Iowa Art Quilters Association and Fiber Artists Exhibit Opens May 1

The Fairfield Art Association announces the opening of a new exhibit by "Iowa Art Quilters and Fiber Artists" on Friday May 1st. Eight recognized Iowa artists will be included in this display in the Main Gallery at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center. A reception for the artists and guests is 6 – 9 PM. 

The Art Quilt Exhibit artists include:  Karen Anne Babcock Grimes, Sue Kluber, Judy Ludwick, Wendy Read, Barbara Riggs, Kathryn Roe, Jean Taft, and Patricia Weber. Up to 50 original art quilt works will be on display, in many sizes and styles, many are for sale.

Iowa Art Quilters began meeting in 2005 in Grinnell to encourage and support one another in making art quilts. A simple definition of an art quilt is “a quilt you hang on the wall” instead of a quilt you lay on the bed. Art Quilts are designed and constructed by the artist and are original. Art quilts may be abstract or representational, portraying landscapes, faces or objects, or modifying traditional quilt blocks. 

Usually art quilts are considered more decorative than functional, with artists frequently using a variety of fabrics, threads and embellishments such as beads, sequins, buttons, metal, wood and other materials. Surface design, like altering the fabric itself, is a common feature. One might add or remove color using dye, paint, or bleach with brushes, stamps or stencils. Artists might go further by selectively damaging the cloth with fire or rust, or less drastically by folding, scrunching or gathering the cloth.

"Dragon's Hoard" Art Quilt by Wendy Read