What is "Modern" Quilting? - need help with a definition!
#21
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 81
"we have added a new Modern Quilting category to the competition."
-- Why? What prompted the committee to add this new category? If you can answer those questions, it could give you direction to come up with the description/definition.
But it may not be possible to prevent a quilt from fitting more than one category. If that's the case then perhaps a requirement for the quilter to pick the best category for the quilt -- but the committee reserves the right to move the quilt to a more appropriate category if the committee feels it was entered into the wrong category. But that will really open up the committee to hurt feelings and cries of favoritism.
Not knowing what the rest of the categories and descriptions are, I'm with Holice on this one.
-- Why? What prompted the committee to add this new category? If you can answer those questions, it could give you direction to come up with the description/definition.
But it may not be possible to prevent a quilt from fitting more than one category. If that's the case then perhaps a requirement for the quilter to pick the best category for the quilt -- but the committee reserves the right to move the quilt to a more appropriate category if the committee feels it was entered into the wrong category. But that will really open up the committee to hurt feelings and cries of favoritism.
Not knowing what the rest of the categories and descriptions are, I'm with Holice on this one.
#22
I have never entered my quilt in any show. There was a call by The Modern Quilt Guild for the first Quiltcon to be held in a few months in Austin, Texas. I was tempted to enter one of my quilts and then I got lost in the categories. I think my quilts do not fit anywhere. LOL. I don't care, I like them none the less.
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
In googling "modern quilt guild" and scrolling thru many sites I noticed several things and will jump in with my two cents here.
Many of these quilts now appear to use large prints in previously (10 years ago) unpopular color combinations, yet these prints are 'all over' the fabric world today. ('Somebody' is buying them! That's good!)
Many of the quilters appear to be younger than the average quilter previously (12-15 years ago) seen in the survey in QNMazagine whixh was 54 years old. (Yippee!! New blood always regenerates.)
Many of these quilts seem to be made in styles highly reminiscent of 'leading edge' quilters of the late 1980s and mid 1990s, such as Johnathan Shannon, Katie Pasquini, Yvonne Porcella, Nancy Crow, Ruth McDowell, Terrie Mangat, and tens and tens of others I can't think of off the top of my head at the moment. Their quilts were award-winning, controversial, discussion-provoking then, and the same styles are so now, apparently.
And then there was the "discovery" of the Gees Bend Quilters in the very early 2000s.......!!!
It seems there really isn't much "new" under the sun. I, personally, love it!! (...though I may still be focused on "traditional" blocks done in "traditional" colors for the most part, in my personal quilt journey. )
Jan in VA
Many of these quilts now appear to use large prints in previously (10 years ago) unpopular color combinations, yet these prints are 'all over' the fabric world today. ('Somebody' is buying them! That's good!)
Many of the quilters appear to be younger than the average quilter previously (12-15 years ago) seen in the survey in QNMazagine whixh was 54 years old. (Yippee!! New blood always regenerates.)
Many of these quilts seem to be made in styles highly reminiscent of 'leading edge' quilters of the late 1980s and mid 1990s, such as Johnathan Shannon, Katie Pasquini, Yvonne Porcella, Nancy Crow, Ruth McDowell, Terrie Mangat, and tens and tens of others I can't think of off the top of my head at the moment. Their quilts were award-winning, controversial, discussion-provoking then, and the same styles are so now, apparently.
And then there was the "discovery" of the Gees Bend Quilters in the very early 2000s.......!!!
It seems there really isn't much "new" under the sun. I, personally, love it!! (...though I may still be focused on "traditional" blocks done in "traditional" colors for the most part, in my personal quilt journey. )
Jan in VA
#24
All true, Jan, and don't forget Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr. Their FunQuilts Studio has been renamed Modern Quilt Studio to get in on the 'new' trend of what they've always done. They're "all in" with the MQ movement. Denyse Schmidt is another.
#25
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Piedmont Virginia in the Foothills of the Blue Ridge Mtns.
Posts: 8,562
And Debra Lunn/Mike Mrowka! See, there are so many!
Jan in VA
Last edited by Jan in VA; 09-11-2012 at 05:49 PM.
#26
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Maryland
Posts: 2,376
From MayInJersey and Tashana's posts ....
Modern quilts and quilters:
Make primarily functional rather than decorative quilts
I was surprised at this ... traditional quilts were very functional ... and to me, it seems that the more modern quilts have headed towards art and decorative, non-functionality.
Yes, JIMHO!
(and a further endorsement as to why clear definitions are important!)
Jackie Gering, co-author of Quilting Modern had a beautiful gallery of work here:
http://jacquietps.wordpress.com/
And her co-author Katie Pedersen also has a wonderful blog here:
http://sewkatiedid.wordpress.com/
But it is hard to corner a style and say 'modern', 'traditional', 'art', etc. I would NOT want to be the one making those decisions. I'd rather just enjoy the show.
Last edited by sparkys_mom; 09-12-2012 at 03:54 AM.
#27
Seeing the list of definitions for a "modern quilt" and thinking of Amish quilts, many of the same apply. They are simple, frequently geometric, functional, use negative space, and plain bright colors, but certainly would not be considered modern. You'll have to be really, really clear in your standards so quilters are not confused about what you're looking for.
#28
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,083
Bargello quilts and paper pieced were invented at later dates . They are not traditional. Don't know the dates for them introduced into the quilting world. Crystals and glued on embellishments are modern to the quilt world with the invention of waterproof glues. Hope this will help with the definition of modern quilts. Watercolors and pens, zen tangled designs would be considered modern I think.
We entered a block contest where rule stated must bea traditional block,...but the winner was a star that was paper pieced...I won't enter their contest t his year!
We entered a block contest where rule stated must bea traditional block,...but the winner was a star that was paper pieced...I won't enter their contest t his year!
#30
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Madison, Ohio
Posts: 226
To keep is simple: We "all" understand what a traditional quilt is. Anything "outside" the "traditional box" is a "modern quilt." To be fair to your entrants: Have separate categories for hand quilting, domestic machine quilting, mid arm quilting, and long arm quilting. This is the thing that really bugs me at quilt shows - "lumping" all into just one category. By having more quilting method categories will automatically categorize many of the quilts. Also, as long as I'm at it: Would love to see another category that includes quilts quilted by other than the maker of the quilt top. Really irritates the crap out of me to see professionally quilted quilts win "Best of Show" awards when the maker of the top sent it out to be "professionally" quilted.
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