Awards presented at Vandalia Gathering Concert, May 26
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH) unveiled the annual exhibition, Quilts and Wall Hangings 2023, in the Great Hall of the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, and announced the winners of the juried exhibition at the opening concert of the annual Vandalia Gathering.
This year, the popular juried exhibition features 67 creative quilts and wall hangings representing the talents of West Virginians from 21 counties. There are 43 quilts and 24 wall hangings in the exhibition, which will remain on display through Sept. 20, 2023.
“Quilt making is one of West Virginia’s oldest and most treasured art forms,” said Charles Morris, museums director. “This annual display is a favorite for many West Virginians and for quilters and quilt lovers from around the country. It is one of our most popular displays.”
The exhibition features the work of 54 quilters. Winners were selected by Karen Kendo, a quilter since 1995, longarm quilting business owner and NQA Certified Judge from Charleston, S.C. Kendo selected winners in four categories: pieced quilts, applique quilts, mixed/other quilts and wall hangings. Quilt awards are $750 for first place, $400 for second place and $300 for third place. The wall hanging awards are $400 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third place. The department made one purchase, and the juror designated a Best of Show prize of $100. In addition, four nonmonetary honorable mention distinctions were made.
First place winners in this year’s exhibition include Carol Miller of Bruceton Mills, Preston County, for Baltimore Album in the Applique category (Best of Show); Rhonda Braham of Independence, Preston County, for Candied Fans, in the Pieced Quilt category; Linda Dotson Vaughan of Caldwell, Greenbrier County, for Gardner’s Alphabet in the Mixed/Other Quilt category; and Amy Pabst of LeRoy, Roane County, for Sari Not Sari in the Wall Hanging category.
The Culture Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
For more information about this year’s exhibition, contact Rachel Keeney, exhibits coordinator, at 304-558-0220 or Rachel.M.Keeney@wv.gov.
QUILT AND WALL HANGING EXHIBITORS (Alphabetical Order)
Dianna Adkins
Ona, Cabell County
Tennessee Waltz
Pieced
NFS
Ilene Allen
Canvas, Nicholas County
Snowflakes
Long arm quilter: Kimberly Roberts
Pieced
NFS
and
Spring
Wall Hanging
NFS
Geneal Bailey
LeRoy, Jackson County
A New Age
Pieced
NFS
and
Harvest Dawn
Long arm quilter: Marian Schreckengost
Wall Hanging
NFS
Melissa Balser
Pond Gap, Kanawha County
Elegant Trails
Pieced
NFS
Diana L. Beverage
Marlinton, Pocahontas County
Movie Star
Pieced
$1,040
HONORABLE MENTION
and
Modern 101
Wall Hanging
$130
Norma Blankenship
Alum Creek, Lincoln County
Pieced Evergreen
Hand quilted
Pieced
NFS
Rhonda Braham
Independence, Preston County
Candied Fans
Pieced
NFS
FIRST PLACE, PIECED
Jeanie Brown
Summersville, Nicholas County
Haywood
Long arm quilter: A Pair of Longarms
Pieced
NFS
Ginny Caplinger
Vienna, Wood County
Project of Doom
Wall Hanging
NFS
Ramonda Carpenter
Walton, Roane County
Joseph’s Coat
Long arm quilter: Marylea Young
Pieced
NFS
Emily Christian
Charleston, Kanawha County
Baker’s Dozen
Wall Hanging
NFS
Claudia Covey
Gassaway, Braxton County
Floral Wreaths
Long arm quilter: Karen Phillips-Swhallon
Mixed/Other
NFS
SECOND PLACE, MIXED/OTHER
Deborah Thayer Curtis
Elkins, Randolph County
Circle Play
Long arm quilter: Diana Beverage
Pieced
NFS
THIRD PLACE, PIECED
Joyce Davis
Cottageville, Jackson County
Color My World
Pieced
NFS
Elwanda Dennison
Mt. Clare, Harrison County
Crazy Double Wedding Ring
Mixed/Other
NFS
Brenda Fisher
Charleston, Kanawha County
Rolling Stars
Pieced
NFS
Connie Forth
Barboursville, Cabell County
Blue and Brown Medallion
Long arm quilter: Lovenia Casto
Pieced
NFS
HONORABLE MENTION
Vicky Graham
Kingwood, Preston County
Sunburst
Long arm quilter: Rhonda Braham
Wall Hanging
NFS
and
Stay Home Stay Safe
Long arm quilter: Diana Beverage
Pieced
NFS
HONORABLE MENTION
Pat Habenschuss
Charleston, Kanawha County
A Portrait of a Flower
Wall Hanging
NFS
Kit Kerns Hambrick
Ripley, Jackson County
Heritage
Long arm quilter: K7
Pieced
NFS
HONORABLE MENTION
Victoria Hansel-Kuehn
Athens, Mercer County
A Garden for All Seasons
Long arm quilter: The Sewing Gallery
Pieced
NFS
Linda Diane Heldreth
Princeton, Mercer County
To The Point
Long arm quilter: The Sewing Gallery
Pieced
NFS
Joni Hoffman
Duck, Braxton County
Ohio Star and Oak Leaves
Hand quilted
Wall Hanging
NFS
Beverly Javins
Charleston, Kanawha County
Kaleidoscopic Play
Pieced
NFS
Beverly and Bill Javins
Charleston, Kanawha County
Grammy, Can We Make Smores?
