"The Art of the Quilt: Celebration of Color" Brings Vibrant Fiber Arts to Piedmont Arts

9th biennial exhibition features over 40 quilt artists from across the Southeast

For the ninth year, quilt artists from across the Southeast will exhibit their work at Piedmont Arts as part of the biennial invitational exhibit, The Art of the Quilt. Themed, Celebration of Color, this year's exhibition features fiber arts in vibrant, stunning hues.

Over 40 quilters will show work in this fiber arts showcase, curated by master quilter Linda Fiedler, which features hand and machine stitched quilts, traditional textiles, clothing, accessories and quilt art.

Fiedler is an award-winning quilt maker from Meadows of Dan, Virginia. Her quilts have won national and international awards and her quilted clothing has appeared in such prestigious shows as the Fairfield Fashion Show and the Hobb’s Fashion Show in Paducah, Kentucky. Fielder's quilts also hang in private and corporate collections throughout the country.

Fiedler said, "Two of my personal goals as a quilt artist are to educate the community to the many wonderful changes which are taking place in the evolution of the quilt, as well as to present the quilts in a gallery setting. Piedmont Arts shares these goals and provides the beautiful gallery setting. I applaud Piedmont Arts for their vision and commitment and look forward with a great deal of anticipation to future quilts and to future shows in their state-of-the-art galleries."

Quilts by local and regional artists will also be on display in Piedmont Arts' Lynwood Artists Gallery as part of a biennial exhibit curated by Martinsville’s own Virginia Foothills Quilters Guild.

"Quilts are a universal art form," said Piedmont Arts Director of Exhibitions Heidi Pinkston. "Many of us have experienced the comfort of a special quilt, passed down from a loved one or made with purpose to celebrate a birth or event. We all know how to utilize quilts for their utilitarian purpose, but The Art of the Quilt offers us a chance to revel in the artistry required to create such amazing and intricate works."

In honor of these exhibits, Piedmont Arts will host a Members-Only Reception on Friday, November 21 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at the museum. Piedmont Arts members, prospective members, artists and guests are invited to attend. This event is sponsored by Virginia Consortium of Quilters, Nancy and Milt Davis, Pat Featherstun, Betty Lou and Ron Pigg, Elizabeth and Dudley Walker, Ellen Wood, In Honor of Pleasant Grove Quilters, Virginia Foothills Quilters Guild, Lynwood Artists and Piedmont Arts.

Related Events
Art @ Lunch

Tue, Dec 2, 2014 • 12 – 1 pm • Piedmont Arts • 215 Starling Ave, Martinsville
Bring your lunch and enjoy a free gallery walk and talk with master quilter Linda Fiedler.

Art @ Happy Hour

Thu, Dec 18, 2014 • 6 – 8 pm • Piedmont Arts • 215 Starling Ave, Martinsville
Gallery walk and talk with quilter and Studio 107 Artist Betty Blessin. Complimentary refreshments. Admission free.

Image: Heavens Sing (detail), Patricia Powers