Contemporary Quilting Exhibition is Sew Impressive

Stitched and Bound will be opened by Western Australian textile artist Megan Kirwan-Ward at 6.00pm on Friday, 3 September 2010.

The exhibition takes place every second year, with three jurors selecting the quilts to be exhibited.

City of Melville Curator Soula Veyradier said the exhibition, presented by the West Australian Quilters’ Association, was a strong representation of textile art.

“A diversity of materials has been used and the exhibition takes quilt-making to new dimensions, with the use of plastic, distressed cloth, felt or other materials being incorporated into the artworks. The sizes vary as do the materials used by each artist,” she said.

“Stitched and Bound demonstrates a fantastic exploration of the textile medium, using innovative techniques and a diversity of art practices. I am confident this exhibition will have broad appeal.”

Convenor for Stitched and Bound Dr Jan Dunstan said that part of the exhibition criteria was that each quilt had to consist predominantly of fabric-like material and be constructed of at least two complete and distinct layers, stitched together throughout the piece.

“Within this framework, artists are making personal statements through the use of unconventional materials, techniques and ideas that challenge the usual concept of the ‘quilt’ as something one sleeps under. In fact, in this exhibition, the ‘quilt’ is the artists’ canvas and they have drawn inspiration from many sources,” Dr Dunstan said.

Stitched and Bound will showcase the work of the following 20 Western Australian artists: Ginevra Bird; Marjorie Coleman; Marilyn Davis-Moore; Ruth de Vos; Michele Eastwood; Elisebeth Franklin-Messer; Margery Goodall; Cherry Johnston; Stephanie Knudsen; Trish Little; Rosie Manning; Jan Mullen; Lyn Nixon; John Parkes; Marianne Penberthy; Gail Putz; Lisa Repsevicius; Hania Roe; Margaret Ruane; and Vanessa Wallace.

The artists will give talks to the public at 1.30pm on Saturday 4 September and at 1.30pm on Wednesday 22 September. To attend the opening night, please RSVP by Wednesday 1 September 2010 to claire.bushby@melville.wa.gov.au or phone 9364 5666.