Centre Presents The Challenges of Quilting

TOURISM/CULTURE Centre Presents The Challenges of Quilting

In celebration of the Year of The Quilt, the Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design in Halifax is presenting an exhibit called The Challenges of Quilting. The exhibit, co-ordinated by Rhoda Moore on behalf of the Mayflower Quilters Guild, opens on Friday, July 21, in the centre's Mary E. Black Gallery.

Winning quilts from several quilt challenges will be on display. A quilt challenge involves participants making a quilted piece from start to finish based on a designated theme. Fabrics are pre-selected and a set of rules or guidelines are established with time limits.

The challenge for the quilter is to unleash their imagination and technical skills while negotiating the creative boundaries of a quilt challenge. The exhibit showcases the results of several competitions during the 1990's and the year 2000.

The quilters involved in the challenges are members of the Mayflower Quilters Guild -- a 300-member organization representing quilters across Nova Scotia. The guild was formed 26 years ago by a group of quilters interested in exchanging patterns, fabrics and ideas.

The group's goal is to support and promote quilting activities throughout the province. To this end they are presenting and promoting several events throughout 2000 as part of the Craft Theme Year 2000 - the Year of the Quilt. A brochure with details on events throughout the province is available at the Centre for Craft and Design.

A Craft Theme Year has been celebrated in Nova Scotia since 1989, with a goal to develop and promote quality crafts. The values of craftsmanship are an important part of Nova Scotia culture and the program is a way of exploring, sharing and reinforcing those values.

The Craft Theme Year program is run by a steering committee composed of representatives from the Federation of Nova Scotian Heritage, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, the Department of Tourism and Culture, Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council, and representatives of the group leading the particular theme year.

The Challenges of Quilting exhibit can be viewed from July 21 to Sept. 2. The Nova Scotia Centre for Craft and Design is located at 1683 Barrington St., Halifax, and is open Mondays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., from Tuesday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is by donation. For further information please call 902-424-4062.