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The Quilt Study Group of Australia
We have regular meetings four times a year. where we invite someone to
give a talk. Anyone on the list coming to Australia , do let us know . We'd love
you to give a talk to us!!
"Now And Then" Bi annual seminar is to be held at the Powerhouse
Museum in Sydney Australia on Saturday, 20th and Sunday, 21st September 2003.
As well as the seven exciting talks, there will be a dinner on Saturday night
and a special exhibition the following day. A quilt auction (quilts related or
not) will be held at the dinner. I hope to see you all at the Seminar in
September. An event not to be missed. Annette Gero,, Convenor QSGA
When: Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st September, 2003
Where: Coles Theatre, Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo Sydney &
The Mecure Hotel Lawson 383-389 Bulwarra Rd, Ultimo
Time: Saturday - 9.15 am to 5.30 pm. Dinner - 7 for 7.30 pm Sunday - 10.00 am -
12.00 noon
PROGRAMME
Saturday, 20th September (at the Powerhouse)
9.15-9.45 Registration
9.45 Welcome by Convener
10.00 Guest speaker to open 'Now and Then' Seminar
10 15 Asian influences on Australian quilts - Wendy Lugg -
11.00 Morning tea
11.30 Toile de Jouy: The Development of an Art Form - Dianne Finnegan
12.20 Aunt Clara's Quilt - The Decorative Arts - Ann-Marie Bakewell Aunt Clara's
Quilt - The Social History - Karen Fail
1.05 Lunch (Box lunch will be provided for all)
2.00 My Journey with Mary Mackillop - A Woman for all Seasons - Mary Hitchens
2.50 Army Quilts Made by Men - Annette Gero
3.15 Generations of Women and Two Quilts - Annette Rich
3.40 A Piece from Queen Victoria's Dress? - Jennifer Corkish
4.00 - 5.30 Afternoon tea at the Mercure Hotel Lawson 383-389 Bulwarra Rd,
Ultimo (just two minutes walk from the Powerhouse Museum. Viewing of the quilts
and other items from the Seminar talks
7.00 'Now and Then' Seminar Dinner with live auction at the Mecure for
7.30pm
Sunday, 21st September (at the Mecure Hotel Lawson) 10 - 12 Exhibition of 'Now
and Then' quilts in the Conference Room. 10.30 Floor talk on 'Now and Then'
textiles featured in antique and reproductions quilts in the exhibition.
Speakers
Wendy Lugg - Asian influences on Australian quilts In this lecture, Lugg
explores the work of Australian quiltmakers, and the varied Asian traditions
from which they draw many inspirations. It is easy to forget that the
quiltmaking tradition exists in many different cultures, both Western and
Eastern. When drawing inspiration from the long history of patchwork and
quilting, those who choose to look beyond the US tradition are richly rewarded.
Australia's proximity to Asia provides us with access to a wealth of diverse
cultures steeped in textile tradition. India, Japan, Korea, the remote areas of
Southern China and South East Asia are abundant sources of patchwork and
quilting. As more Australians take the opportunity to explore these traditions,
and the cultures from which they spring, we are seeing the emergence of much
exciting new work.
Dianne Finnegan - Toile de Jouy, the development of an art form Developed in the
eighteenth century and identified with provincial =46rance, their enormous
popularity throughout Europe has spread to Australia. For the Bicentenary,
Ascraft =46abrics commissioned Pamela Griffiths to design a montage of scenes
from 1788 and printed these onto fine Australian cotton. Since then there have
been several other commemorative toiles produced. . This lecture explores the
development of the technique of printing from early European examples through to
contemporary quilts and shows how the original artistry of the toile scenes is
enhanced and transmuted by the art of the quilt maker.
Ann-Marie Bakewell - Aunt Clara's Quilt - the decorative arts Karen Fail - Aunt
Clara's Quilt - social history One of Australia's most famous quilts embroidered
in the style of crazy patchwork made from extended hexagons, Aunt Clara's quilt
comes under the scrutiny of embroidery historian Ann-Marie Bakewell who will
discuss the various techniques, stitches and threads incorporated in the quilt
and perhaps throw light on the family legend that the quilt was actually a
friendship quilt made by visitors to Clara's guesthouse in Ginkin, near Janolan
Caves. Fail brings to light the history of the quilt.
