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