The Textile Show Winners
1st Place
”A Day at the Pacific Ocean” by Jean Orr
I am familiar with Jean’s stunning oil colors and her love of the sea, but this is the first time I’d seen her use mixed media collage to capture a similar view.
Translating a 3d image into a 2d piece of art is always a challenge. Conveying distance, texture, movement, the translucence of the waves and the mood of the moment in fabric is not easy. Jean used fading color to show the waves darkening in the distance, she used machine quilting to accentuate the movement of the waves. The different textures of net in the foreground convey the white caps of waves crashing on the beach. The pink sunset is a nice contrast to the blue of the sea. The piece feels idyllic and I’m sure we would all like lie on that beach, with that perfect view.
2nd Place
”Fish Lake” by Juanita Tatum
This piece captures a beautiful skyline over a lake many of us are familiar with. The dark silhouette of a tree reaching out over the water is stark in detail and highlights the rich texture of the lake surface. I loved the use of scrappy fabrics to capture the waves and white caps. This piece is a great example of making beautiful things from scraps we might otherwise throw away. The sky is beautifully captured in felting. Juanita has successfully captured the scene in fabric.
3rd Place
”Radiant Sun” by Connie Caselius
This beautiful quilt shows great skill in its piecing and has a pleasing use of color placement. The blue color scheme is very relaxing, and the quilt draws you into the turning color blocks. It’s quite mesmerizing.