Grand National 2007: Fantasy

May 11 - July 1, 2007
Organized by KW|AG and Joseph Schneider Haus Museum
Curated by Susan Burke (JSH)

"Seldom do we see a quilter's private fantasies emerge through her art…art where the imagination has clearly gained the upper hand and the quilt has taken on a life of its own…" -- Susan Burke, Curator

The Grand National is an invitational quilt exhibition presented annually by the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery and Joseph Schneider Haus Museum, in conjunction with the Waterloo County International Quilt Festival. The Grand National celebrates both tradition and innovation, and challenges Canadian art quilters' creativity with a new theme each year.

Each year the entries are judged for their artistic and technical merits, as well as their interpretation of the annual theme. Curator Susan Burke (Joseph Schneider Haus Museum) has selected over 60 works from across Canada for their creative and technical excellence as well as their interpretation of the 2007 theme, Fantasy.

Hilary Rice, Ethlyndryal the Protector, 2007. Image courtesy of the artist. Photograph by Michael Ric

Fantasy inspired artists to respond with a celebration of imaginary worlds and dream-like visions that encompass contemporary themes, philosophical longings, issues of social justice and a lively sense of humour. The work has been selected by curator Susan Burke, Manager/Curator of the Joseph Schneider Haus Museum and the local advisory committee for their creative and technical excellence.  Inventive and traditional, elegant and whimsical, the works in the exhibition incorporate a wide variety of thematic interpretations.  With deft technique selected artists portray myth, chance, and all that is possible in a textile universe.

Visitors enjoyed unexpected and intriguing interpretations of the Fantasy theme, and cast their vote for the Viewer's Choice Award (sponsored in part by the Triangle Sewing Centre). Additional awards included the Grand Prize (sponsored by the Waterloo County Quilters Guild and Mersynergy Charitable Foundation), Curator's Choice Awards (sponsored by Reichard's and J. Fred Kuntz), and the Janome Award of Excellence.

The exhibition also featured an interactive educational area and an interpretive video for viewing. A full-colour publication featuring all of the quilts on display was available for purchase at the gallery.

Installation view of The Grand National: Fantasy. Image courtesy of the artists and KW|AG. Photo: K.J. Bedford.

KW|AG is pleased to announce the 2007 award-winning quilts:

• The $1, 000 Grand Prize, sponsored by Mersynergy Charitable Foundation and the Waterloo County Quilters' Guild has been awarded to Lily Lam, from Westmount, Quebec for her work, Cloak of Imagining.
• The Janome Award of Excellence, sponsored by Janome Canada, was awarded to Hilary Rice, from Corner Brook, Newfoundland, for her work Ethlyndryal, the Protector. Hilary will receive a Janome MC6600P sewing machine, currently on display at the Gallery.

Two Curator's Choice awards are presented each year:

• A $500 Curator's Choice award, sponsored by J. Fred Kuntz, has been awarded to Nancy Bergman, from Keewatin, Ontario, for her work Dancing in the Dark.
• A $500 Curator's Choice award, sponsored by Reichard's Dry Goods, has been awarded to Jean Hillis, from Ingersoll, Ontario, for her work Bali- Go-Round. 

Jean Hillis poses with the 2007 Viewer's Choice Award winning quilt, Bali-Go-Round at The Grand National 2007 Artist Award reception held at KW|AG on May 24, 2007.Image: K.J. Bedford.

A final award, the $1,000 Viewer's Choice award, sponsored by Triangle Sewing Centre and the Friends of the Grand National, was announced after the show closed on July 1, 2007. Visitors to the exhibition were invited to vote for their personal favourite, and the quilt with the most votes received the Viewer's Choice award.

Five quilts were selected to receive honourable mentions this year, and they are:

• First Date by Cheryl Smith from Ajax, Ontario
• Ethel's De but by Joanne Young from Kitchener
• Shadow Fairy by Susan Strachan Johnson from Everton, Ontario
• Fibrella by Anne Marie Desaulniers from Toronto
• Bugs in My Garden by Karen Jurek from Cochrane, Alberta

A full-colour publication featuring all the quilts on display is available for purchase at the Gallery, as well as catalogues from previous Grand National exhibitions.  The show also features an interactive educational area and a video for visitors to view.