The 14th European Patchwork Meeting has, last September, welcome around Ste Marie aux Mines in Alsace, France, no less than 18 500 visitors from 50 countries. With an increase of 15% in its attendance, this event can definitely be considered as one of the most popular in Europe.
Antique quilts, art quilts, contemporary works, classes, lectures, meetings, the Amish spirit still alive where it started, everything is there to attract quilt and textile lovers. An event often copied, never equalled!
The Alsace region, particularly during the Indian summer, displays the most beautiful autumn colours and its visitors love to discover all those magnificent sceneries as well as its churches while they attend during 4 days, a fantastic art show: an immense art gallery displaying around 1,000 textile works reflecting the diversity of an international artistic breeding ground.
The 15th anniversary, not to be missed!
In 2009, the European Patchwork Meeting will focus on Hungary, the European guest country as well as on New Zealand, the non-European guest country; they will both exhibit new works never seen in Europe before.
For its 15th anniversary, the European Patchwork Meeting will particularly focus on traditional quilts and present a remarkable exhibition curated by Jacques Légeret in cooperation with the French Association of Anabaptist and Mennonite History.
France Point de Croix will invite Francine Zeil to exhibit embroideries from the Alsatian folk heritage, while France Patchwork will surprise us with a stunning exhibition celebrating its 25th anniversary.
As far as textile traditions from around the world are concerned, we will introduce exceptional works you will be pleased to discover during the next Meeting.
Our guest artists will present their original creations: Rita Berghuis (The Netherlands), Iren Kahmann ( Germany), Lena Wik (Denmark), Tiziana Tateo (Italy), Francine Flattard (Fréance), Katharina della Chiesa (Swizerland), Dominique Fave (France) and many others will surprise us by the use of various techniques such as innovative textures, transparencies, sculptures in a multitude of quilts or in home decoration….
Finally, the European Patchwork Meeting is very proud to announce an exclusive European exhibition of Gee’s Bend Quilts: this Afro-American community from Alabama currently exhibits in the most prestigious American Museums and their quilts are worldly renown. Also, Michael and Judith James will present their latest creations in a beautiful new site.
At the same time, about 30 classes, lectures, meetings and excursions will be a good opportunity to learn about new techniques and to meet the curators or the artists of the different exhibitions.
Don’t forget the Commercial area where 140 European and international shops will introduce the brand new fabric collections, quilting supplies, books, sewing machines, software….
The 15th European Patchwork Meeting will most certainly be an exceptional edition.