Viewer's Choice!

I've received exciting news! My Mystery Fern received the Viewer's Choice award at the Images 2008 exhibit held at the Zoller Gallery at Penn State University this summer. I covered my visit to the opening of the exhibit previously on my blog here. At the time I commented on how grateful I was to the organizers for the way the work was displayed--it was well lit, and it looked like a million bucks (IMHO), and I'm sure that being properly displayed had something to do with the award. I'm very grateful to everyone who took the time to fill out a viewer's choice ballot.

I'm also very pleased to note that this was an exhibit drawing from all disciplines. This was the second year that fine craft was included, and there were only a handful of fiber pieces. I think this recognition shows how the textures and details of an art quilt can speak to the viewer. When I was at the opening I heard lots of surprised comments that quilt imagery could be this powerful. I see myself as part of a continuum of the many artists who have labored to change and enlarge the public perception of what a quilt can be, and hope that this award will in a small way help to pave the way for other quilt/fiber artists to receive acknowledgement of their efforts.