NZ quilters, artists & schools contend for 'Best of Show'
Tuesday 12 August 2008, 6:44PM
By Craft & Quilt Fair
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The National Association of New Zealand Quilters (NANZQ) will be displaying an inspiring showcase of quilts and fabric art in its annual exhibition ‘Quilts Aotearoa’ from September 18 – 21, 2008 at the Craft & Quilt Fair, Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton.
With a spectacular showcase featuring bed quilts, traditional and innovative wall quilts and mixed media work, the NANZQ Quilts Aotearoa has become a highly anticipated feature of the NZ Craft & Quilt Fair. Open to members of the association, this juried exhibition attracts magnificent creations from some of NZ’s best quilters. Not only will members be vying for ‘Best of Show’ in their respective category and $8,000 worth of prizes, they will be celebrating the exhibition’s fifth birthday. With entries increasing, the exhibition expands each year – intermediate and secondary schools outside the Waikato area are also getting involved, entering the Junior Category.
In last year’s exhibition, Mary Transom of Ohope, Bay of Plenty scooped up four prizes with three of her entries including Best of Show for her spectacular quilt, ‘Shades of Autumn’. A junior quilter who has made waves in the exhibition in past years is Elise Westcott, who was awarded a merit for her quilt, ‘Born Free’ at the exhibition in 2006. Building on her success and honing her skills, Elise entered an amazing quilt in the 2007 exhibition which won the secondary schools section.
This year approximately 130 quilts will be selected for the NANZQ Quilts Aotearoa exhibition, which will be designed by Hamilton’s Marion Manson. Nancy Neilson of Ohope, Bay of Plenty is just one of the quilters hoping her work will be selected for inclusion in the exhibition.
A panel of judges, which will include well-known teacher and skilled Auckland artist Barbara Bilyard, will award prizes for the best bed quilt, traditional wall quilt, innovative wall quilt, fibre connection and for best machine quilting, hand quilting and use of colour. Winners will be announced on first day of the Fair – Thursday, September 18, 2008.
See New Zealand’s best quilters at the Craft & Quilt Fair – where craft classes, exclusive displays and NZ’s biggest craft shop are all under one roof!
Where & When: Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
Thursday, September 18 – Sunday, September 21, 2008
Open: 9:30am – 4:30pm daily
Tickets: Tickets: Adults: $13, Senior Citizens: $12, Children (5-16yrs): $7, Children (under 5yrs): FREE, Family (2A + 3C): $36.
Tickets available at the door or online at http://www.craftfair.com.au/hamilton08.php
Groups: Pre-booked tickets are available for groups of a minimum of 10 people at a discounted rate.
To arrange a group call 0508-272389 or 0508 CRAFTY (free call)
Information: Visit http://www.craftfair.com.au/hamilton08.php or 0508-272389 or 0508 CRAFTY (free call).