Quilters' art is focus of new exhibit at Gallery 202 Thursday, March 16, 2006 By LIN RICE ’ThisWeek Staff Writer Quilt-making can be a rigid process, governed by traditional, accepted rules to which the quilter must adhere to create a piece of artwork that is both beautiful and familiar. Members of the Art Quilt Alliance toss the rules out the window. All this month, Gallery 202, Partners in Art Inc. is displaying work by the Westerville-based quilting circle that strays from the norm when it comes to crafting their art. "I began as a traditional quilter, doing large bedside quilts, but I slowly started liking to use my own designs and get away from traditional patterns," said Dorothy Flynn, of Eastmoor, one of the group's original members. "Traditional quilting often relies on technique," said Renee Kropat, Gallery 202's owner and curator. "In terms of some, this means the patterning, using accepted patterns, and quilts are traditionally supposed to be three layers. Here you may see a thread out and just waving in the breeze, and it's appropriate. It's meant to be that way." Kropat said the display, which will continue until March 25, showcases about 43 quilts by 16 different artists who used such disparate materials as pieces of metal, woven and dyed cloth, and even cardboard puzzle pieces incorporated into standard quilts. "When it's right, you get the feel that it's right," said Judy Krol, of Westerville, another Alliance member. "For me, it's a rather slow process, but I'm trying to expand the size of what I do." Many of the Art Quilt Alliance's unique quilts come as challenges the group members toss out to one another as ideas. These suggestions must then be turned into an art quilt. As an example, Krol cited one of her quilts, called "On a Clear Day." "The challenge was to come up with something that was a view out of a window," she said. "In response, I made a quilt showing the view of the desert from an airplane window, inspired from my travels in the Southwest. It was a fun challenge, done with different techniques." Flynn's work also defies traditions. Two of her works on display are "The Man in the Moon," a collage of varying blue colors, and "Strip Study One," which includes a black background incorporating veins of red and gold fabric running through a dark backdrop. "I guess I never really used traditional in the 'traditional' sense," Flynn said. "I've gotten to where I do almost completely contemporary styles, and I do a lot of wall hangings." Kropat said viewers will be impressed by the exhibit, which took workers more than six hours to hang in the gallery. "There's lots of fun and unusual stuff you wouldn't find on a quilt in here," she said. "Some have been painted on with neon paint. Four of them are weavings where the quilter has to weave different pieces of fabric together to make the quilt." Flynn said the Art Quilt Alliance originally formed in the mid-1970s. "There were a few other groups in town, but we didn't want to go traditional, we wanted to go more contemporary," she said. The Alliance began with a group of about three or four women, Flynn said, all of whom were quilters. The group has now grown to more than 30 members, and also includes a dollmaker and members who specialize in other forms of needlework. The group meets the second Sunday of every month at the Cultural Arts Center in Columbus, 139 W. Main St., beginning at 1:30 p.m. For more information on the group, contact Dorothy Flynn at 614-237-8358. The art quilt display will be hanging on the walls of Gallery 202, Partners in Art Inc. 38 N. State St., until March 25. For more information on the gallery or the exhibit, call 614-890-8202, or visit www.artswesterville.com. "I know we have had a mild winter, but walking inside the walls created by these quilts makes one fee so cozy and warm," Kropat said.