“The Art of the Quilt” Opens at Piedmont Arts, Oct. 26

For the 11th year, colorful quilts and fiber arts created by artists from across the Southeast will be on display at Piedmont Arts as part of the museum’s biennial invitational exhibition, The Art of the Quilt.

The exhibit will be on display at the museum October 27 – December 29, 2018.

Forty-eight artists will take part in this fiber arts showcase co-curated by master quilter Linda Fiedler and quilter Betty Blessin.

Themed “Trends,” this year’s exhibit features hand- and machine-stitched quilts, contemporary textiles, and clothing – including a wedding dress.

“This exhibit is an indicator of the creative energy among artists who are currently making quilts,” said Fiedler. “Having evolved beyond the quilt as just a bed covering, these artists approach quiltmaking much as an artist approaches painting — by combining idea, color, material, composition, form, texture, and spontaneity to express their personal interpretation of their world."

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

(L–R): Betty Blessin, Executive Director Heidi Pinkston and Lind Fiedler at the opening of The Art of the Quilt in 2016.

Fiedler is an award-winning quiltmaker 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. Fiedler’s quilts hang in private and corporate collections throughout the country.

Blessin is a fiber artist who creates bright and colorful pieces for use and display. Her work ranges from wall hangings, to bed coverings, to scarves, necklaces and Christmas ornaments. She is a former Studio 107 artist and her work can be found in Piedmont Arts’ #ShopLocal Gallery.

Works by Virginia Foothills Quilters Guild will be on display in the museum’s Lynwood Artists Gallery. The Virginia Foothills Quilters Guild, a Piedmont Arts Community Partner, was formed to create, stimulate, maintain and report an interest in all matters pertaining to the making, collecting and preserving of quilts and to establish and promote educational endeavors through quilting. The Guild meets weekly at Piedmont Arts.

Piedmont Arts will host an Opening Reception in honor of these exhibits on Friday, October 26, 2018 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm at the museum. Piedmont Arts members, prospective members, artists and guests are invited to attend. This reception is sponsored by Virginia Consortium of Quilters, Virginia Foothills Quilters Guild, Betty Blessin, The Bunco Babes, Ann Cardwell, Nancy and Milt Davis, Joan and Monty Montgomery, Betty Lou and Ron Pigg, Nancy Sprinkle and Lynwood Artists. Please RSVP attendance to 276.632.3221 or online here.

Image: Eileen Doughty, Gold Leaf Tea