Videos of the artists talking about their art works and their messages produced by U.S. Mission Geneva:

• Art Quilter Luana Rubin
• Art Quilter Donnette A. Cooper
• Art Quilter Phyllis Stephens

Have a look at the pictures of the exhibit grand opening taken by the United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153760925763876.1073742237.57207008875&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/usmissiongeneva/photos/a.10153760925763876.1073742237.57207008875/10153760948158876/?type=3&theater

Enjoy!

This March, a remarkable art quilt exhibit will be held at THE UNITED NATIONS, PALAIS DES NATIONS.
The United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva & American Exchange Rome are working in partnership to spread an extremely important message regarding water & its impact on the lives of Women.
41 Artists, Curators, Quilting Guilds joining hands for a good cause.

Water is Life: Clean water and its impact on the lives of women and girls around the world

A Call for Submissions

A challenge quilt exhibit to debut at the United Nations headquarters, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland in March 2016 to commemorate the UN World Water Day. Organized by the United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva in partnership with American Exchange Rome and Quilt for Change.

Quilters are invited to create and submit art quilts that address the issue of clean water and its impact on the lives of women and girls. Participating quilters can highlight any aspect of water – for example, how access to clean water can affect women’s daily lives, health, safety, the environment, mobility, income and development or any other aspect related to the theme, including women’s relationship to water, such as fishing, acquaculture and even transport. We are seeking a wide range of interpretations and a balance of subject matter.

For inspiration and information on the theme, you might want to visit:

• water.org/water-crisis/water-facts/women
• www.ifad.org/english/water/index.htm
• www.un.org/en/globalissues/water
• www.saqa.com
• California’s water crisis

Previous Exhibitions:

USUN Geneva 2014 Quilt Exhibit

USUN Geneva 2013 Quilt Exhibit

USUN Geneva 2011 Quilt Exhibit

© 2015 Melissa Heredia-Nieda & AMERICAN EXCHANGE ROME|AER

Exhibit Curator’s Update based on Recent Questions

The exhibit, under the auspices of the United Sates Mission to the United Nations (USUN) in Geneva Switzerland, is planned for 2 years. The first year the USUN Geneva will book the exhibit at United Nations venues such as Paris, London, Brussels, Bangkok, Rome and New York. They will send all the quilts to each exhibit through diplomatic channels and in diplomatic pouches. The second year, the US exhibit partner, “Quilt for Change,” is arranging US venues such as the New England Quilt Museum (where they have held previous USUN Geneva exhibits).

You may enter as many quilts with electronic submission as you desire. The size must be no larger than 78 x 78 inches square (200 x 200 CM). It can be smaller than this, too. Of course, it can be a rectangle, for example 30 x 78 inches, either vertically or horizontally. Keep each side smaller than 78 inches or 200cm. The exhibit area in the Palais de Nations is extremely large, so large scale quilts are suitable or even grouping/connecting several quilts together is an idea. A long skinny quilt(s) not longer than 78 inches or 200 cm is another possibility. The exhibit panels are 200 cm in height. Another possibility – two or more artists may combine their works to make one entry.

As an entrant, if your quilt is accepted, Stateside artists will be given a DPO address (formerly called APO). Regular US postage rates, registered mail, etc. will get the package to Rome at a nominal cost. Sending your quilt to Rome is the only cost for the artists. FedEx and UPS also deliver to the US Embassy in Rome. If you send a work by DPO, you can track it with the US post office. The same, if you decide to use FedEx or UPS and they all have shipping insurance, too. Do check with your personal insurance carrier.

In Rome, the quilts will be photographed for a paper catalog, (patrons: eQuilter and Aurifil). From Rome the quilts will go by diplomatic pouch to Geneva, Switzerland for installation in the inaugural exhibit and opening reception. USUN and UN dignitaries will attend the reception, along with patrons and participating artists. This is an educational exhibit originated and sent by the US government from one US mission to another and no customs are involved. New York, most probably, will be last on the USUN schedule – for the exhibit to enter the US.

