• home & handiworkGlobal quiltingunder an historic roofEvery year, at Melbourne’s Royal ExhibitionBuilding in Carlton, quilters converge for theAustralasian Quilt Convention, Australia’s largestdedicated quilting event. As organiser JudyNewman tells us, quilts and historic settings area fitting match so it’s hard to imagine a betterlocation for this first-rate event.78 spotlight.com.au
home & handiwork •Clockwise from above: TheRoyal Exhibition Buildingis the venue for Australia’spremier quilt event; Sunlitby Carol Taylor; GloriaLoughman will teach her artquilt techniques; EnchantedJourney by Kay Haerland.“The historic Royal Exhibition Building(REB) is built over two levels andfeatures magnificent domed ceilings, apainted frieze and panels, decorativetimberwork, majestic porticoes anda highly polished timber floor. A briefinvestigation of the history of thebuilding is bound to intrigue – when itwas built in 1880, it was Australia’slargest building.Following the glory days of hostingexhibitions, which were designed in thelate 1800s to put Melbourne on theworld map, the REB went on - in 1901 -to host the opening of the first FederalParliament. In later years it served as avenue for art shows, bicycle races, dogand poultry shows and was even takenover as a hospital for patients sufferingfrom the influenza virus during thepandemic of 1919.Local Melbournians still recalltaking their school and universityentrance examinations at the REB, andattending home shows, motor showsand rock concerts. During the midtwentiethcentury, the building becamedilapidated and it was not until the1980s that the historic significancebecame apparent. Restoration began in1985. The building is now in the careof Museum Victoria and is protected bya World Heritage listing.The building has two levels and, whenthe Australasian Quilt Convention(AQC) is held, the upstairs area isdedicated to the convention aspectof the program. Keen quilters fromaround the country book their four dayprogram of classes to learn with someof the best tutors on the internationalquilting circuit.Downstairs, thousands of peoplecome for a few hours or to spend aday viewing the quilt show, shoppingwith dedicated quilting retailers andattending short seminars. This is noordinary quilt show though – thesequilts are all hand-picked, many areprize winners, and often specialexhibitions are flown in from overseas,or around Australia. This collection ofquilts will not be replicated anywhereelse so it is a one-off opportunity.But AQC is more than the sum of itsparts. Entertainment by impersonators,magicians, comedians, opera singersand dance bands has all been partof the social events, delighting andsurprising guests. Each year quiltersattending comment that they come forthe whole experience; the Gala Dinneris attended by around 400 guests andfor the last few years has been bookedout well in advance.In 2011 the program will feature anumber of new quilting tutors as wellas some firm favourites. Classes willgive students opportunities to exploretraditional designs in new ways, toextend and perfect their quilting skills,to get the imagined design in theirmind into reality in fabric, to exploresurface design and art skills.New Zealander Anna Williams, isan expert in creating faces in fabric.From the UK, Christine Porter focuseson geometric designs, often with abasis in tile patterns. Carol Taylor fromthe USA state of New York will explorecolour and line in art quilting. JennyBowker from Canberra will teach herpopular Broken Star design and shareher secrets of free-motion quilting.Victorian, Margaret McDonald, willguide students in perfecting theirpiecing skills and Kay Haerland fromNSW will teach students how to createa “landscape in fabric.”@The Australasian Quilt Convention ison from April 14 to 17, 2011. For thefull program, visit www.aqc.com.au.About JudyJudy Newman is an accomplished craftdesigner and book author, former Craft Editorof several national women’s magazinesand is now one of the organisers of theAustralasian Quilt Convention and Craft &Quilt Fairs in Australia and New Zealand.Get Creative Quarterly Autumn 2011 79
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