July 11, 2018
Story by Micah Oelze
Courtesy photos
The National Quilt Museum’s annual traveling show “New Quilts from an Old Favorite” featuring the Flying Geese block will be on display from July 16-Aug. 4 in The Shafer Art Gallery. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is free.
The gallery will also hold a Quilter’s Night on July 19 at 6:30 p.m. All quilters and those interested in quilting are invited to attend an evening of conversation and refreshments. Shafer Art Gallery Director Dave Barnes will give a special tour of the exhibit.
“The exhibit has become a popular tradition that allows us to display the work of some of the very best contemporary quilt makers in the world today,” Barnes said.
Quilters from 12 U.S. states and Canada created mesmerizing quilts taking the Flying Geese block to incredible new heights.
This year, Susan Mogan of Mobile, Ala. took first place with her stunning quilt titled “Migration Patterns.” This piece combines the traditional art of quilting with modern art. Its bright colors draw the viewer in, and its detail in both the pattern and the stitching hold them in admiration of the artistic talent used in creating this award-winning quilt.
“The large colored triangles were placed to suggest the staggered positions of the geese as they fly, with the colors suggesting the change from warm weather to cold and back again in the endlessly repeating ancient dance of life and migration that reminds us of the flow and changing seasons of our own lives,” Mogan said.
Second place was awarded to Robin Gausebeck of Rockford, Ill. For her quilt “Saturday Night at the Honk-y Tonk Saloon.” Judy Stokes of Columbus, Miss. and Colleen Eskridge of Boone, N.C. collaborated to create the third-place quilt “Soaring to New Heights” which was inspired by military airshow photos. “I Don’t Know If I’m Coming or Going” by Leslie Johnson of Arvada, Colo. captured fourth place with “Jacob’s Plumage” by Patricia A. Hobbs of Macomb, Ill. taking fifth.
“I believe quilting is a traditional art form that truly defines the American experience,” Barnes said. “We are always excited to promote and celebrate it.”
Finalist quilts featured in the exhibit include:
“On the Wings of Eternity,” by Jean Brueggenjohann of Columbia, Mo.
“Welkom Nederland,” by Tere D'Amato of Mashpee, Mass.
“Destination Unknown,” by Mary Kay Davis of Sunnyvale, Calif.
“Celebration,” by Gail Garber of Rio Rancho, N.M.
“Twirly Birds,” by Julia Graber of Brooksville, Miss.
“Poursuite d'oie sauvage à Paris (Wild Goose Chase in Paris),” by Charlene Hearst of Toronto, Canada
“Fly Away Home,” by Anita M. Karban-Neef of Cary, Ill.
“Silly Goose,” by Chris Lynn Kirsch of Watertown, Wis.
“Glad Plaid Goose Dance,” by Ann L. Petersen of Surprise, Ariz.
“Lucy Goosy @ the Improv,” by Katie Pidgeon of Toronto, Canada
“Chilly Goose, No Feathers,” by Alicia Sterna of Surprise, Ariz.
“Farm Alarm,” by Sue Turnquist of Tifton, Ga.
“Moonlight Migration,” by Jane Zillmer of Mercer, Wis.
Quilters wishing to enter future “New Quilts from an Old Favorite” contests can request an entry form by visiting the museum’s website at www.quiltmuseum.org. Upcoming themes include the Oak Leaf and Reel in 2019 and Wheel of Fortune in 2020. The National Quilt Museum is a non-profit institution located in downtown Paducah, Ky. and is supported in part by the Kentucky Arts Council.