The artwork is not insured by the government, neither in transit nor on United Nations exhibit sites, not even exhibit venues in the States. This would be the responsibility for each artist.  The US government sends highly classified things by diplomatic pouch; I can’t image a diplomatic pouch could be “lost.” And in all these UN venues, there are cameras everywhere. In Rome, we have armed security guards and US Marines both inside and outside plus outside the entry gates we have Italian military with machine guns. This is extreme high security. When I was in Geneva, at the UN, they would not admit an “Ambassador ” to the compound who was screaming about missing a meeting. His documents were not in order. All the guests for the reception will be on a special entry list and photographed individually as they enter.

The electronic submission deadline is Nov. 1, 2015 (US Pacific Coast midnight time) with two photos, artist’s statement and bio. We’ve given ourselves a month to do the judging. If we have many quilts to review, it might be a month or if there are fewer entries, possibly a shorter timeframe. At present, I know of three quilts which are finished and the artists are preparing their statements and bios.

There will be five judges: one from Quilt for Change, one from the USUN Geneva, myself and two professional, qualified judges.

This art quilt exhibit is a unique opportunity for artists to participate in a US government project by way of an art quilt exhibit.

Susan Fiorentino, Exhibit Curator

August 5, 2015

Artist are invited to create and submit art quilts that address the issue of clean water and its impact on the lives of women and girls.

Criteria for Selection

1. Interpretation of theme- Water is Life: Clean water and its impact on the lives of women and girls around the world.
2. Aesthetic value (use of color, overall visual design).
3. Workmanship (construction, quilting, finishing techniques).
4. The organizers reserve the right to reject any quilt which is inappropriate, offensive or a standard unsuitable for exhibition at a United Nations venue. Guidelines are available from the exhibit curator.

© 2015 Melissa Heredia-Nieda & AMERICAN EXCHANGE ROME|AER

Quilt Submission Schedule

November 1, 2015, midnight, Pacific Standard Time (PST)- Entry email with artist’s statement, artist’s biography and two quilt images must be received with the exhibit registrar at exhibit.registrar@american-exchange-rome.org
December 1, 2015 – Notification will be sent via email as to whether or not your quilt is accepted. Complete mailing/shipping address with instructions for sending your quilt for exhibition will be included at that time. Quilts originating from North America will use a diplomatic pouch address – DPO (formerly known as APO) with US postal rates. A shipping address to Rome, Italy and a delivery by hand address will be provided.
January 15, 2016 – On or before January 15, 2016, quilts must be received in Rome, Italy, where the quilts will be photographed by the curator and prepared for installation.
Entrant is responsible for the initial shipping to Rome, Italy (or hand delivery) plus insurance costs, if desired, during the exhibit. Security is provided, however, quilts entered are at entrant’s own risk.

The exhibition will run at UN headquarters, Palais des Nations, in Geneva, Switzerland in March 2016, and will then travel in Europe and North America for upwards of two years thereafter.

Entering a quilt for an invitational exhibit is a big step and we, as organizers, do not take your efforts or our responsibilities lightly. We will strive to keep quilts safe and secure. Although the greatest care and respect will be taken with all entries, the quilts are exhibited entirely at the risk of the owner. Please arrange for your own quilt’s insurance throughout the exhibit period. Due to the nature of the U.S. Government and United Nations facilities, this exhibit could be relocated or cancelled at any time with little or no notice.

The organizers reserve the right to photograph any work for publicity purposes, acknowledging the artist, without compensation. Photographs of quilts, exhibitions and quotes from artist’s statement may be used in informational materials for the exhibit.

© 2015 Melissa Heredia-Nieda & AMERICAN EXCHANGE ROME|AER

Quilt Submission Guidelines

The exhibition is open to anyone who receives this call. Quilts made by individuals, two persons or a group are allowed, and more than one entry per artist/group may be submitted.
There is no entry fee.
Entries must be accompanied by an artist’s statement no more than 250 words in length, and an artist’s biography of no more than 100 words. The text submitted may be used in press releases and in publications, and may be edited for these purposes. A strong artist’s statement is crucial, explaining the concept of the quilt, linking it specifically to the theme of the challenge and sharing your inspiration for the quilt.
All entries must consist of three layers, and be quilted by hand, by machine, tied or a combination of these techniques.
Quilts must be smaller than 78 inches square (200cm square). Please state the measurements of your entry.
Quilts based on photographs must have the permission of the photographer so as to protect copyright.
Entries must be of fabric in good condition and ready to exhibit, clean and free of smoke and odors.
No commercial kits of any form will be accepted.

