Local quilters can participate in four areas of Arizona Centennial Quilt Project

By Shirley Hobbs/ Secretary, ACQP

Arizona Centennial Quilt Project (ACQP) is a project of the Arizona Quilters Hall of Fame. It is a Centennial Commission Legacy Project and the official statewide sanctioned quilt event for the Arizona Centennial.

This is a historic project, as no other state has organized an event such as this to commemorate their centennial. This is the last centennial celebration of the continental 48 states. The next ones won’t be until Alaska and Hawaii celebrate in 2058 and 2059.

The project has four main components

1. Arizona Centennial Commemorative Quilt that represents the state and its history. This project was planned by a team of quilters, historians, and artisans who captured the state’s history by creating a quilt which includes the shape of Arizona and that has representations of significant events and naturally occurring features placed in their geographic locations. Once the design was finalized, fabrics were dyed and section “kits” were sent to quilters throughout the state for completion. When completed, the design team began the completion process on the quilt. Thus, quilters from every corner of the state have participated. The quilt will be available for viewing at the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott Arizona in the Blue Rose Theatre beginning Friday, Sept. 16. There will be a Victorian Tea held on the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 24 from 2-4 p.m. The tea will be the official unveiling of the quilt and will include the introduction of the quilt designers, ACQP officials and honored guests.

2. A Line of Fabric has been designed by Jason Yenter of In The Beginnings Fabrics of Seattle, Wash., specifically for ACQP. This fabric is to be used in the Centennial Fabric Challenge as described below, and will be marketed to all quilt shops in Arizona. The line is comprised of two collections to be named “Arizona Centennial” (one main centennial fabric) and “Southwest Beauties” (nine coordinating fabrics), and is available in shops. A portion of the sale of this fabric will serve to bring needed income to the ACQP to fund its other projects.

3. 100 Quilts for 100 Years, The Arizona Centennial Celebration Quilt Challenge is an opportunity for quilters from around the state, young or old, novice or master, to submit their original design quilts reflecting their feeling and/or visions about Arizona’s history to a non-juried exhibit. Celebrating Arizona’s 100 years of statehood, the first 100 quilts submitted, which meet the criteria of entry, will be part of a year-long quilt exhibit opening with a gala reception on Feb. 18, 2012 at the Arizona Historical Society Museum in Tucson. The exhibit includes a catalog, CD-Rom, and a virtual tour. It will tour the state at the close of the exhibit year. Through the year, there will be lectures, quilt study days, children’s activities, and other events open to the public. As a non-juried show this exhibit is designed to encourage quilters of all levels, from school children to the most skilled, to celebrate Arizona’s Statehood Centennial. Each quilt will be accompanied by a “legacy statement” – the quilter’s own words about the reasons behind the creation of the quilt.

4. A Fabric Challenge in which Arizona quilt makers are afforded the opportunity to use the commemorative fabric to demonstrate quilt techniques of the 21st Century. This component is designed to provide an opportunity for quilt makers to display their skills both as artists and as quilt makers. The culmination of the challenge will be displayed in quilt shows throughout the state. These shows will create a special category to display and judge these quilts. The judging will be by viewers’ choice in each show. The winners of each of these competitions will be judged against one another to select the top three Centennial Commemorative Fabric Quilts. This phase of the project will be documented and available to the public via the web and other displays. There will be significant recognition and prizes for the top three winners.

Rules and entry forms for the above exhibit and challenge can be found on the web at ACQP@arizonaquiltershalloffame.org.