Denver National III, May, 2008

"Free Range Fibers"

Co-Chairs:  Rita Faussone and Susan Strickland

"We, as Art Quilters, do not handle being fenced in or force-fed rules.  We are seduced by colors that clash, fibers that are not always natural and an art form that doesn’t have to have borders or bindings.  As Art Quilters, we often use unconventional materials which might poke our fingers or get our hands dirty.

Free range fibers have seduced us into believing that they are good for our creative souls.  They speak to us of vast arrays of texture, color, odd fiber content and deconstructing rules.   

We, at The Art Quilt Association, believe that, if our art form is left unfettered and free, our artistic spirits will be sustained and our creativity will grow."

Size requirements are:   No sides smaller than 24" and no sides larger than 50". 

All work must be ORIGINAL.

NEW SLEEVE REQUIREMENTS:  In August, 2007 Bonny Stonemark demonstrated a Libby Lehman sleeve technique that provides extra room in the sleeve for the pipe and drape used by Mancuso Show Management.  This sleeve style is REQUIRED for this and future Mancuso shows (i.e. Denver National each year and PIQF,2009).  Click here for instructions. 

Entry form, timeline, rules, further information.

CALL FOR ENTRIES

“FREE RANGE FIBERS”

DENVER NATIONAL QUILT FESTIVAL III 2008

Exhibit Dates:  May 1-4, 2008

Deadline: March 15, 2008 NO EXCEPTIONS

THEME:

DESIGN RULES:

• All pieces must be the ORIGINAL work of AQuA members.  No quilt may be constructed using a commercial pattern.  Only MINIMAL amounts of cheater cloth can be used.
• No commercial machine quilting patterns may be used. 
• If the quilt was begun in a workshop, the workshop teacher’s name and technique must be credited on the back.  A workshop teacher’s pattern is not acceptable, only the technique.
• No more than two (2) members may collaborate on the construction of a quilt.  Both members must be AQuA members and both must be listed on the entry form.
• Entries cannot be smaller than 24” x 24” or larger than 50” x 50”. 
• Entries cannot have been shown in ANY prior exhibit.
• Entries must have been made after March 2005.
• No frames, stretcher bars or other heavy supports can be used.
• Diptychs and triptychs are acceptable providing their size, including space between the pieces, remains within the size restrictions.

SLEEVE REQUIREMENTS:  A top sleeve is required on the back of the quilt.  Because Mancuso uses a large pipe hanging system, the quilts will hang much straighter if we use the sleeve construction techniques set forth on page three of this document.  This technique is mandatory for this exhibit.

SLAT:  An appropriate sized slat (see diagram) must be submitted with your quilt for photography purposes.  The slat, with holes drilled in each end, must extend beyond the ends of the sleeve, but not beyond the edges of the quilt.  Write your name and the quilt name on the slat and it will be returned to you, as it is needed only for photography purposes and will not be sent to Mancuso.  Quilts will not be accepted without slats.

LABEL:  A cloth label must be sewn to the bottom left hand side of the quilt back.  That label must include the title of the quilt and your name, address and telephone number.  Please cover your name with fabric or a piece of tape for jurying purposes.  Please see diagram of quilt back on the following page.

ENTRY FEE: There will be a fee of $15.00 for each entry.  The Entry Form is also included as part of this document.

PHOTOGRAPHY:  Professional photography is required for all quilts even if your quilt is not juried into the show.  The photography fee is $20.00 for each quilt, which will include a full shot and one close up.  You will receive a CD with your quilt images.  You may also arrange for your own professional photographer.  A two-color digital image (full & close-up) must be submitted on a CD-ROM.  Digital images must be 300 dpi minimum, at least 4 x 6 and saved in jpeg format.  The CD must be turned in on 3/15/08 with your quilt.

DUE DATE:  March 15, 2008 and absolutely no exceptions will be made.

JURYING:  All quilts will be juried by the juror as soon as possible after photography.  We will request comments and critiques from the juror and those will be given to you when you receive your photography CD.  However, comments and critiques by the juror will not be forthcoming until the pieces NOT selected are notified by mail and the pieces not selected are returned to their makers.  The juror will be asked to select five pieces for our website and will also select the quilt for the postcard image.

MEMBERS CHOICE:  All members present at the March 15, 2008 AQuA meeting will be asked to vote for their one favorite as “member’s choice.”  The Member’s Choice will be featured on the Free Range Fibers Exhibition page on our website.

SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS: Mancuso allows no peanuts or bubble wrap.  All shipped pieces must coexist in the same shipping container, which will be 36” x 5” x 30”.  For this exhibit that means NO frames, stretcher bars or other heavy supports.  The piece needs to be able to be folded without being ruined.  If it cannot be folded, please choose dimensions which are within 36” x 30”.   Surface designs/embellishments need to be securely fastened so that they won’t rub off. 

PET HAIR:  Please be sure that your quilt is free of pet hair when you turn it in.

