The artists, when presented together, represent the diversity among textile artists in the region who are working with the quilt form.

Notions of what defines a contemporary quilt, with reference to concept, design and form, is considered in the exhibition.

Marion Matthews has experimented with many styles of quilt making, she is continually drawn back to the traditional American way of quilt making.

Her quilts explore the rhythm and pattern created by repetitive blocks and often the controlled use of colour.

She considers her quilts to be more about the fabric than the patchwork, and now prefers to use fabrics like recycled kimono silks, or fabrics that she has collected on travels in Africa and Asia.

Maria Cook was frustrated by the traditional range of fabrics available to her and also began using kimono fabric.

Japanese textiles have been a source of inspiration to her with the tones of the taupes, subdued indigos, and distinctive designs.

Her recent quilts are made from these old fabrics, but are limited to either blue or white. The traditional patterns constructed in this reduced palette place the quilts firmly in the contemporary.

Sue Cunningham is drawn to patterns and shapes that are found in natural settings. The passage of time and the evidence of human presence in the landscape are also an influence.

Her work references the tradition of quilt making with the use of layered and stitched fabric, but she incorporates digital images into her work in altered and distorted ways.

Deborah McArdle forgoes the quilt form with her fine layered silk works.

Working with discarded silk off cuts, many of the fabrics she uses have been plant dyed then marked with printing.

There is an exploration of construction methods using sheer fabrics, which subtly reference the quilt form and the tradition of layered textiles.

'Integrate / Separate continues to November 30 2014.

Anthony Camm

Director

Ararat Regional Art Gallery