This juried exhibition features the current work of the finest national and international contemporary quilt artists, June 15 – August 17, 2024. Art quilts accepted for exhibition will exemplify innovation in quilting and surface design techniques as well as excellence in artistic composition and craftsmanship. The goal of the exhibition is to recognize the world’s finest contemporary quilt artists and to advance the art form. The Opening Reception is scheduled for Saturday, June 15, 4 – 6 PM with the Awards Presentation the same evening at 5PM. A catalog will be produced to feature the exhibition.

Exhibition Jurors: Vicki Carlson, Valerie Maser-Flanagan, Lea McComas
Awards Judge: Lea McComas

Vicki Carlson is a studio art quilter and fabric designer residing in Fort Collins, Colorado. Working with her hand dyed and hand painted fabrics along with other surface design techniques, she creates predominantly abstract quilts. Influenced by her traditional roots, her emphasis is on finding rhythm and unity through color and line.  Her work has been juried into numerous regional and national exhibits and can be found in quilting publications as well as public and private collections.

Valerie Maser-Flanagan uses hand-dyed fabric to design abstract sewn constructions. Her work is influenced by both the rural Massachusetts setting where she currently resides, her exposure to urban structures from working in Boston for thirty years, and her attraction to ethnic design. Valerie has exhibited throughout the United States and received numerous awards for her work. Her Work has been purchased by the Chandler Arts Council in Arizona, Visions Art Museum, San Diego, The International Quilt Museum, Lincoln, Nebraska, and by private collectors. Examples of her designs are published in Quilting with a Modern Slant by Rachel May, Dyeing Alchemy by Diane Franklin, Art Quilts International Abstract & Geometric by Martha Sielman, and Colour a Workshop for Artists and Designers by David Hornung. Valerie began as a traditional quilter but transitioned to contemporary design through studies with Nancy Crow, David Hornung, and Carol Soderlund. 

With a life-long interest in fiber, Lea McComas began sewing at age six and quilting at 16. She taught public school for almost 40 years, including nine years teaching overseas. This gave her opportunities to interact with people of many cultures, and a chance to study carpet-weaving in Turkey, and fabric dying in Japan. Returning to the states in 2001, Lea discovered art quilting. With fabric and thread as her preferred medium, she works in a style of contemporary realism to capture images from daily life, past and present. Her award-winning portrait and genre quilts have been featured in numerous publications and exhibited in juried shows nationally and internationally.  She has received awards in both art quilt and fine art venues. Lea shares the knowledge and techniques behind her award-winning portrait quilts through her lectures, workshops, online classes, and in her book, Thread Painted Portraits.

Awards
$1,000 Best of Show Award
$500 Prize for Creative Artistry – exceptional artistic expression and craftsmanship
$500 Prize for Creative Innovation – exceptional integration of new materials, techniques and design

Awards will be announced during the Opening Reception Awards Presentation.

Venue
The Lincoln Center is a city-owned and operated cultural center in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is one of Colorado’s largest and most diverse presenters of professional theatre, dance, music, and visual arts. Annually, The Lincoln Center Art Gallery presents 6-8 rotating visual arts exhibitions in diverse media. The mission of The Lincoln Center Art Gallery is to promote and nourish the creation and appreciation of the visual arts. Diverse exhibitions, programs and projects engage and inspire our community through the world of art and ideas.

Important Dates:
April 29:  Deadline for Entries
Week of May 13: Entrants will be notified via email from CaFE of competition results, with accepted works subject to final approval upon inspection on arrival to The Lincoln Center. 
June 3– 7: Shipments of accepted quilts must be received at The Lincoln Center between these dates – no earlier, please.
Tuesday, June 11, 12-2PM: Hand delivery of accepted quilts due to The Lincoln Center
Saturday, June 15, 4 – 6 PM: Opening Reception with Awards Presentation at 5 PM
June 15 – August 17: Exhibition Dates
Week of August 19: Quilts shipped back to artists.
Tuesday, August 20, 12-2PM: Pick-up date for hand-delivered quilts

Have questions or need help?

Questions concerning the exhibition or call for entry requirements should be directed to Liz Good, The Lincoln Center, at lgood@fcgov.com or 970-416-2646.

Assistance in using the CaFE system is available during regular business hours via email at CaFE@westaf.org or by calling 303-629-1166.

Application Requirements

Entry Rules & Requirements

• $35 Entry Fee is required for up to three (3) entries. Maximum of three (3) entries allowed.
• Entries must be of the artist’s (or, if collaborative, the artists’ team) original design, completed from 2022 to 2024.
• No student work, or work created as the result of a class or workshop will be accepted.
• The quilt must be predominately fabric or fabric-like material and be composed of at least three layers held together by stitching.
• 2-D quilts must have a three-inch (8 cm) or greater finished double casing (sleeve) sewn in the top edge of the quilt, leaving approximately 1” on either side for the hanging slat to be affixed to the wall. If possible, please include your own hanging slat. The Lincoln Center can supply one, if this is not possible to include. (If you supply your own slat, please label as such, and make the casing the appropriate size to fit the slat.) Framed or mounted quilts will be accepted and should have hanging hardware attached (i.e., cleat or wire – no sawtooth hangers, please).
• There are no small or large size limitations.
• 3-D quilts must be identified as such in the entry description and if selected, must include detailed hanging or installation instructions.
• Entries must include a short description of techniques and materials used in the construction of the quilt. Artists must also include a short statement about the artwork which, if selected for the exhibition will be included in the Exhibition Catalog. This information will be entered in the Form Questions portion of the application.
• A panel of qualified jurors will select the works for the exhibition. The jury’s decision is final. The jury reserves the right to refuse any work that does not match the image sent for jury. The Lincoln Center reserves the right to reject or accept any quilt for exhibition upon delivery.
• Artists are responsible for all costs of shipping and insurance of accepted quilts during transit to and from The Lincoln Center. The Lincoln Center will not assume customs and/or brokerage charges and it is understood that international artists will reimburse The Lincoln Center for any charges thus incurred.
• Installation & Exhibition Period: June 15-August 17, 2024. Accepted works must be available for the full Installation and Exhibition Period, which includes installation, exhibition and de-installation, after which the work will be returned to the artist.
• The Lincoln Center will retain a 30% commission on all works sold as a result of the exhibition. All sales must be handled through The Lincoln Center and are subject to State and City taxes. In the instances of sales commission or award payment, the artist must provide The Lincoln Center with an IRS Form W-9 for tax reporting.
• The Lincoln Center will not insure any work for more than 70% of its stated retail value and reserves the right to limit the amount of insurance coverage on a particular piece. NFS (Not For Sale) works must include a stated insurance value.
• In the event of damage to the work during the display or handling in connection with the exhibition of the work, the artist shall be responsible for reasonable repairs to his or her work of art. The Lincoln Center agrees to reimburse the artist the reasonable costs of repair, including cost of materials and labor, necessitated by damage to the work that The Lincoln Center or its staff is in whole or in part responsible.
• Should an accepted work be sold prior to the exhibition, it will be the artist’s responsibility to guarantee that the new owner will make the work available to The Lincoln Center for the full Installation & Exhibition Period.
• The Lincoln Center will use email for communications regarding the New Legacies exhibition whenever possible. Please notify The Lincoln Center of changes to your email address as soon as possible at lgood@fcgov.com.
• The Lincoln Center reserves the right to use images of accepted entries for educational and promotional purposes including, but not limited to publications, newspapers, television, radio and internet.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility:

International