March 2021 Guild Meeting

Thanks to everyone who entered our 2021 Inland Empire Modern Quilt Guild Challenge. The theme for our quilt challenge was Sounds & Voices, the only requirement was a size restriction of the longest side measuring 24 inches. We hope you enjoy taking another look at these wonderful and thought provoking quilts!

Quilt Title:  Silence, Stillness, Calm, Peace
Quilter: Sharon Bergh
Dimensions: 14-3/4″ by 10-3/4″

A year after my dad passed (15 years ago now) I was up in the local mountains on a quilt retreat. One morning there was a magnificent blanket of snow. Walking around outside, I remember the calm I felt when I stopped to take in the beauty. The silence, stillness and peace enveloped me. This is a memory I revisit from time to time.

Quilt Title: Speech Acts for a Dying World: 
in memory of the 500,000 dead from Covid-19
Quilter: Elizabeth Eastmond
Dimensions: 19″ high by 20″ wide

This quilt began at QuiltCon, one year ago and was finished for this challenge.  While the original design was square, I reduced the visual frame to 19″ high by 20″ wide: 19 for Covid-19, and 20 for the year 2020. A restorative walk on the beach, with its crashing waves, cries of gulls, and floating random human conversations, brought to mind Peter Gizzi’s poem with its allusions to a year’s time (“hunter overhead / bear at the pole”) and the constant “sound of names / parade of names” of those who have died. 

Quilt Title: Sound of Silence
Quilter: Debi Gardner
Dimensions: 9″ x 16″

My first ideas for this challenge all seemed so filled with angst regarding political unrest, debates regarding Covid, first amendment rights, etc., I decided I needed quiet and healing vibes. My Zen garden is quiet, peaceful, and calming.

Quilt Title: Voices for Equity Awareness
Quilter: Laura Greene
Dimensions: 24″ x 24″

I created this YinYang quilt because I value individual differences. The end of my 38 year teaching career lead to embracing solitude in my sewing room during Covid times. This brought to the front of my mind the importance of human resources. My life has been enriched by the diversity of my students. Last February I listened to my 7th graders who participate in sexual awareness lessons. In the summer I watched the protests for Black Lives Matter. I want to keep listening to viewpoints of others who have had different experiences that made them the way they are. We are so lucky to live in southern California where the variety of human behavior enriches our lives. 

Quilt Title: Giving Voice to the River (Original Design)
Quilter: Lynn Hanna
Dimensions: 29” x 39”

In 2017, New Zealand granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River. By giving voice to the River our perception changes. Instead of us being a master of the River, treating it as an object to be altered and consumed, we are now part of the River. The River is a family member to be cherished, respected, and protected. The Maori Iei says, “I am the river, the river is me.”

Quilt Title: Sounds of Silence
Quilter: Pat Klassen
Dimensions: 20” x 22”

I went through an empty park while I was on a walk. I was struck by the absence of children playing. I felt the empty swings were the most poignant symbol of the lockdown, standing still and silent while the other playground equipment was blocked off by yellow caution tape. It was all so quiet… So sadly quiet.

Quilt Title: Then Sings My Soul
Quilter: Barbara Mathews
Dimensions: 19-1/2″ x 15-1/2″

During this pandemic isolation, two things came to mind for this challenge. I have about 13 bird feeders of various kinds and about 40 very large trees on my property, consequently, I hear a LOT of bird sounds throughout the day. It amazes me how many variations in the songs and the volume I hear at different times. It’s been very comforting.  The “voices” I hear are from my fabrics. I challenged myself a few years ago, to first and foremost use the fabric in my stash. I save all my selvages and this piece reminds me of fabrics used in other projects. Features selvages, raw-edge applique, and thread painting.

VIEWER’S CHOICE WINNER!! Congrats, Patti!

Quilt Title: Listen to Your Art
Quilter: Patti Reyes
Dimensions: Slightly less than 24”x 24”

In light of our divided politics I wanted to make a quilt that would remind me to check my opinions and be more of a listener. I really tried to incorporate what I’ve learned as a guild member including Lynn Hanna’s presentations on “what makes a modern quilt”. I used bold modern solid colors, negative space and a non-traditional layout. Also I used a science/engineering element, a sound frequency wave, as my subject matter to represent the theme, Sounds and Voices. I used the color wheel from Simone Bradford’s lecture to arrange my colors so that they would really pop. Finally, I was inspired by Sandra Johnson to add embroidery and big stitch quilting. I used only materials from my stash. I had so much fun and I appreciate the guild making this opportunity for me to challenge myself. Features hand embroidery and big stitch quilting.

More Meeting Details

We continued with Lynn Hanna’s ‘What is a Modern Quilt?’ series, Part 4. Lynn showed examples of improvisation quilts. Looking forward to Lynn’s minimalism presentation next month!

Amanda, Director of Partnerships for the MQG, gave a brief tutorial tour of the website. She recapped all the resources on the MQG website that are available to members.

Announcements

MEET & EAT: We have a Meet & Eat scheduled for March 20, 2021. We’ll be meeting from 11 am to 3 pm. Bring your lunch and join in with friends at Shamel Park, Riverside. It is just off the 91 freeway (Arlington Exit). The address is 3650 Arlington Ave, Riverside, California. Please remember to bring your Valentine’s Block Lotto Block. We hope you can join us!

ALTERNATE BLOCK QUILT TOP CHALLENGE: This challenge will run from April through July. Details to follow next month.

DROP-IN SEW:

Please join us for some sewing and socializing! We have recently begun a Mod Denim interest group during Drop-In Sew via a break out room for any members interested. After Sandra Johnson’s presentation last month, we all seem to have denim fever! Future interest groups include: Alternate Grid Blocks, Color Study and Minimalism. We’ll keep you posted and feel free to let Laura Greene know of other ideas for interest groups.

HAPPY QUILTING!! SEE YOU NEXT MONTH!