In February, the WAQA Challenge quilts Inspired by a Quotation and the Contemporary Quilt Group (CQG) Self-Portrait quilts were displayed in Kalgoorlie at the primary school. In addition, the CQG challenge was displayed at the William Grunt Memorial Library.
Margie McIntosh, a primary school art teacher, borrows the quilts each year. This year, she is using self-portraits as a theme for her own students. So the CQG challenge fitted perfectly.
By coincidence, the self-portraits that Margie’s students chose in this photograph are Phil Thomas (left) and Susan Sheath (right) both are co-convenors of CQG. On display on the wall behind are Sheila Pye (top left), Julie McAllister and a glimpse of Wendy Gerich (bottom left). Unfortunately, the top right portrait is anonymous.
Several of the portraits were created in a WAQA workshop, almost two years ago, conducted by Phil Thomas: Foto to Fabric.
Margie wrote to me of her appreciation.
“What a wonderful lot of discussion and learning sprang from both sets of quilts in my school art lessons. The kids are fascinated by the different interpretations of the themes.
The portrait quilts were a hit at the town library display with many locals visiting especially.
Thank you for providing this service to country people.”
A brief article appeared in the Kalgoorlie Miner Friday 16 February, including this photograph.
Its really wonderful when quilts of all different shapes and sizes make their way to regional areas of Western Australia. For young students it is also an excellent way to showcase how “art” can be interpreted in so many different ways and forms.
