Barbara Weeks, Lake Ballard (detail), 2024, wool-laminated cloth, felted wool, painted silk, wool wadding, 110 x 57 cm. Image courtesy of the artist.
Returning to Midland Junction Arts Centre before touring regionally, this year’s stitched and bound exhibition showcases an array of ‘quilts’ produced by 46 West Australian textile artists that take visitors into a realm where traditional functionality meets artistic expression. Each piece tells a compelling story of creativity, skill, and inspiration, and highlights the evolution of quilting as an art form.
Presented by the West Australian Quilters Association (WAQA), stitched and bound is a biennial juried exhibition highlighting the limitless possibilities within the world of contemporary quilting and textile art. This years’ artists are Vicki Ames, Tracey Bareli, Delys Brady, Marilyn Clark-Murphy, Robyn Clout, Lesley Clugston, Anne Cochrane, Myra Cornwell, Meg Cowey, Marilyn Davis-Moore, Julie Devereux, Lorraine Douglas, Ross Ellis, Cynda Empsall, Shelagh Fitzpatrick, Pat Forster, Margery Goodall, Meagan Howe, Pip Hoy, Janine Judge, Guundie Kuchling, Karin Langham, Lana Lefroy & Jan Fisher, Julie Livingstone, Nicole Lubcke & Bella Lubcke, Susan Mader, Denise Mallon, Julie McAllister, Carinne Meyerink, Kerry Moore, Annette Nykiel, Jan Rowe, Emma Seaton, Susan Sheath, Lorelie Smit, Sia Smyth, Jane Stone, Helen Sugars Duff, Sarah Toohey, Martien van Zuilen, Barbara Weeks, Louise Wells, Pauline White and Anne Williams.
WAQA’s first contemporary quilting exhibition, The Razor’s Edge, was held in Fremantle in 1995 as an opportunity for local textile artists, who had mastered traditional quilt making techniques, to present works using more adventurous ideas, materials and methods. The exhibition, now known as stitched and bound, has since become one of the leading exhibitions of contemporary quilts in Australia. Open to all Western Australian textile artists, works are selected by an independent jury of three professionals representing a wide range of contemporary quilters, textile artists, curators, educators and practitioners. Whilst works must possess the structural characteristics of a quilt, artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of traditional quilting and freely express their ideas.
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Alongside the stitched and bound exhibition presented at Midland Junction Art Centre, local contemporary quilt artists work in residence in the Veranda Studio. Visitors will be inspired by talented textile artists Susan Sheath, Marilyn Clark-Murphy, Jan Rowe, Kerry Moore, Nadja Sevic, Janine Judge, Louise Wells, Julie Devereux, Anne Williams and Martien van Zuilen as they share their work, tips, and interesting techniques. In addition to welcoming visitors to view their creative process and discuss their quilting practice, artists in residence are also offering free drop-in activities for visitors such as sit and sew sessions. Handcrafters House Midland has kindly loaned 3 sewing machines for visitors to try their hand at quilting and various sewing techniques during the artists residencies.
With an array of different works to see, both the exhibition and artist in residence program for stitched and bound present a wonderful opportunity for visitors to deep dive into the intriguing world of contemporary quilting and discover the talents of many local textile artists.
stitched and bound is on display at Midland Junction Arts Centre (MJAC) and artists work in residence in the MJAC Veranda Studio daily (except Mondays) until Sunday 14 July 2024.
Open Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm and weekends 11am – 3pm.
