Springville Museum of Art hosts Annual Quilt Show
The Springville Museum of Art’s quilt show is traditionally one of their most popular exhibits, and for good reason. Now in its thirty-seventh year, the Quilt Show is displaying 94 hand-made quilts.
“It is the only type of art in which the average person likes abstract designs,” Museum Director Vern Swanson said of quilting. “Half of all quilts are simple designs, while the other half might be log cabins, wedding rings, or starbursts.”
Though traditional quilt patterns freckle the exhibit, patrons should expect more than the simple quilts that bedeck neatly-made beds. These quilts are ornate and beautiful, requiring levels of foresight, imagination and technique comparable to all other visual arts.
Though the technical aspect of creating a quilt often dominates the final product, the quilts were juried to present more than just great technique.
“We are not just interested in the craft, such as how accurate the stitches are, and so forth; we are interested in the artistic vitality. We get a lot of quilts with good artistic expression, and people have come to expect it,” said Swanson.
The jurying process is much like those used to judge paintings or sculptures. Three jurors examine each quilt, with the names of the creators covered to prevent personal bias. Jurors look for meticulous workmanship, creativity and unique design, among other things. Each quilter recieves three evaluation sheets with constructive feedback, so they can improve for next year’s show.
Fifteen awards were given out this year. Winners included: Donna Moyer, best of show award for Consider the Lilies; Judy M. Hainsworth, best hand quilting award for Chesapeake Rose; Helen Williams Butler, excellence in machine quilting for Sophronia; and Debbie Black, education director’s award for English Tiles.
The Quilt Show is co-sponsored by the Springville Museum of Art and the Utah Valley Quilt Guild. The show will be on display through Sept. 1, and quilters will be available on Wednesday, August 4, from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. and Friday, August 6, from 11 a,m, to 2 p,m, at the Museum. Entrance is free.
The museum is located at 126 E. 400 S. in Springville. For hours and more information, visit www.smofa.org or call 801-489-2727.
