Miami Valley Art Quilt Network

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What are Challenges?

Every other month a topic is drawn from “the hat” and that topic becomes the theme for our challenge (homework) for the next two months. Special challenges may be extended for a longer period.  The challenge give each of us an opportunity to work on a quilt project that reflects our interpretation of the theme. For example, one past theme was “masks”, another “innovation” and another “autumn colors.” 

Challenges are not meant to be an onerous task.  Our original intention was to make us "go and think outside the box" --or maybe just our own boxes, in accordance with our mission statement.  This could be exploring a concept we haven't looked into, or materials, or layout, or...you name it. They are meant to be easily done, and not a burden.  However, we recognize that a by-product of this exercise is that we will make a body of small works which have a common theme. 

1.  It doesn't have to be completely finished at the "reveal" meeting.  Even if the member has shown the project at a previous meeting, the challenge piece should be brought to the “reveal” meeting.

3.  It can just be what you worked on conceptually.  That is to say, perhaps you just did some doodles, sketches, or even  paper layouts on the theme.  That works.  If you don't want to make a huge time investment — (let's face it, most of us have more ideas than we can actually accomplish in one lifetime,) that's fine, but, our goal is to tickle the imagination. These pieces of "homework" are meant to inspire, not create a burden.  By comparing our pieces, or even just talking about them, we can stretch our minds a little bit further to see other ways of looking at the same theme.

4.  Can it be something we were working on earlier? Absolutely!  Even using this as an opportunity to finish a partially finished project is wonderful!

5.  Is it graded (i.e. critiqued)? No, unless you want it to be.

6. It is intended, however to be fun, as well as giving us a little push into what might be unfamiliar territory. 

Month

Winter