I’m feeling old. In 1985, the American Quilter’s Society in Paducah, KY printed the very first Quilt Art Engagement Calendar. The calendar is “A collection of prize-winning quilts from across the country.” Klaudeen Hansen and Annette Riddle were commissioned to “seek out fifty-four outstanding quilts from East to West and North to South.” That process continues still, 25+ years later.
These are pages from the very first edition. This is my son Loren’s quilt. One of these days, it will leave my house and go to his. It’s hard for me to let go of.
Quilters who were in the very first edition way back in 1985 include the following:
|
Imogene Gooch |
Arlene Statz |
| Caron Mosey | Jean Eitel |
| Genevieve Bakel | Joanne Johnson |
| Margaret Maki | Philomena Wiechec |
| Karin Matthiesen | Ethel Hickman |
| Caryl Fallert | A group from the Iowa Quilter’s Guild |
| Janice Streeter | Dottie Deuser |
| Glenys Nappo | Marion Huyck |
| Deborah Kameyer | Virginia Ferrill Piland |
| June Culvey | Laura Crews |
| Dortha Hester | Hazel Reed Ferrell |
| Pattie Daniel | Barbara DeCamp |
| Patsye Knight | Mary Sorensen |
| The Capitol Quilters | Jane Miller |
| Helen Sloan King | Dorothy Stovall |
| Jinx Cutter Richmond | Alice Olsen |
| Agnes Hooper | Judy Florence |
| Nancy Applegate | Nancy Pearson |
| Alice Olson | Pat Brooks Gaska |
| Jane C, Miller | Marzenna Krol |
| Hertha Brinkmann | Deborah Hall |
| Kyle Williams | Francie Ginocchio |
| Carol Meyer | Joan Waldman |
| Ami Simms | Julia Needham |
| Patchwork Emporium | Peg Ries |
| Jane Hall | Ronnie Durrence |
| Becky Herdle | Elaine Darr Sparlin |
I wonder how many of those early quilters are still quilting? I know a few are no longer with us.
AQS has just released the next calendar available for purchase. I’m looking forward to browsing through it to see the beautiful quilts. I’m also looking to see how many names I recognize. What kind of work does THIS NEW GENERATION produce?
I know you’ll enjoy it, not just for one year, but for many to come.
