The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH) unveiled the annual exhibition, Quilts and Wall Hangings 2022, 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 62 creative quilts and wall hangings representing the talents of West Virginians from 19 counties. There are 43 quilts and 19 wall hangings in the exhibition, which will remain on display through Sept. 13.
First place winners in this year’s exhibition include Linda Dotson Vaughan of Caldwell, Greenbrier County, for Love to Embroider in the Mixed/Other Quilt category (Best of Show); Nancy Swisher of Fairmont, Monongalia County, for Dinner Plate Dahlia, in the Pieced Quilt category; Carol Miller of Bruceton Mills, Preston County, for Flowers Bloom in the Applique category, and Amy Pabst of LeRoy, Roane County, for Patriot in the Wall Hanging category. “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 58 quilters. Winners were selected by Linda Luggen, a quilter for over 30 years, teacher, lecturer and NQA Certified Judge from Cincinnati, Ohio. Luggen 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, three nonmonetary honorable mention distinctions were made.
For the seventh consecutive year, the department’s Quilt and Wall Hanging Exhibition will feature a National Association of Certified Quilt Judges (NACQJ) Award of Merit. This year’s winner is Nancy Swisher for Dinner Plate Dahlia. As an NACQJ certified judge, Luggen had the option of awarding this special ribbon. The award goes to a quilter whose work shows creativity and who has achieved recognized standards of quilt making excellence.
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 Laiken Blankenship, exhibits coordinator, at 304-558-0220 or Laiken.J.Blankenship@wv.gov
