Back in the day when I could think, I took a few experimental blocks and worked medallion style from the inside out. So much fun it was to do wonky, no pattern and just pure creating with color and fabric. I said to myself, all the world celebrates Gees Bend and Gwen Marston, I can at least celebrate me. And so I did. I wanted to share with my friends at the Guild my idea of the freedom of expression with no rules. So, I put this quilt in the recent quilt show here in Charlotte. And then it happened.....Oh, NO...the quilt police!
At the preview party and presentation of awards, the speaker said that the judges decided that they could do whatever and maybe give 10 first place prizes or none at all. So in this small quilt category, she announced that the judges gave NO first place, NO second place and NO third place. Then she announced this quilt of mine and asked me to come up for the honorable mention ribbon. Now there is no shame in an honorable mention prize, but I was a bit taken back by this presentation. At first I said...oh nice... queen of the bad ones, until 8 other wonderful quilting friends in this section presented themselves with shock and awe and no ribbon at all. After all the laughing and hugging and enjoyment of a great show..the question still begs....This being a quilt show in Charlotte, North Carolina, not a big international show. Is the priority to encourage quilting by judging within the section what is presented or is the priority ............what?
Wouldn't you have loved to be a little mouse in the room with the judges when they came to this catagory?
ReplyDeleteGod bless you all going through this. You may recall that my mom has it & it is heartbreaking. I'm thinking of you.
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