Wall Hanging
NFS
THIRD PLACE, WALL HANGING
Fran Kordek
Morgantown, Monongalia County
Mom’s Star
Wall Hanging
NFS
Carol Linger
South Charleston, Kanawha County
Chilhowie
Long arm quilter: Phyllis Hardley Quilts by Phyllis
Pieced
NFS
Donna Lowe
Charleston, Kanawha County
Pinkerton
Wall Hanging
NFS
Jennifer Luppold
Charleston, Kanawha County
Ferris Wheel Flowers
Wall Hanging
NFS
Edna Meisel
Huntington, Cabell County
Quilt Block Schoolhouses
Long arm quilter: Heidi Smithers
Pieced
NFS
Carol A. Miller
Bruceton Mills, Preston County
Baltimore Album
Hand quilted
Applique
NFS
FIRST PLACE, APPLIQUE – BEST OF SHOW
Juanita Moran
Masontown, Preston County
Golden Anniversary Bouquet
Hand quilted
Wall Hanging
NFS
Cheryl Morgan
Moundsville, Marshall County
Grand Central Variation
Pieced
NFS
and
Laura Heine Seahorse – Technique Modified
Wall Hanging
NFS
HONORABLE MENTION
Pamela Tice Newman
Charleston, Kanawha County
Moda Blockheads 3
Long arm quilter: JLK
Pieced
NFS
Amy Pabst
LeRoy, Roane County
Sari Not Sari
Wall Hanging
NFS
FIRST PLACE, WALL HANGING
Julia Plunkett
Wheeling, Ohio County
Ribbons of Valor
Long arm quilter: Leslie Allen
Pieced
NFS
and
Patriots Home
Wall Hanging
NFS
Cookie Ranson
Poca, Putnam County
Washtub Garden
Long arm quilter: JK Friend
Wall Hanging
NFS
HONORABLE MENTION
Kimberly Roberts
Nettie, Nicholas County
Churnclash Almost
Pieced
NFS
Edith Cooper Shaver
Barrockville, Marion County
Edith’s Finale
Hand quilted by Nonna Frieden
Mixed/Other
NFS
THIRD PLACE, MIXED/OTHER
and
Stitching Something Beautiful
Hand sewing by Joni Hoffman
Wall Hanging
NFS
SECOND PLACE, WALL HANGING
Anne Sizemore
Hurricane, Putnam County
White Knights
Long arm quilter: JK
Pieced
$1,950
SECOND PLACE, PIECED
Gayleen Smith
Cross Lanes, Kanawha County
Designer Flea Market
Long arm quilter: Jenn Tincher
Applique
$1,950
THIRD PLACE, APPLIQUE
and
Circular Orbit
Long arm quilter: Jenn Tincher
Wall Hanging
$195
Cheryl Sparks
Parkersburg, Wood County
Troops in Formation
Long arm quilter: Beth Sellers
Pieced
$618
and
Flowers in the Attic (Window)
Wall Hanging
NFS
Nancy Swisher
Fairmont, Monongalia County
Meteor Storm
Long arm quilter: Rhonda Braham
Pieced
NFS
Mary Terrell
Huntington, Cabell County
Rainbow of Jewels Mirage Quilt
Long arm quilter: Sheila England
Pieced
NFS
Linda Dotson Vaughan
Caldwell, Greenbrier County
Gardner’s Alphabet
Long arm quilter: Amy Calloccia
Mixed/Other
NFS
FIRST PLACE, MIXED/OTHER
and
Woody
Wall Hanging
$520
Brenda Vinson
Scott Depot, Putnam County
Cathedral Window
Mixed/Other
$2,000
Demmie Darlene Webb
Huntington, Cabell County
Log Cabin
Pieced
NFS
Michelle Weese
Ravenswood, Jackson County
La Tuilerie
Long arm quilter: A Pair of Longarms
Pieced
NFS
Beth White
Dunbar, Kanawha County
Reflections of Autumn
Long arm quilter: Jeremy Davis
Pieced
NFS
Janice Williams
Princeton, Mercer County
Spring Bouquet
Long arm quilter: The Sewing Gallery
Applique
NFS
SECOND PLACE, APPLIQUE
Joan Williams
Lashmeet, Mercer County
Double the Fun
Long arm quilter: The Sewing Gallery
Pieced
NFS
and
Antique Lighthouse
Long arm quilter: Pat Roediger
Wall Hanging
NFS
Connie Workman
Ivydale, Clay County
Rebecca’s Sunrise
Pieced
NFS
Marylea Young
Walton, Roane County
Aunt Gracie Garden
Mixed/Other
NFS
and
Bunnies Diversified
Wall Hanging
NFS
Noca Young
Walton, Roane County
Mariner in a Pickle
Pieced
NFS
Photograph: Rhonda Braham (left), of Independence, Preston County, won first place in the Pieced category of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History’s (WVDACH) annual Quilt and Wall hangings Exhibition with her quilt “Candied Fans.” WVDACH Curator Randall Reid-Smith (right) presents her award. Photo courtesy of Stephen Brightwell, WVDACH.