Mary Hitchens - My Journey with Mary Mackillop - A Woman for All Seasons A piece
of fabric bought by a friend for a friend - both lovers of patchwork - started
an unexpected journey across three states for Hitchens as she hunted through
many bookshops and museums with the help and advice of friends to make a quilt
celebrating the life of Mary Mackillop. Sketches were made, done and redone. The
quilt was made, undone and redone. The quilt was entered in a national
competition and devastatingly rejected. Pride was picked up and journey was told
in a book documenting the good, the bad and the ugly. The quilt now resides in
what was always hoped would become its home - Mary Mackillop Place, Mount
Street, Sydney. It hangs in pride of place overlooking the boardroom for the
Sisters of St Joseph Provincial House. It recently hung in the Mary Mackillop
Museum as part of the Collection of artworks depicting Mary Mackillop that are
owned by the Sisters of St Joseph.
Annette Gero - Army Quilts made by Men There is growing evidence of many quilts
made during wars by men. One extraordinary example was that made by Corporal
Clifford Alexander Gatenby from Coffs Harbour c1942-1945 while he was a prisoner
of war in a German Stalag camp. Another quilt, discovered recently, was made by
Mr James Simpson while a R.A.A.F. prisoner of war at Muhlberg on Elbe. This
quilt, like Gatenbys, features a map of Australia in coloured wools, and coats
of arms, his name and R.A.A.F. number, with the compound name and date. Another
quilt made during WWII is a wonderful colour patch quilt made by the regimental
Tailor of the 2nd 5th Australian Armoured Regiment in 1945 in Queensland using
an old army rug onto which was sewn many identical colour patches of the
Regiment. Quilts were not only made by men in camps but often fabric from army
dress uniforms were used by men to make quilts to celebrate military events.
Gero will talk about one fine example of a quilt commemorating the Suez Canal
agreement and its subsequent passage through the House of Commons. It is
completely made from Victorian military and naval dress jackets with a central
panel finely appliqu=E9d showing a gathering of military and naval statesmen
beneath a portrait of Queen Victoria.
Annette Rich - Generations of Women and Two Quilts The Roebuck Quilt and its
sister quilt are of great social and historical significance, not only for the
amazing fabrics used, but for the story that has come to light of the lives of
the ladies who made them. After approximately forty years, the quilts have been
brought together by chance and now owned by a fifth generation descendant of
Maggie and Lizzie Roebuck. Rich is a well-known Australian author. She has
published two books 'Wildflower Embroidery' and 'Botanical Embroidery'. More
recently she has been researching her family quilts.
Jennifer Corkish - A Piece from Queen Victoria's Dress? After agreeing to
restore an antique crazy patchwork quilt, Corkish discovered that the quilt had
originated in England, travelled to Denmark and finally to Sydney. It had been
in the original owner's family for 50 years when finally sold to an antique
dealer in 1986. The quilt was believed to have a small piece of one of Queen
Victoria's dresses. Apparently she gave small pieces of her dresses to
patchworkers to add to their quilts. This intriguing story about the quilt sent
Corkish on a journey of discovery to find out more about the quilt and whether
there is actually a piece of the good queen's dress in the quilt.
The Now and Then Exhibition On Sunday morning at the Mercure Hotel Lawson, there
will be a cameo exhibition of antique quilts and their prize-winning
reproductions of the quilts. Included in the exhibition are four English pieced
quilts not previously exhibited featuring broderie perse and frames and several
quilts from the collection of Annette Gero. Reproduction quilts on display by
internationally acclaimed quiltmaker Judy Day include Moxley, Autumn Leaves,
Dancing Dollies and Shellbourne Wreath. Prize winning quiltmaker Kim McLean will
exhibit her interpretation of the Roebuck quilt which won the =46ounders Award
at the International Quilt Festival in Houston in 2002 and the Sarah Evans
quilt. Each quilt showcases a wide variety of textiles and this will be the
focus of the floor talk at 11.00 am. Morning tea and biscuits are provided.
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For all seminar enquiries e mail "Annette Gero" <A.Gero@unsw.edu.au>
or write to QSG of Australia President, Annette Gero, PO Box 398, Neutral Bay
2089 Australia
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