Show Your Work – Over the past seven years, Kelly Spell has exhibited nearly 40 quilts at more than 70 shows around the world. In this lecture, she’ll share what she’s learned from those experiences and why it’s important for quilters to submit their work to exhibitions. Kelly will also reveal her favorite places to find calls for entry, tips to track submissions, and best practices for photographing quilts, writing an artist statement, and shipping to shows. Plus, learn how to determine if a specific exhibition is a good fit for your work and artistic practice. By sharing her journey into the world of exhibitions, Kelly hopes to inspire YOU to show your work!
Kelly’s modern quilts are a celebration of color and shape. They have been featured in numerous publications, shows, and museums around the world. The abstract designs highlight dynamic color combinations that emphasize contrast in value and hue. Kelly works primarily with solid fabrics, and she enjoys using Procion MX Fiber Reactive Dyes to create her own hand-dyed palettes. Kelly started quilting in 2014. Curves are a frequent motif in her work—she says they feel like old friends she returns to again and again. In 2020, she began exploring circles and swirls exclusively to distill ideas and define her point of view. Her artistic practice involves a variety of techniques—some are cutting edge and others are rooted in the time-honored tradition of American quiltmaking. You can see more of Kelly’s work and read her writing on her website: www.kellyspell.com. Find her on Instagram @kellyspell.