© 2015 Melissa Heredia-Nieda & AMERICAN EXCHANGE ROME|AER

Quilt Submission Procedures

Deadline for electronic submissions is November 1, 2015, midnight, Pacific Standard Time (PST) .
Entry is electronic and should contain the following information: name, address, home telephone & cellular number, title of quilt, artist’s statement and biography.
Include two digital images of the quilt, one of which shows the whole quilt including the edges (indicate the top of the quilt), and one of which provides a detail of the quilt. Images should be in JPEG format no larger than 800 x 600 dpi. Image must of the completed work, not work in progress.
Email entry to exhibit.registrar@american-exchange-rome.org
Quilts must include two sleeves across the entire back of the quilt, one 6 inch (15 cm) sleeve at the top no more than ¼ inch from the top edge, and one 4 inch (10 cm) sleeve along the bottom of the quilt. If the quilt is wider than 39 inches (100cm) the sleeves must be split at the center to allow an opening for installation.
Each quilt must have a fabric label sewn on the back with the following information: name of entrant, address/contact info and title of the quilt.
Submissions will be will be juried. Notification of acceptance or rejection will be sent by email. The decision of the exhibit curator is final and no queries or correspondence pertaining to the selection process will be considered.
© 2015 Melissa Heredia-Nieda & AMERICAN EXCHANGE ROME|AER

“In addition, the United States would like to discuss the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, ‎particularly focusing on artistic expression and creativity.

Artistic expression and creativity as a form of freedom of expression is fundamental to the development of vibrant cultures and the functioning of democratic societies.

Artistic expression has given us some of the great social commentary on humanity and the human condition. We are a richer human race for having the genius of Shakespeare, Shostakovich, Rumi, Octavio Paz, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Frida Kahlo, Chinua Achebe, and Nadine Gordimer – just to name a few. Today, contemporary artists like Ai Weiwei and Salif Keita are inspiring and challenging us.

The right to freedom of expression, including artistic and creative expression, is enshrined under article 19 of the ICCPR. States Parties to the ICESCR recognize the right, under Article 15, to benefit from the protection of interests resulting from one’s artistic production. Artistic expression is critical to the human spirit. At HRC-23, we welcomed the report by the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, which addressed the right to freedom of expression and creativity.

Artistic expressions and creations have come under particular attack because they convey specific messages and articulate symbolic values in a powerful way. A satirist provoking laughter and derision is as powerful as a writer urging change. It is little wonder that dictators seek to silence art.

Freedom of opinion and expression is enshrined in the UDHR and the ICCPR, and the United States defends this right vigorously wherever it is threatened. Likewise, the United States takes seriously any threats to the right to freedom of expression, including artistic and creative expression, and we look forward to engaging on this issue further.”

– Ambassador Keith M. Harper, Representative of the United States to the United Nations Human Rights Council; Geneva; March 13, 2015.

Complete text:
https://geneva.usmission.gov/2015/03/13/freedom-of-expression-including-artistic-expression-is-a-universal-right-enshrined-in-iccpr/

For inclusion on the exhibit’s mail list and/or any questions concerning the exhibit, please contact:

Susan Fiorentino, Exhibit Curator: exhibit.curator@american-exchange-rome.org

Allison and Dick Wilbur: QuiltforChange@me.com

 
© 2015 Melissa Heredia-Nieda & AMERICAN EXCHANGE ROME|AER

 Organizers

U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva

American Exchange Rome

Quilt for Change

Patrons

eQuilter.com

Aurifil

• Melissa Heredia-Nieda, MSc, BEng – IT Delivery Manager, User eXperience Evaluator & Designer : Visual Artist, Web designer, & Graphic designer
• Lillian Barbano: Exhibit registrar & Editor

© 2015 Melissa Heredia-Nieda & AMERICAN EXCHANGE ROME|AER