juried into Quilt National 23

 Sheguiandah quilter Judy Martin has had her newest work selected for an international show.

Under Drifting Stars iron water on cotton, hand stitched, detail  

"My newest quilt, "Under Drifting Stars" has been juried into Quilt National 23.  This is my fourth Quilt National and the thrill is just as strong as it was the first time," stated Judy Martin. 

"One reason that I called my newest work Under Drifting Stars was to describe the feeling you get when you pull the blankets over you at night.  This quilt references that private space where you feel safe and begin to dream." Ms. Martin explained.

A total of 81 quilts were chosen this year for Quilt National.  There were 647 entries, most from the USA, but 20 of the successful entries are from other countries.  

Quilt National is based in Athens, Ohio in what is literally a renovated dairy barn.  "The show opens in May 2023, running to early September, at the Dairy Barn in Athens Ohio.  After that, the show travels for two years," explained Ms Martin.  "Usually, they divide the show into two or three different parts to be displayed in various museums and galleries,' said Ms Martin who pointed out that Quilt National is a biennial exhibition and has been mounted every second year since 1979. 

Under Drifting Stars, detail of the horizon line, the dots above the horizon are outlined with black or brown quilting thread, the dots below the horizon line are embroidered over with cotton floss. This embroidery acts as quilting stitch in that it shows up on the back of the quilt as well.  

"What makes this show different is that the submitted quilts reflect contemporary life today much like how a poet - artist would" said Ms Martin. 

"In my case, I sent a large drawing that I painted onto cotton cloth with iron water (it has rust particles in it) and the cloth reacted to make dotted marks of inky black.  I then stitched over or around the dots with cotton thread."  The full quilt is a child-like image of sky and water with a horizon line dividing the two.  The lower (water) section dots have been embroidered and in the sky section, the dots are all outlined.  The quilt is 91 inches high and 86 inches wide.

Under Drifting Stars  91" x 86"  cotton painted with iron water then hand stitched with cotton and silk threads, 2022 by Judith E Martin

"It is very difficult to get into Quilt National," said Ms Martin.  "It was always something I wanted to do, and I've been fortunate to have my work selected"

Ms Martin was also accepted into the Quilt National 2017.  Her quilt entitled "Soft Summer Gone" won two awards for surface design (it was dyed with goldenrod flowers, and embroidered with wool and silk threads) that year.  "It was purchased by the International Quilt Museum in Nebraska (which is a huge honour) because the museum is in the process of creating a Quilt National collection.  I know how much care they take with the quilts..  It is a very beautiful museum."  She pointed out that the top three prize winners of the 2023 Quilt National show will be added to this museum's collection with purchase prizes.  

Ms Martin also has another piece showing in England at the moment.  The title of that quilt is "Underfoot the Earth Divine" and the exhibition is entitled Fine Art Textile Award (the short list).  There are 14 other pieces of art in this exhibition and her quilt was singled out as 'highly commended'.

This article by Tom Sasvari was published in the Manitoulin Expositor October 19, 2022.  It has been slightly edited by the artist.

For a list of all 81 of the accepted artists for Quilt National 23 please click here.

Also please note that the full image of Judith E Martin's quilt Under Drifting Stars was not published in the local paper because of Quilt National rules.  Social media publication is approved.  Also please note that the photo of the artist is an old one that the paper had on hand from a previous article about Judy. (She's much younger and more beautiful now) lol