European Quilt Association

The EQA challenge is an annual event for all members of the European National Quilt Guilds and has a reputation for being democratic, engaging, fun, and always something special. This exhibition showcases a numerous collection of quilts under the heading “Imagine a Bird”. Participants were challenged to depict their textile interpretation of any aspect related to bird life, with the additional rule to include a small piece of emerald fabric, the color sometimes used to celebrate on the occasion of a 35th anniversary. Annual EQA challenges are not juried, offering any member of a European Patchwork Guild the opportunity to enter and have their quilt exhibited at a variety of patchwork and quilting events all over Europe. Although the prescribed size of the quilts is relatively small – 35 x 35cm – we can thus enjoy a wide range of creative imagination and innovation, next to artworks that reflect the thematically manifold approach. Techniques, traditions and various cultural approaches offer an insight into deep connections with ancient national traditions as they continue in the individual European countries. The diversity of a continent’s relationship with our winged contemporaries is thus displayed through textile refinement, resulting in an aesthetic exhibition of creative work.