The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH) unveiled the annual exhibition, Quilts and Wall Hangings 2023, in the Great Hall of the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, and announced the winners of the juried exhibition at the opening concert of the annual Vandalia Gathering.
This year, the popular juried exhibition features 67 creative quilts and wall hangings representing the talents of West Virginians from 21 counties. There are 43 quilts and 24 wall hangings in the exhibition, which will remain on display through Sept. 20.
“Quilt making is one of West Virginia’s oldest and most treasured art forms,” said Charles Morris, museums director. “This annual display is a favorite for many West Virginians and for quilters and quilt lovers from around the country. It is one of our most popular displays.”
The exhibition features the work of 54 quilters. Winners were selected by Karen Kendo, a quilter since 1995, longarm quilting business owner and NQA Certified Judge from Charleston, S.C. Kendo selected winners in four categories: pieced quilts, applique quilts, mixed/other quilts and wall hangings. Quilt awards are $750 for first place, $400 for second place and $300 for third place. The wall hanging awards are $400 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place. The department made one purchase, and the juror designated a Best of Show prize of $100. In addition, four nonmonetary honorable mention distinctions were made.
First place winners in this year’s exhibition include Carol Miller of Bruceton Mills, Preston County, for Baltimore Album in the Applique category (Best of Show); Rhonda Braham of Independence, Preston County, for Candied Fans, in the Pieced Quilt category; Linda Dotson Vaughan of Caldwell, Greenbrier County, for Gardner’s Alphabet in the Mixed/Other Quilt category; and Amy Pabst of LeRoy, Roane County, for Sari Not Sari in the Wall Hanging category.
The Culture Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information about this year’s exhibition, contact Rachel Keeney, exhibits coordinator, at 304-558-0220 or Rachel.M.Keeney@wv.gov.
