The QuiltArt group can now look back on an impressive 40 years of innovation, exchange and creativity – an anniversary we are celebrating in style! Our travelling exhibition ‘Layers and Narratives’ is entirely dedicated to this special occasion. In the accompanying catalogue, two artists reflect on their personal perspectives on the group: Inge Hueber, a founding member who has been passionately involved for four decades, and Gabi Mett, who joined in 2022 and describes the fascination this collective holds for her. The fact that we have recently welcomed three new members underlines QuiltArt’s appeal as a vibrant meeting place for established artists. We are now delighted to present Inge and Gabi’s inspiring statements to you. Join us as we delve into the stories, thoughts and visions that define QuiltArt!
Inge Hueber, member since 1985
We are part of an ever-changing textile history. Traditional techniques and quilting are very much alive, but next to this mainstream of beautiful quilts something new has started, mainly in the US. It was about connecting traditions with individual ideas and methods. Textile materials – soft and strong – can express so much and in many ways.
The British Quilters` Guild played an important role in these changing times back in the eighties. The mostly traditional Guild encouraged members to send in applications to start a new group called QuiltArt. They received 213 applications and decided to invite 8 women to come for an interview and we started QuiltArt, seven English women and myself – a German. We started QuiltArt with excitement, good trust, and full of energy. The group already has its name – QuiltArt – but we had to give meaning and structure and decide where to go in our future. We separated from the Guild and decided to be mostly dedicated to finding venues to exhibit together. High quality was our aim and to stay open to any individual language each of us was speaking. This is still our strength and our power in surviving 40 years.
From the beginning, we were successful mostly thanks to Pauline Burbidge. She offered her experiences and her own network to provide our first substantial exhibition in Nottingham Castle Museum in 1988. Mary Fogg was another very influential personality. She was a perfect diplomat, a dedicated artist, and most importantly, a lovely person.
Even after 40 years this excitement is still alive – right now we are 18 members and 8 nationalities. We work hard to keep our work visible, organize exhibitions regularly and produce books for each of our major museum tours. We need our work and are enjoying celebrating 40 years.
I got quite emotional by writing this. QuiltArt is strong in my head and in my heart.
Gabi Mett, member since 2022
The QuiltArt group is celebrating its 40th birthday. This is an extraordinary anniversary. With this special date, it joins the long history of artists' groups from the past two centuries. It does not differ from other groups in its intentions and approaches, but it does differ in its ability to constantly reposition itself over the decades and set innovative standards.
In recent decades, there have also been numerous groups in the textile art sector that have seen or see an opportunity to position themselves better nationally and internationally and to find more interesting exhibition opportunities by joining forces. QuiltArt is one of them. QuiltArt is a statement, an absolute novelty at the time of its foundation. The art quilt had not yet been named, but it was precisely this group that established it in the quilt and textile art sector. The technique of patchwork and quilting was stripped of its functional purpose. New forms of expression were opened up, innovative concepts and very individual styles were developed.
QuiltArt is a group of distinct individualists. Nevertheless, there is great cohesion. Intensive friendships have developed over the decades, which also contribute to this cohesion. Clear rules provide a guardrail for the group to function well. Each member has a clearly defined task. This is absolutely essential if you really want to cope with the huge amount of work that this group does.
At the meetings, it becomes clear time and again how important it is to maintain direct contact on both a professional and personal level and thus strengthen the cohesion within the group. At the same time, it is necessary for each artist to consistently pursue her own artistic path, as it is only through diversity in personal artistic expression that such a group can remain alive and also lead the way in this particular area of the textile arts.
The members of QuiltArt present themselves to the outside world through joint exhibitions and publications, while their internal cohesion is based on working in the group and on the ideas they share.
I myself have been a member for 2 years. I have followed the group's work over the decades and have been inspired in many ways, especially by the innovative approaches in the works. This group allowed the concept of the quilt to be rethought. That suited my own work very well. But I was also very impressed by the external presentation: great works, interesting exhibition venues, high-quality catalogues and books. When I was accepted into the group after a two-stage selection process, it very quickly became clear what it means to be a member: to make the best possible use of my skills for the group, be it in the search, organisation and implementation of the travelling exhibitions. My role currently focuses on publicity for the group in magazines, journals and newspapers. QuiltArt is a very committed group that pursues clear goals and works very hard to achieve them, artists with whom I can exchange ideas on an equal footing and friendships that enrich my life.
Next Time
A report on our visit to Budapest and the opening of our exhibition at the Fuga Gallery in Budapest.