SAQA show at 2014 Festival of Quilts in Birmingham UK

more art quilts at the festival!

By Patricia Belyea

BIRMINGHAM UK  Yesterday afternoon I stewarded at the SAQA (Studio Art Quilt Associates) exhibit at The Festival of Quilts. With over 3000 members worldwide, SAQA offers a high level of support for the professional development of art quilters. As an emerging art quilter, I appreciate many of the benefits of the group.

Selected works from the international People & Portraits show hung in the busy booth. Visitors appreciated the high level of concept and craftsmanship of the art quilts.

SAQA Exhibit at The Festival of Quilts 2014
SAQA Exhibit at The Festival of Quilts 2014

Before my SAQA assignment, I strolled around The Festival and discovered two more art quilt exhibits that I’d never seen! Eszter Bornemisza from Hungary displayed intriguing quilts and hangings that took textile art to new heights.

Eszter Bornemisza at The Festival of Quilts 2014

Eszter Bornemisza at The Festival of Quilts 2014

In her This American Life exhibit, Susan Shie from the US hung her campy quilts that tell stories about current events or her personal life. Susan took the quilt universe by storm as a recently graduated art student who won Best of Show at Quilt National 1987. Today she continues to teach, exhibit and create non-stop.

Susan Shie at The Festival of Quilts 2014

Here are close-up from Susan’s Royal Wedding | Knight of Wooden Spoons quilt from her Kitchen Tarot series:

Susan Shie at The Festival of Quilts 2014

This is my last post from this year’s Festival of Quilts. It’s been a whirlwind and wonderful experience for me to meet so many new quilters and see so many great quilts. Tally ho!