She Made Her Mark - Judges Comments

March 3, 2007

Judge’s Comments For “She Made Her Mark”

Best of Show - “Marie Curie”
By Carol Clasper

I could recognize the subtleties and surface complexities even from a distance. The hand x-rays were clear as well as a sense of radiant glow from around the hands. Subject was immediately engaging.

1st Place
“Seeking Higher Ground”
By Larkin Jean Van Horn

Doesn’t honor any one woman, but notes all who have stepped forward and held themselves up for all of us. Although not dramatic at a distance a closer view reveals a subtlety swirling emerald surface, textured by superb quilting. The eddies and whirlpools of stitching only make the elevation of the glass (allegorically, the individual) more dramatic. If I could have any of these quilts in my home to view daily, this one would be it.

2nd Place “Ruby Bridges”
By Marion Coleman

The entire composition of the quilt and its restrained use of color really accentuates the story of the girl who inspired it. There is a very journalistic quality to this piece.

3rd Place “Lady Godiva”

By Ruth Powers

Glorious color and superb quilting! The variety of stitched textures and fabrics are full of excitement and drama.

Ann Calland
The Quilters Hall of Fame
Museum Curator

Judge, Kathleen A. O'Connell
Herron School of Art and Design
Indianapolis, Indiana
Herron School of Art and Design, Associate Professor
Herron School of Art and Design, Visual Communications
MFA from Syracuse University

Kathleen looked over the entries several times in making her decision. She had good comments about all of the quilts.

Her Honorable mention if we had had one would have been “Doppleganger”. She really liked the play of light and dark, life and death, etc.

She very much wanted to give an award to the O’keefe quilt, but thought it was too much about Georgia’s work than about the artist’s own interpretations. But, she very much liked the upper center panel of the mountains and sky.

The Quilters Hall of Fame
926 S. Washington St
Marion, IN 46952