First Quilt Completed in 2013: "The Art of Inclusion #15"

Last year I debuted a new series, "The Art of Inclusion," for the Studio Art Quilt Associates Benefit Auction. I posted about the first quilt in the series, which journeyed all the way to Houston to the International Quilt Festival but sadly did not sell and was returned to me a few months ago.

My unsold donation quilt for the 2012 SAQA Benefit Auction

I was not happy to see that my quilt did not sell, but I have been thrilled with the progress of the "Art of Inclusion" series! The quilts I have completed since I made the first one are slightly larger, at 15" square rather than 12", and my first quilt created in 2013 marks the fifteenth in the series! "The Art of Inclusion" is meant to be a continually expanding project in which the quilts can be displayed either alone or together in an infinite number of possible combinations.

"The Art of Inclusion #15"

Title: "The Art of Inclusion #15"
Materials: various commercial fabrics, hand-dyed cotton, inkjet printed cotton, laminated imagery, metal eyelets, Swarovski crystals, polished stones, metal prong settings, acrylic paint, heat transfer foil, fabric pen, oil paint stick, press-on sequins
Dimensions: 15" by 15"
Date: 2013

"The Art of Inclusion #15" Detail view

Here is the chunk of my artist statement that explains what I hope to achieve as I explore this series:

"I describe my method of creating a quilt as "the art of inclusion," and I use this approach to explore the idea that an artist can give value and meaning to a life's worth of miscellaneous, seemingly forgettable details by caring for them, bringing them together and providing them with the perfect context. 

As part of my quilting process I make and collect innumerable odd, stray elements, and the primary focus of my art is to bring them together in a way that balances care and deliberation with accident and spontaneity. I try to treat each sketch or digital photograph or scrap of fabric or piece of embroidery that I generate as though it is fascinating and important enough for inclusion in a finished work. The challenge involved in treating potentially disposable elements as though they are vital has always been extremely satisfying to me, and I enjoy exploring the relationships that are created by bringing together all the details I've created and held onto, sometimes for many years. My goal is to create rich and intriguing artwork, and to have each piece seem to contain an entire world full of action and meaning, as if it is an illustration in search of a story."

"The Art of Inclusion #15" Detail view

"The Art of Inclusion #15" Detail view