AQIPP 2023 “Unfolding”
Judy Robinson Whitty, AQIPP Convenor
The AQIPP organising team worked hard over the past eighteen months to bring “UNFOLDING, something concealed, something revealed” to Whitehorse ArtSpace, in the Box Hill Town Hall. The exhibition was opened by the Mayor of Whitehorse, on Thursday November 9th, 2023.
This is the eleventh AQIPP exhibition overall and the seventh time that Whitehorse ArtSpace has welcomed AQIPP to its Gallery. AQIPP takes place every two years, and this year marks the very successful fourteen-year collaboration between Council and Community.
Forty-five AQIPP quilts, two judges’ quilts, and two quilts from Annemeike Mein, which are part of the ArtSpace permanent Collection, were displayed.
Art quilts are unique creations that blend traditional quilting techniques with a modern artistic vision. AQIPP has a reputation for presenting original textile artworks efficiently and professionally.
The textile works came from all over Australia. Nine quilts are from interstate, twenty-four from metropolitan Melbourne and twelve from rural and regional Victoria.
This year’s theme produced a diversity of styles, techniques, and interpretations. There were secret codes and puzzles, the magic of the everchanging natural world, family histories and stories, and the wonders of the unknown that then became known.
Congratulations to all the winners with special congratulations to four members of the AQA Art Group.
AQIPP 2023 PRIZE WINNERS
| AWARD / SPONSOR | NAME | QUILT NAME |
|---|---|---|
| Brother Australia Award | Jacie Malseed | Unfolding Shibori |
| AQA Award | Lynne Casson | Zoo Motion Illusion |
| Best Use of Colour Sponsor: Rhino Glass Beads | Marina Holland | Pond |
| Highly Commended Sponsor: Hillside Quilting | Heather Bingham | Nocturne – Iron Range |
| Highly Commended Sponsor: Victorian Textiles | Dianne Firth | Scatter |
| Curators Choice, Sponsors: GJs Discount Fabrics | Julie Langford | Inside Out-2 |
| Viewer’s Choice Sponsor: Nuno Nuno | Julie Langford | Inside Out-2 |
A virtual tour of this AQIPP 2023 exhibition will soon be available on creativewhitehorse.vic.gov.au
AQIPP sponsors for 2023 are Brother International, The Australian Quilters Association Inc., Victorian Textiles, Rhino Glass Beads, Hillside Quilting, GJ’s Discount Fabrics and Nuno Nuno. These sponsors generously provided the prizes, and some also assisted with promotion and publicity for the exhibition. These sponsors have indicated they are willing to support AQIPP again in 2025, for which we are most grateful.
The AQIPP team was very lucky this year to have three distinguished and accomplished judges cast an expert eye over the quilts. Sue de Vanny and Linda Steele are both internationally awarded Textile artists, designers, and teachers. John Timmins from Brother International, who has managed the Sewing and Craft Division at Brother for eleven years, is a remarkable thread painter and photographer.
I have had a wonderful time on the AQIPP committee for the past 10 years, with six years as Convenor. The AQIPP team of Shibani Mishra, Anne Cocks, Julie Langford, Heather Shepherd, and Elaine Maslin have been outstanding in their dedication, efficiency, communication skills and endless good humour. Special thanks go to Heather Bingham for photographing and publishing the AQIPP 2023 commemorative book and to Laurie Bingham for helping us address any and every issue that arose during the hanging process. Thank you all so much. I am now standing down as AQIPP Convenor and will now be an advisor to the AQIPP committee for 2025.
Judy Robinson Whitty
Convenor AQIPP – 2023