Volcano Art Center recently announced the Viewer’s Choice Award from the third biennial quilt show, “Quilts in the Forest — Winds of Change.”
The award was given to Phan Nguyen Barker for her work titled, “Light and Shadow.” The piece was selected from 35 quilt entries submitted from 18 different Hawaii Island quilters, many exploring new and innovative ways of quilting and stitching.
Barker is well known for her hand-dyed silk and abstract silk paintings which often include stunning textural needlework. Her works, available through VAC Gallery, range from simple, elegant hand-dyed silk to incredibly labor-intensive, complex, 3D works that borrow stitches and techniques from a range of fabric arts.
“It is no wonder that Phan’s work was selected, even amongst the other strong quilt entries,” said Gallery Manager Emily C. Weiss. “Watching people view Phan’s work, they often spend a little more time, allowing their thoughts to meander along the complex stitchery. The fact that her works are abstract allows viewers to bring their own experiences to the work and create their own interpretation. This allows her work to become much more personal to the viewer.”
For more information, and to view the show online, visit www.volcanoartcenter.org.