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Just in Time for Fall, National Quilt Museum Announces SAQA's Seasonal Palette Exhibit

Visitors will walk through the artistic process with 37 highly respected fiber artists

PADUCAH, Ky., Sept. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — This fall at the National Quilt Museum, Studio Art Quilt Associates is pleased to present the Seasonal Palette exhibit.  Each of the 37 quilts reflects the artists' favorite season, and an associated booklet pulls back the curtain on the creative process.  Seasonal Palette will be on display through December 3rd.

Seasonal Palette is a juried show, meaning a panel of experts determine which artists earn a place in the exhibit. After carefully sorting through all submissions, the jury selected 37 fabric artists whose work best embodied the theme of the exhibit, while also demonstrating the greatest artistry and expertise. Every quilt is 78" tall by 32" wide, making for a powerful viewing experience.

The prompt for Seasonal Palette was simple: quilters were tasked with creating an original, new work reflecting the season that most inspires them. The results are a kaleidoscope of various colors, styles, techniques and designs. Some quilters have adopted a realistic, representational approach, while others have embraced a more abstract and impressionistic mode. The enormous variety is just one factor making Seasonal Palette a memorable experience.

Those who have seen the Seasonal Palette quilts all come away with similar feelings: "It's hard to believe that these are fabric and not paint; I didn't know a quilt could look this vibrant and lifelike." While most people are familiar with traditional, practical quilts, the presentation of quilts as art is often a new experience. For them, Seasonal Palette is a revelation.

As part of the exhibit, museum visitors will also enjoy a behind-the-scenes peek into the creative process behind these quilts. Booklets accompanying the exhibit contain details and insights provided by the artists concerning every step of their work, from developing the original concept to putting the finishing touches on a new quilt. Museum CEO Frank Bennett commented: "The documentation that the artists provided is very detailed.  You really do feel like you are walking through the creative process with them."

Seasonal Palette is a project of Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc., an international nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting quilters and their craft. Every SAQA exhibit is juried, and submissions include remarkable work from some of the world's most creative and respected fiber artists. Beginning with a small group of founding artists in 1989, SAQA has now grown to over 3,000 members, representing artists, educators, collectors, gallery owners, museum curators and corporate sponsors from every corner of the globe.

Vicki Mangum and Kathleen McCabe comprised the jury for Seasonal Palette. Mangum has been internationally recognized for her quilting, and her work has appeared in noteworthy books and magazines. McCabe boasts more than 30 years' experience as a fabric artist and is a professional member of SAQA.

In addition to the Seasonal Palette exhibit, the main gallery of the National Quilt Museum features a continually changing display of 50 to 60 quilts selected from the museum's irreplaceable collection of over 320 quilts. Throughout the year, the museum hosts a series of unforgettable exhibits, each one showcasing a different facet of the quilting world.

About the National Quilt Museum

The Museum is the world's largest and most prestigious museum devoted to quilts and fiber art. A destination for art enthusiasts worldwide, annually the Museum welcomes visitors from all 50 U.S. states and over 40 foreign countries from every continent. The Museum's onsite and travelling exhibits are viewed by over 110,000 people per year. In addition, over 6,000 youth and adults participate in the Museum's educational opportunities on an annual basis. The Museum is located in a 27,000-square-foot facility in historic downtown Paducah, Kentucky.  http://www.quiltmuseum.org

Contact:

Amanda Ball, Marketing Director

National Quilt Museum

270-442-8856

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