Dare to Differ 2013

Dare to Differ 2013: Contemporary Quilts
27 September – 20 October 2013
Gallery M, Marion

The exhibition consists of 41 art quilts by 34 artists mainly from South Australia but also from as far afield as Canberra, Tasmania and Queensland.  Some well-known names like Anne Brown and Brenda Gail Smith share wall space with lesser known and emerging artists, which make this an exciting and important event on the art quilt calendar.

Partial view of ‘Flora: Bush Blooms’ by Anna Brown

What is an Art Quilt and how does it differ from an ordinary quilt?

According to Suzanne Gummow, internationally renowned art quilter and one of the selectors, an art quilt has to adhere to the following criteria:

• It should consist of a minimum of two layers of fabric-like material, stitched through all layers
• It has to be individually designed and stitched by a single artist
• The workmanship and techniques applied must be of a very high standard
• The work has to be the result of a development process, described in a well thought-out artist statement
• The work must have a ‘Wow!” impact

Partial view of ‘Eucalyptus Melliodora’ by Lucy Carroll

According to Suzanne, it is uncanny how at every bi-annual exhibition a theme emerges as if it was somehow pre-planned.  This year leaves, plants and foliage are the inspiration for several works, and it is interesting to see how this ‘theme’ was interpreted by different artists. It is obvious that Australians are inspired and moulded by the land as well as by their individual place and relationship to the land.

Partial view of ‘Three Views’ by Carolyn Sullivan

A few works stood out for me.

The first one is the three-layered installation ‘City Scape’ by Samantha Pope. It consists of three separate sheer quilts depicting different layers of a city. The way it is presented perfectly depicts a city’s depth and diversity.

‘City Scape’ by Samantha Pope

Secondly, Cathy Boniciolli’s ‘A Venetian Interface’ demands attention. Not only because it is a double sided quilt but also because of the way the two sides are related to one other. On the one side is a depiction of the beautiful Venetian facades and on the other side a view of a Venetian waterway framed in an arched window. Looking on and looking out. Cathy’s choice of colour captures the mood of the narrow streets and canals perfectly.

One side of ‘A Venetian Interface’ by Cathy Boniciolli

When it comes to workmanship, technique and sheer artistry with needle and thread, I have to mention ‘Eucalyptus Melliodora’ by Lucy Carroll, ‘Three Views’ by Carolyn Sullivan and Wendy Thiel’s ‘I respect: Celebrating 50 Years – The Yirrkala Bark Petitions’

Partial view of “I respect: Celebrating 50 Years – The Yirrkala Bark Petitions’ by Wendy Thiele

Dare to Differ is on at Gallery M in Marion until Sunday 20 October 2013.