Although bearing scant resemblance to what most of us grew up with -- homey, patchwork crazy quilts or symmetrically-patterned blankets with quaint names like Double Wedding Ring and Log Cabin -- Studstill's works do have roots in old-fashioned quiltmaking. In fact, her first quilt was a traditional Nine Patch she made under her grandmother's tutelage when she was 16. Studstill is now known for her art quilts, but her inspiration remains a fundamental passion for cloth, pattern, and color. That passion is shared by thousands of other Texans who make quilts for a hobby, a profession, or even from a self-confessed obsession. Many of these devotees who love quilts for being so much more than the sum of their pieces, will converge in Houston starting October 29 for the International Quilt Festival, the largest annual quilt show in the world. Last year the festival drew 51,000 afficionados who attended how-to classes, shopped for supplies, and visited more than 30 specialty exhibits. Of all those exhibits, serious quiltmakers will be focused on the one hosted by the International Quilt Association. The IQA show will give out $67,500 in prize money for the top quilts in 16 categories, including $10,000 awarded to the Best of Show quilt. Along with other quilt exhibitions such as Visions in San Diego, California, Quilt National in Athens, Ohio, and the annual American Quilter's Society show in Paducah, Kentucky, the Houston expo is a competitive international showcase. But whatever the venue, quilts by Texas artists can always be counted on to rank among the best. In this issue, we'll introduce you to some of these homegrown textile treasures and the artists behind them. We'll also point you in the direction of quilt shows in your area, explain how you can appraise the value of quilts you might own, and provide information on how to have a quilt custom-made for you. |
of Pipe Creek, Texas, 20 miles outside of San Antonio, is a nationally acclaimed artist. Maybe you've
never heard of her, but her work has been exhibited far and wide --
from the Smithsonian's Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C. to the American
Craft Museum in New York City to the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan. She has
won two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships, one of which, at
$15,000, is among the highest possible awards. Museums, galleries, and
corporations across America have collected this native Texan's art,
which is now sold almost exclusively through an Atlanta gallery located
in the swank neighborhood of Buckhead. And though Studstill was trained
as a painter, you won't see oils or watercolors in these halls of prestige
and power. Her masterpieces are all quilts.
