Quilt challenges expect a quilter to come up with a quilt in the given theme and with the specified rules, fabrics, etc. The entire process demands creative thinking of higher levels. Though I have been making quilts since almost five years now, I never dared to participate in a quilt challenge ever.
This time I pushed myself into a quilt challenge titled "TSI-DQ (The Square Inch- Desi Quilters) Challenge" with the theme "Birds of Paradise". As a part of the challenge we were give eight fabrics in specific colours and we have to make an art quilt of 20"*20". The given fabrics were to be used on at least 50% of the area of the art quilt. Any style, any technique of quilt-making and any interpretation of the theme was acceptable.
Breaking my head in such a domain was a huge learning curve for me. I had to spend almost two months to boil down upon my interpretation of the theme. The process was super-exciting especially as I was trying a new technique this time. Was a lot of fun. Here is the title of my quilt and the artist statement:
Name of the Quilt: Freedom
Artist statement: “Freedom” represents ‘Bird of Paradise’ symbolically, which is the source of conceptualization of this quilt, through QAYG (Quilt As You Go) method. Both the individual as well as collective meanings of the words ‘bird’ (freedom, spirit, metamorphosis) and ‘paradise’ (a place of contentment and bliss) have been put together in this quilt. These emotions are illustrated through the technique like fabric flaps hanging out of the quilt base. The overall quilting journey is a place of contentment and bliss for me and creating this one was no exception to the same. The triangles popping out of the quilt base are denoting birds.
As many as 101 entries to the challenge were displayed in a 'Art Quilt Exhibition' brought by Quilt India Foundation at Sri Sankara Hall, Chennai during Jan 24-27, 2025. I could not witness my quilt in the exhibition in person, but thanks for #Tina Katwal (Owner of TSI and Office Bearer of QIF) got an opportunity to see it through her IG live session.
In general (written or unwritten) rule for any quilt / textile exhibits is 'do not touch' the exhibits. But I believe that without touching a quilt the experience of the quilt is incomplete. And here I had taken special efforts to conceptualise and create those handing triangles all the more demanding the need to touch and fell the textural art. Hence requested Tina to put a special instruction near the quilt that I would love the visitors to touch n feel those hanging triangles of my quilt!, which Tina very willingly accepted and the volunteers were doing the needful. Indeed thankful to TSI and QIF for this opportunity to explore new me within me. Am looking forward to the next year's challenge.
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