Visions Art Quilt Gallery is happy to announce the arrival of "Playing With A Full Deck: Art Quilts from the Warren and Nancy Brakensiek Contemporary Quilt Collection."

These quilts were originally organized by Sue Pierce and circulated by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). This show is a fabulous collection of works by 56 artists (two pieces are collaborations) who have each interpreted one card of an entire deck of playing cards including two jokers. Many of the artists you'll recognize from the art quilt elite as well as other Quilt Visions exhibitions.

The project was conceived in 1992, when Sue Pierce was thinking about "possible conceptual challenges with unifying themes." Realizing that playing cards are useless by themselves she decided she needed to have the whole deck represented, and thus was born the opportunity for art quilters to showcase their work using a universally familiar
subject matter. Quilters were given only a few parameters with which to design and had the chance to use the card of their choice as long as it was still available. The finished piece was required to be 28 by 18 inches, but the artist was free to use any method or material.

You�ll see a mosaic of the six of clubs by Jen Shurtliff, a Native-American inspired joker by Susan Shie and James Acord, and the depiction of a "Poker Party" in the five of hearts by Yvonne Porcella. Pictured at left is the "Three of Diamonds" by Caryl Bryer Fallert in her distinctive three-dimensional style with folds and tucks creating an optical feast. Susan Ball Faeder takes her intrepretation quite literally by stitching the likenesses of diamond jewels, as does Barbara Mortenson with her ten human hearts. One of the more memorable pieces is by the late Karen Felicity Berkenfeld in which the "Jack of Diamonds" is portrayed by Jackie Robinson on a baseball diamond.

Please mark your calendar and be sure to visit the Gallery October 17 through January 4 to view this wonderful exhibit in person.