The Genesee Valley Quilt Club, Inc. (GVQC), with presenting sponsor Discount Sewing Center & Jackie Lynn's Fabric, will hold its signature biennial quilt festival on May 20-22, 2022, at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) Gordon Field House in Rochester, NY. Show hours are Fri. 9 AM-5 PM, Sat. 9 AM-5 PM and Sun. 10 AM–4 PM. Tickets are required and can be purchased online here.
The Genesee Valley QuiltFest is the largest quilt show in New York State, and one of the largest in the northeast. Over the course of the three-day show, the Genesee Valley QuiltFest expects to welcome around 3,000 visitors. The event will feature workshops, classes, a quilt show and a fashion show featuring quilted and fiber-related items.
Festival organizers expect more than 1,000 quilts will be on display at the 60,000 sq ft RIT Gordon Field House. The quilts will represent all styles and genres of quilting including modern, traditional, pieced, appliquéd and award winning. In addition, a section of the exhibit will be dedicated to quilts made by youth. The QuiltFest will also feature:
• GVQC Fashion Show - 50+ wearable fiber art will be on display Sunday May 22 11AM & 1PM
• Princess Diana Quilt Challenge Special exhibit and member skill sharing
• Over 70 quilt related vendors
• Workshops and lectures by nationally recognized award winning quilters.
The art and craft of quilting is alive and well. It is a visual feast for quilters and non-quilters alike. Whether done by hand or using the latest technology, quilting is intended to be a shared human experience. The Quiltfest’s planned activities are geared to all ages. “We encourage visitors to come and immerse themselves in this dynamic tradition,” says Julie Brandon, Media Coordinator.
One of the oldest running quilt clubs in America, the Genesee Valley Quilt Club was founded in 1936. Members of the club have had quilts entered in many national and international shows, winning prestigious awards in the past.
Quilting is an art form, but the medium is fabric. While the roots of quilting are utilitarian, a closer look at the detail, composition and design of the work highlights the artistic talent that goes into quilting. According to event organizers, the art quilt movement has made significant strides in the art world over the last 15 years. Because of the tactile nature of quilting – it is art you can touch.
A visitor to the 2022 Genesee Valley QuiltFest can expect a colorful display of quilts, as well as quilt-related tool – everything from scissors to high text machines that are programmed to quilt. The show floor will feature demonstrations of different quilting techniques, including the rising number of quilters who are not just using flat pieces of fabric, but also raw wool and felt.
Quilts will be available for display throughout the weekend, along with a gift gallery featuring quilted items and books. An on-site appraiser will also be available for any visitor looking to get a quilt appraised.
Organizers anticipated visitors will travel from Pennsylvania, New York State, Ohio, Canada and other areas along the East Coast.
About the Genesee Valley Quilt Club
Established in 1936, the Genesee Valley Quilt Club (GVQC) is one of the nation’s longest continuously meeting quilt clubs. The GVQC promotes and encourages quilt making throughout the greater Genesee Valley region. Quilts created by the members of GVQC have appeared in some of the most prestigious juried exhibitions in the United States and around the world.