St. Charles quilter in elite contest
Submitted by American Quilter’s Society
St. Charles-area quilter has been selected as a semifinalist for the 2011 AQS Quilt Show & Contest, July 13-16 at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tenn.
Rachel Wetzler has been chosen to display the quilt, “Chromatic Transitions,” along with 296 others in the annual contest, now in its third year.
Three quilting authorities will judge this elite group in Knoxville, awarding first-, second- and third-place prizes in five categories, along with five overall awards. Winners will be announced before the opening of the show at 8:40 a.m. Wednesday, July 13 in the Exhibit Hall at the Knoxville Convention Center. Cash awards totaling more than $44,000 will be granted, with prizes including $10,000 for the Best of Show and $5,000 each for the Best Hand, Machine and Longarm Workmanship.
Regardless of how “Chromatic Transitions” places in the final judging, all semifinalists’ quilts will be displayed at the show, which is expected to draw more than 15,000 people.
AQS Founder and President Meredith Schroeder said, “Quilts are no longer just meant for the bed. This show features quilts as art; it exemplifies the creativity of today’s quiltmakers.”
Quilts were entered in this international contest from 36 U.S. states and six other countries. The quilt artists employ a wide variety of techniques and design methods ranging from traditional designs, such as the Log Cabin and Lone Star, to original painted and embellished motifs. Some of the special exhibits that will be featured along with the contest quilts include: Rogue Art Quilters’ River Quilt; AQS Authors’ Exhibit; New Quilts from an Old Favorite: Orange Peel; 2012 Pilgrim/Roy Challenge; and Alzheimer’s Illustrated: From Heartbreak to Hope.
The American Quilter’s Society hosts four shows annually, each with its own quilt contest. Besides the Knoxville show, AQS hosts other prestigious shows in Paducah, Ky.; Des Moines, Iowa; and Lancaster, Penn. For more information, visit www.americanquilter.com.