every odd-numbered year, I eagerly await the summer drive to The Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio, to view some of the best contemporary, fine art quilts from around the world. It is always a thrill to see these incredible works of art up close.
In 1979, fine-art quilt exhibitions did not exist. Three quilters—Nancy Crow, Françoise Barnes, and Virginia Randles—plus many others, were having their entries rejected from quilt shows for not being traditional ‘bed quilts.’ These women created Quilt National as a venue that recognized quilts were to be admired hanging on walls and not necessarily made for beds.
6' of Chaos
52½" × 35½" JILL KERTTULA CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Purchase Prize sponsored by Aurifil
Original photography, custom-printed fabric, non-traditional commercial fabric, yarn, batting; fabric…