

Tricia’s Wonky Log Cabin quilt:

Her pillow, made for our Pillow Swap this Spring:

Lola Z’s pineapple mini:

Doris's twin-size Modern Fortune quilt:

Janeen’s very fun Dr. Seuss Christmas quilt:

And this beautiful art quilt, by Janet, entitled Hawaiian Hospitality:

And, I know there were others…but these are the few I managed to get shots of, sorry if I missed your quilt(s) please feel free to adda pick to the blog or the flickr site of your entry!

There were several quilts in the juried AQS exhibits that were of a very modern aesthetic.  At least two wonky log-cabin style quilts, and a few pieces with the feel of a Gees Bend quilt.  Modern or Traditional, the theme for the day was superb craftsmanship and well-executed quilting!

Have you HEARD THE NEWS?!?

The First Modern Quilt Guild Convention will be held in february 2013 in Austin, Texas:

http://www.quiltcon.com/

December -- and Art Quilt Exhibit in AMES

Please note, we will NOT have a meeting in December-- 


Our next meetings are November 17, 2011 and January 19, 2012. 

If this leaves you without something to do on December 15th, maybe you want to check out this exhibit in Ames (the artist is the mother of DSMMQG Member, Greta Anderson!)

Material Matrixes: Bar-code Inspired Quilts

Deborah Melton Anderson of Columbus, Ohio

Gallery in the Round

1015 Hyland Ave.

Ames, Iowa

THROUGH Dec. 22

Deborah says: "My quilts might be described as fabric collages....The construction process is satsifying physically and mentally...The molding of the basic image involves an emotional response to a place, an object, an event, etc.; an excitement that the fabrics elicit from me when combined with other fabrics; an on-going challenge to create an engaging composition that draws the viewer into the work rather than capturing a mere momentary interest; and lastly, a personal challenge to put aside a formulaic vision in favor of a search for a new visual language..." 

See photos that Greta Provided in the album I posted on our site here today!

Greta says:  "In short, my mother is an artist. She has been prolifically creating in fabric for four decades and has a resume of artistic achievement and involvement that is umpteen pages long. I think of her as "cutting edge" (no pun intended) but completely without pretension: she simply sees the world from a unique perspective. She was among the pioneers of the use of photo transfers in art quilts (no "mug shots" need apply! she photographs surfaces, textures, colors, etc. to makeher own fabrics). Her recent work, shown in this exhibit, reflects her "inspiration" by postal bar-codes and QR codes (OK, who but a NON-categorical thinker would be inspired by bar codes?). Ever fascinated by the abstract, by patterns and color, my mom has taught me to see beauty everywhere--and what else can I say?! I love her for it (and for many other gifts)."

ARTIST'S WEBSITE: http://www.debanderson.net/

Posted by Doris Brunnette, President

Modern Quilt Show

Going to be in or near Kansas City on October 1?  If so, check out our Neighbor Guild's Show on the Quad...  

More info here.