I don’t understand a lot of quilt competitions because often they seem to reward technique but not original thought. One of the big exceptions is Quilt National. The legend goes that this biennial, international quilt show began as an outlet for contemporary quilters whose work was not understood or appreciated by the traditional quilters who reigned supreme over the quilting competitions in the US.
Over the years I have had my frustrations with the quilts selected for Quilt National. Sometimes the quilts go in the opposite direction in the extreme–wildly sloppy craftsmanship, embellished to death amid a sea of overworked surface design. It’s as if the jurors were rewarding the pieces that most reject the functional quilt. But this year we have reason to be optimistic as two of the jurors have bodies of work that include exquisite examples of contemporary quilting.
This has to be the most competitive quilt competition anywhere, but I really think it’s a great opportunity to submit something, just to have a deadline and a new goal. The deadline is Sept 19.
I submitted a very meaningful quilt I made four years ago before I understood what the competition is about and I received the nicest rejection letter ever. The letter said something like almost everyone whose quilt was accepted that year got a rejection letter several times before that and that I should submit again. Bill submitted the above quilt and was also rejected. A month later Country Living Magazine filled an entire page with that quilt and four years later, it’s still one of our most popular quilts.
This year I’m going to try again. I will post some ideas about some origami box or something I will make out of my rejection letter. Hey, that could be the other competition–what creative thing can you make from your Quilt National rejection letter? I would love to have readers who submit entries to Quilt National post their entries here so we can celebrate everyone just being brave enough to enter. We’ll cheer on those who make it and those who don’t.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
The woman who was behind those wonderful rejection letters passed away on August 11 (Hilary Fletcher, I believe there is a tribute page at http://www.saqa.com ) Entering does indeed take bravery. I’m working on my entry as we speak.
I absolutely love the quilt pictured here. Fabulous!
Oh beauty! I thought about submitting this year, but the quilt I would submit was made for a photo class, and is therefore considered student work and not allowed. Any suggestions for a young quilter who hopes to enter someday?
All I can say is KEEP TRYING! I haven’t submitted to Quilt National but have been rejected by other “experts”. Years ago my pictures were rejected by Quilters Newsletter magazine but resulted in a 2 page spread in Quilting International (now defunct). An embellished skirt didn’t win the Hoffman challenge but went on tour for a year. At some point in time you’ll receive the validation you richly deserve. Don’t give up!
Response to Jessa’s request for advice,
Thanks for your post. I would look at the work of the jurors to see if your aesthetic would be appreciated by them. I’m a minimalist of sorts and if the jurors were super-over-the-top surface design, embellish every inch types, I wouldn’t be trying this round. Also I think the essence of the competition is that they want to see quilts that redefine what a quilt is. They have a couple of thousand entries. They want to see something that is just on the fringes of the definition of quilt, I think. I’m all about Big Ideas. This process is purely visual–text or narrative doesn’t seem to matter. I would choose a technique or idea that is really compelling to you and take it as far as you can take it. At least that’s what I’m doing. Stay tuned for the submission pictures to come…
Thank you. Especially thinking about what sort of style the jurors go for, I never would have thought of that. I’m very into the conceptual end of art, and if the jurors aren’t willing to take the time to sit in front of my quilt and think about what it means, they’ll miss out and it’ll never have a chance. I’ve only ever entered work in a student art show, but perhaps between now and QN 2009, I’ll try entering my work elsewhere. I’ve been told that I should enter widely, and I’ve seen listings for shows in Quilting Arts, and various media in Art Calendar. Do people generally make pieces specific to a show or competition, or do they make stuff on their own and look for places where it will fit the bill?