The 14th Annual Atlanta Quilt Festival is headed to Southwest Arts Center, 915 New Hope Road. The exhibit, held in partnership with Acres of Ancestry, South Fulton Institute and Southern Poverty Law Center, will run Aug. 6 thru Sept. 2. Over 100 quilts celebrating the African-American heritage will be displayed.
This year’s exhibit will honor the life and legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis. The “Good Trouble Quilts,” a collection of more than 20 pieces, will be on display.
Congressman Lewis represented Georgia’s 5th District until his death. He was a longtime resident of the formerly unincorporated area now known as the City of South Fulton.
Quilt Artist Lola Jenkins is this year’s featured master quilter. She will lead two master classes in portrait quilts Aug. 19-20. Both classes are sold out, but Jenkins will present a trunk show and lecture August 20 at 4 p.m.
Additional exhibits include the Lives Taken, Lives Remembered exhibit and the annual AQF juried exhibit. The Lives Taken, Lives Remembered exhibit is a collection of eight quilts that capture the essence of documented lynchings that took place in Fulton County. The AQF features quilts of all types and techniques.
Participating quilters will compete for ribbons and prize money in four categories: Best Traditional Quilt, Best Art Quilt, Best Modern Quilt and Best African American Heritage Quilt.
Other festival activities include classes, workshops, trunk shows, lectures and vendors during the month of August. New this year is the Youth Introduction to Quilting class to further the festival’s mission of preserving the art of quilting for future generations.
The opening reception is free and open to the public and will be held Sunday, Aug. 7 from 12-4 p.m. In addition to viewing the exhibits, attendees can shop vendors, attend the Ribbon Ceremony at 2 p.m. and enjoy refreshments.
Photo: O.V. Brantley (right), founder of the Atlanta Quilt Festival, is a South Fulton resident. Her quilts are featured in the book “Georgia Quilts – Piecing Together a History.” (Credit: Observer Staff)
