FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4/21/09
Morgan Arts Council • Berkeley Springs, WV
Press contact only: Rika Bennett -- 304-258-6189

• Photos of art available on request


QUILT SHOW OPENS WITH ARTWALK

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV ------ The annual Delectable Mountains Quilt Show
opens at the Ice House Gallery on Friday, May 1 as the first major
event of Quilt Month in Berkeley Springs, WV. A three-stop Artwalk
along downtown streets from 5 to 9pm marks the opening festivities.
Produced by the Morgan Arts Council (MAC), and curated by quilt guild
member Rika Bennett, the popular and colorful exhibit hangs through
June 7.

The Friday Artwalk begins at 5pm with receptions at two main street
businesses: Mountain Laurel Gallery and Acorns and Oaks Quilt Shop.
Centerpiece of the Artwalk is the meet-the-quilters reception at the
Ice House Gallery beginning at 7:30pm. "The ladies look forward to
putting on their white gloves and meeting all the guests," says Jane
Frenke, a member of MAC's Gallery Committee.

The title of this year's show -- New Directions -- underlines the
evolution of the local quilt group which staged its first show in
1982. " We wanted to emphasize new things. The quilts are not
necessarily contemporary in their look," says Bennett, "but there are
new colors, new patterns and new ways of doing things." When
searching for a quilt to showcase on the invitation postcard, Bennett
wanted to use a round robin quilt, one worked on by several members in
turn. "Most of the round robins were traditional and didn't really
fit the theme but Jane Frenke's round robin was bold so we used that
one." Eight women stitched parts of the abstract pattern done in
bright lime green, gold and shades of pink.

The more than 30 quilts on display represent a cross section of quilt
guild members and the work they are doing. Bennett points out that
two of the showcased quilts are unusual in that the stitching is not
done by machine. Mickey Bly of Great Cacapon is showing a 1930s style
quilt all done by hand while Marie Welch has a quilt of Baltimore
Album type blocks also done by hand.

As in past years, Bennett introduces the annual Apple Butter Festival
quilt at the show. This year, the quilt is called Rising Star, a
traditional pattern with which Bennett, as she says, "took
liberties." Like the show, the Apple Butter Quilt has a contemporary
look with a background of Frenke's printed fabric and the stars in an
array of colors including turquoise, blue, gold and orange. "Rising
Star" marks the 18th quilt Bennett has produced for the festival. "It
's drop-dead gorgeous," she says.

In addition to full size quilts and wall hangings for display and
sale, guild members also produce braided fabric bowls for sale. "We
want there to be items for every budget," says Bennett.

The look of being Quilt Central spreads to business windows and walls
all through town with the 5th annual Yard-Square Quilts -- a display
and silent auction of 46 small pieces hanging from mid-April until the
finale at the Ice House on Monday, May 25 when bids close from 4 to 5pm.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, a collaboration of quilters,
playwrites and actors produce Piecework. "We are staging locally
written one-act staged readings at the Ice House," said Piecework
director, Abbie Brown. Each play has a small quilt designed and
created to match the play topic. "Audiences will laugh, cry and have
a chance to win those special yard-square quilts for the price of a
ticket," said Brown.

The special quilt exhibit is funded in part through grants from the
National Endowment for the Arts, the West Virginia Commission on the
Arts and local hotel/motel tax revenues. The Ice House is located on
the corner of Independence and Mercer streets. The gallery is open
from 11am to 5pm Saturdays and Sundays; Friday hours begin on May
22 . For more information call 258-2300 or check online at www.macicehouse.org