IKEA Project Patchwork Art Quilt Challenge
In August 2008, IKEA Twin Cities challenged local contemporary quilters to design art quilts using IKEA fabrics. IKEA partnered with Textile Center, a non-profit art center located in Minneapolis, giving IKEA a way to connect to the local fiber art community.
Fifty packets of fabric were given out on a first come, first served basis and interested quilters started lining up outside the Textile Center as early as 5 am to get their fabrics. Participants had a deadline of January 31, 2009 to complete their works of art and on Saturday March 21, the quilts were displayed at IKEA Twin Cities for the world to see. A panel of local judges awarded prizes, including a $1000 IKEA Studio makeover to the Best of Show. Proceeds from the sale of the art quilts will be donated to the Textile Center’s summer youth education programs, which teach sewing, knitting, dyeing, felting and many more fiber art techniques to kids and teens.
Working with these unusual fabrics really brought the local art quilting community together. Artists got together to work on their quilts and brainstorm together. Many swapped and traded different fabrics from their packets. Several were so inspired by the IKEA idea that they created their very first art quilt just for the challenge. The Textile Center got calls looking for advice on “How much quilting does it really need to have? My sewing machine can’t stitch through this many layers!” About 25 artists with their friends and supporters met up at IKEA for the celebration and unveiling. Hundreds of people were able to see the quilts and vote for the People's Choice award winner.
After the exhibition, the quilts traveled back to Textile Center. Selected quilts will be on display at the Center and for sale in this Art Quilt Shop through July 2009.
