INSPIRATION FROM THE LAND Presented by Dianne Firth

Making quilts for warmth, comfort and beauty has a long tradition in Australia. More recently, in line with similar movements overseas, the art quilt movement where quilts are appreciated as art has developed into a strong and vital artform. In this presentation Dianne provides an overview of contemporary quiltmaking in Australia, traces the development of the art quilt movement, and shows how inspiration from the land and patterns of nature inform both her and other Australian quilters’ art making.

Dianne is Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Design at the University of Canberra, Deputy Chairperson of the ACT Heritage Council, Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects; accredited member of Craft ACT; member of ACT Quilters, the Quilters Guild of NSW and Ozquilt Network Inc. Dianne advises the ACT Government on issues related to landscape heritage, trees and urban design. She was awarded an Order of Australian Medal for her services to Landscape Architecture and to Education in 2017. She is recognized nationally and internationally for her textile art. Her works have been selected for major juried international and national exhibitions, publications for public and private collections including the Museum of Art and Design in New York, the National Gallery of Australian and Canberra Museum and Gallery.