Recently, every exhibition we come across, throws a ‘theme’ at the quilter. Do the theme really mean any thing ? Do we make quilts for themes or just make a quilt and stick it any where with a changed name to suit the theme? is a nagging question. “Reflection’ ‘ is a theme for an up coming exhibition next year in Dubai. The topic is very difficult to really put in one frame work. It is an interesting theme I would really like to work on.
I have been doing a study of these out of interest. As a human being who is a stickler to rules(blame the parents for strict up bringing) I cant take my thoughts away from the theme ,once it is given. This year the theme was ‘Nature’ for our guild ,which was only a suggested theme announced in the beginning of the year and forgotten by every one by the year end and only I remembered. But I had to go and make a flower quilt named “Blooming Beauties”paper pieced one, just to represent the theme .
“Mahabat Maqbara’ was done to fit into architecture theme of the year 2009.
I enjoy ‘ themes’ as then it makes me to do research and choose a design. Thought process is always engaging and keeping the brain active. I don’t like donkey work of reproductions.Themes are a way to steer us away from reproducing what is already existing.
What I would like to know is how quilters will approach a theme? How do they prepare a quilt for a theme?. do they make a quilt to fit the theme or just give a name to a ready quilt to suit the theme? Do the exhibitions give weight age to the theme or it is only a heading to put on in the exhibition? These are always question for me un answered.still trying to find an answer:)
