AQS Press Release

Paducah, Kentucky, USA- Pam J. Beal from Mass City is a semifinalist for the 2014 AQS QuiltWeek-Grand Rapids, Michigan, August 20-23, 2014 at the DeVos Place Convention Center.  Pam J. Beal has been chosen to display the quilt, Playing It, along with 336 others in this AQS contest.  First, Second, and Third place prizes in seven categories will be awarded, along with seven overall awards including Best of Show.  Winners will be announced at the show and posted on the AQS website, QuiltWeek.com.  More than $50,000 will be granted, including $10,000 for the Best of Show and $3,500 each for Best Bed, Best Wall, Best Hand, Best Home, and Best Longarm Workmanship, and Best Modern Quilts.  Regardless of how Playing It places in the final judging, all semifinalists' quilts will be displayed at the show, which is expected to draw more than 15,000 people.

AQS Founder and President Meredith Schroeder says, "Creativity and color are themes that run through the contest quilts this year.  Regardless of whether the attendees enjoy traditional bed quilts or innovative art quilts, there will be quilts for everyone to enjoy.

Quilts were entered in this international contest from 33 U.S. states and 7 other countries.  Come see a wide range of special exhibit quilts including:  Stitch Like an Egyptian; Quilted in Honor; SAQA Masters II; the Modern Quilt Challenge; the Pilgrim/Roy 2016 Invitational Challenge; the Exquisite Quilts of Michigan's own Aileen R. O'Toole Stannis; Quilt of Belonging-a 150 foot collaborative textile art project from Canada; and the AQS Author's Exhibit.

The American Quilter's Society hosts several shows annually, each with its own quilt contest.  Besides the Grand Rapids show, AQS hosts other prestigious shows in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Paducah, Kentucky; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Des Moines, Iowa.
                       For more information, please go to www.americanquilter.com