THE KEEPER’S OF QUILT GUIDELINE REGULATIONS FOR SHOWS will examine each quilt after submission.  It is important to note, that all quilts must meet the above guidelines or they will be rejected from this competition.

SHOW CO-CHAIRMEN:  Rita Faussone and Susan Strickland

Mandatory Sleeve Technique

The Libby Lehman Method

Adapted by Bonny Stonemark

 from Threadplay by Libby Lehman, page 94

1. Cut sleeve 9-12” deep by the width of your quilt top less 1”.  Make a narrow double ¼” hem on each end.  Sleeve will be about 2” narrower than your quilt.
2. Fold sleeve in half lengthwise, wrong sides together.  Steam press.  This is a temporary guide.
3. Open sleeve and fold the edges to the middle pressed line, wrong sides together.  Steam press these new lines very firmly.  These will be your hand-sewing lines.
4. With wrong sides and raw edges together, stitch along the length of the sleeve using a ¼” seam allowance.  Backstitch the start and stop of this seam.
5. Press this center seam to one side, being careful not to press over the hand-sewing lines.
6. Place pressed edge of the sleeve, seam side to the back, ½” from the top edge of the quilt.  The sleeve will be about 1” shorter on each end than the quilt.  Hand stitch along the top of the sleeve, taking a few reinforcing stitches at each corner.

7.  Fold sleeve along lower pressed stitching line.  Pin in place and hand sew along    pressed edge. 

8. Allow sleeve to roll up almost to top edge of quilt.

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Checklist

• Quilt  _____
• Sleeve (as per Bonny Stonemark’s instructions – mandatory) _____
• Entry Form (completely filled in) _____
• Check for entry and photography _____
• Slat with drilled holes and maker’s and quilt name  _____
• If using a different photographer, CD with images _____
• Label with temporary covering over maker’s name(s) ______
• Pet hair removed from quilt _____

Staple Check Here                                                                                                      Quilt # _________

                                                                                                         Juried In____  Out ______

“FREE RANGE FIBERS” ENTRY FORM

DEADLINE:  MARCH 15, 2008 AQuA MEETING

DENVER NATIONAL INVITATIONAL MAY 1-4, 2008

One Quilt per Form—Fill in All Blanks

Artist name_________________________________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________________________

Phone number_________________________ E-mail address ___________________________________________

Quilt name __________________________________________________________________________________

My quilt is the original design of the maker(s): Yes___ No ___ If no my design was inspired by____________________ _______________________________________________________________(photo, artist name, physical object.)

My quilt was begun in a workshop:  Yes ___ No ___  If yes, teacher’s name & technique must be credited on back of quilt.

Is quilt for sale?  Yes ___ No____    If for sale, how much $ ____________.  Jan Warren has volunteered to field calls and refer prospective buyers to the appropriate person.  A contact phone number will be provided on the placard.  Your estimated value for Mancuso insurance purposes $ _______.   Quilts are insured by Mancuso Management while on site and in the shipping process; however, $1,000 is the maximum insurance rider unless you supply an appraisal by a certified quilt appraiser.

Please tell us about your quilt, how it came to be, and how it relates to the Free Range Fiber theme: (75 word maximum – please write clearly and concisely) __________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(If extra space is needed, please use reverse side of form.)

Please give a brief description of the various techniques and/or materials... (i.e. hand painted, hand dyed, silk and tyvek etc.):________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Entry Information

Professional photography is required.  The fee is $20 for each quilt.  A slat is required for photography and will be returned to you as it is not needed for the actual show.  Photography of all quilts is required and the quilts will be photographed prior to the jurying.  If you are using a photographer other than Frank Nored, check here ___.   

Anyone who wishes to use a professional photographer other than Frank Nored is welcome to do so.   If you chose a different photographer, a two-color digital image (full & close-up) must be submitted on a CD-ROM.  Digital images must be 300 dpi minimum, at least 4 x 6 and saved in jpeg format.  The CD must be turned in on 3/15/08 with your quilt.

Entry Fee:  $15.00 for each entry.  Attach your check for the entry fee and for photography made payable to AQuA. 

I have attached my check in the amount of $______ which is for photography and the entry fee.

Or, I have attached by check in the amount of $______ for the entry fee as I am using a different photographer.

Note, only one check is needed for multiple pieces.  If you are submitting multiple pieces, check here ____. 

Sleeve:  All quilts entered must have a top sleeve and have a label sewn on the back.  See appropriate section of Call for Entries regarding guidelines.

Insurance:  Entry of the above item means that I fully understand that AQuA members will take every precaution to protect my quilt in the gathering, shipping and redistribution but I understand that they cannot be responsible for acts of nature beyond their control.  As an entrant, my signature grants AQuA and the Denver National Quilt Festival and its designated sponsors the right to photograph my quilt for publication, advertising or promotional use.

I give my permission for my quilt to travel to other venues should the occasion arrive.  Yes_____  No_____

Signature ____________________________________________________   Date ________________________