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September 2012
NW QUILTING EXPO
15
Quilting challenge focuses on the sum of all parts
Quilting is mostly thought of in the physical
sense, but recent efforts have given quilting a
whole newmeaning, as can be seen at the
NW Quilting Expo’s “Twelve by Twelve: The
International Art Quilt Challenge” exhibit.
The challenge features works by 12 quilt
artists from around the world and has been
underway for five years. The showcase will
feature 288 12-inch by 12-inch art quilts created
for two separate challenges, a colorplay
challenge and a theme challenge.
While they are not patches, but small,
individual quilts, the 12-inch by 12-inch
creations are hung side-by-side for display
purposes only. They
remain individual
pieces.
The group is currently
working on a third
challenge that will
produce 144 20-inch by
12-inch art quilts.
The group originally
formed through a
website said Gerrie
Congdon, one of its
members.
“Diane Perin Hock, an
art quilter from California, had the idea to
invite several quilters to joinher in a challenge
project. As an avid blogger, Diane had started
a blog ring of other art quilt bloggers. She
chose from among the bloggers whose work
she enjoyed to invite andendedupwith twelve,
including herself,” Congdon said. “The
participants had not met one another, except
ina couple of cases, and are located around the
world, including participants in Australia,
England, Belgium, Germany and the United
States.”
To accomplish their tasks, the group utilizes
the Internet to track their workflow.
“Diane set up a special blog that each
member can post to. This is where our
challenge themes have been announced, and
on a designated reveal day, photos of our
resulting quilts are posted,” Congdon said.
“The blog has many members and has
expanded into a website: twelveby12.org.”
While a quilting expo in 2011 allowed the
opportunity for nine of the members to meet
each other for the first time, this year’s NW
Quilting Expo in Portland is very special for
Congdon and her fellow Twelve by Twelve
teammate Terry Grant, she said. Both women
are from the Northwest.
“We are both excited to show off the work of
our group to our local friends.Whenour group
began five years ago we never dreamed our
little project would lead to a book and
exhibiting our work around the work,”
Congdon said. “Seeing the quilts all together
is a thrill we never get tired of, andwe are very
excited to share our journey in our home
region.”
The book “Twelve by Twelve: The
InternationalArtQuiltChallenge”—published
by Lark, a division of Sterling Publishing — is
available at Powell’s in Portland and online
through Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The
book features photos and discussions about
quilts from the challenges’ theme series. Each
of the artists contributed a chapter to share
experiences, creations and give suggestions
for making art quilts.
The colorplay series has touched on the
colors pink; blue, white and black; kalauea;
purple and yellow; lorikeet; rusty; eggplant;
brown, sage and blue; chartreuse; spice; gray;
and orange. The themes have included
dandelion, chocolate, community, water,
illumination, shelter, mathematics, chairs,
windows, identity, passion and twelve.
While the group still consists of its original
12 members creating 12 small quilts within its
set challenge parameters, Congdon said they
have inspired others with similar projects to
“play along” with them, creating their own
12-inch by 12-inch works and posting them to
their own blogs.
After the NW Quilting Expo the colorplay
seriesheads toAustralia for another exhibition
while the theme series quilts will be returned
to their individual makers. Andwhile it’s here,
it aims to inspire.
■
See collaborative efforts
through “Twelve by Twelve:
The International Art
Quilt Challenge” exhibit
By
TRAVIS HENDRICKS
Pamplin Media Group
The challenge
features works
by 12 quilt
artists from
around the
world and has
been underway
for five years.
“Twelve by Twelve: The International Art Quilt Challenge” is unique in that 12 separate quilt artists
contribute to a single design. Each 12-inch by 12-inch creation is not a patch, but instead, are small
individual quilts creations that are hung side-by-side on display. They remain unique and individual
pieces in their own right, as well as still functioning as a themed unit overall.
“Seeing the quilts all together is a thrill we never get tired of, and we
are very excited to share our journey in our home region.”
– Gerrie Congdon