Welcome

A contest celebrating the creativity of quilters through photography!

Quilters—as proven in our first four "Eye of the Quilter" exhibits—have a very artistic eye. Many use a camera to capture a moment frozen in time that inspires them. This contest offers quilter-photographers the chance to share what they've seen through their camera lens that inspires them, whether or not they plan to incorporate their digital image into a quilt or scrapbook to share with friends.

The 2013 Eye of the Quilter and Haiku: Flora and Fauna

This year's theme for the exhibit is Flora (plant life) and Fauna (wildlife), so break out those cameras and start capturing those plants and animals. It might be something in your own backyard, at a local park or garden, or an interesting plant or animal you come across in an unexpected place. It could be an indigenous wildflower, a neighborhood bird, or any number of different plant or animal species specific to your area.

Submit your best three digital shots keeping in mind the theme (Flora and Fauna). You can manipulate the image or images in any way you like. In order to have your photograph considered, you must include an artist's statement to be included by your picture in the exhibit, if accepted.

Entries will be juried and finalists will be printed, mounted, and exhibited at the fall International Quilt Festival.

So, what exactly is Haiku? Basically, it's a traditional form of Japanese poetry that uses structure, content, and language in a concise, yet meaningful manner.

Haiku poems are composed of exactly 17 syllables arranged in three unrhymed lines—the first containing five syllables, the second seven, and the third five. Traditionally, Haiku must also include a special word (or "kigo") that is evocative of a particular season.

This year the theme is "Flora and Fauna". For example:

As the wind does blow
Across the trees,
I see the Buds blooming in May
I walk across sand
And find myself blistering
In the hot, hot heat

Much like quilting, Haiku can be an exercise in both creativity and restraint. The challenge is in painting a vivid mental image using such a simple, compact form. But what quilter doesn't love a good challenge?

Fabric calls to me
Draping brittle winter trees
Must go, but no dough
Stitch is not even
Summer sweat drips on machine
Wherefore, seam ripper?

This year the Haiku's will be submitted through the online system (directions below). You can submit photos, haikus or both. The haikus do not need to correspond to the photos you enter.

Timeline
June 1 – Online Registration opens
September 15 – Online Registrations Closes
September 20 – Notifications Will be Emailed

How to register

Registration will open on June 1, 2013. The last day to register is September 15, 2013
To preview the registration form, click here.
When you have completed your registration be sure to print a copy of the confirmation page for your records.

For More Information

For questions about the exhibit, please contact EyeoftheQuilter@quilts.com If you have technical questions about the on-line system, please contact Lisa Ellis at lisa@ellisquilts.com.