By their nature, quilts are a lot like a theatrical production - many seemingly unrelated fabrics and prints and threads, like the many and varied elements of a production, coming together to create something artful in which its viewers want to wrap themselves.

I would like to offer something to the Arizona Broadway Theatre patrons and the extended community that could be an inspiring part of the the theatre-going experience and, hopefully, serve a larger purpose by benefitting the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS organization (www.broadwaycares.org).

I'll offer a few notes/ideas here, but the concept is still evolving as I work with producer Kim Russell at BC/EFA on a way to make this local event become successful enough to warrant bringing it to their community and mounting it on a larger scale in the same way some of their great fundraising events like Broadway Bears and The Easter Bonnet Competition have evolved. Kim has a very strong interest in this project and agrees that working with a local theater is a great starting point.

I'd like to capture the spirit of Broadway shows - predominantly musicals and specifically those produced by the Arizona Broadway Theatre - in artistically created quilts and mixed fiber art pieces that evoke the nature of the shows. The execution of these pieces and the exact end result will evolve during the creative/design process. At this early point in that process, I can see doing this a few different ways.

Originally, I envisioned an exhibit of quilted pieces displayed in the ABT lobby area and saw it as an interactive experience for the arriving patrons to visit "stations" arranged around the art quilts consisting of the quilted work and informational materials to read and, perhaps, pieces of music playing from the shows that inspired them. There are many ways the pieces could be displayed and this is just one thought.

As a benefit to BC/EFA, some or all of these pieces might be auctioned or raffled in a fundraising event sponsored by ABT and, possibly, others. I may have some of my own sponsors involved.

Some preliminary brainstorming/notes on the quilts/artworks -

Each piece could represent a song or a theme from a show, or maybe a character or one of their memorable moments. A few lyrics or words might be illustrated or conveyed through multiple mediums or with thread, fiber, and fabric alone. Perhaps photographic elements and imagery of productions can be printed on fabric and incorporated into the pieces, also.

One possible style would be a posterized look that's graphic and blends the contemporary imagery of theatrical posters. A finished piece might be a collage of several elements or ideas or it could be a single striking image accompanied by a few artfully incorporated words such as the quilt I created for the revival cast of Godspell, currently on Broadway (at left).

Some pieces might be framed and others might be more like quilted banners or wall-hangings. As a costume designer, I might even opt to design some “wearable art” pieces. Creating a variety of pieces will appeal to a broader spectrum of people.

Imagery from the set and costumes of a particular production would be useful as would any scrap swatches/materials that could be provided for possible inclusion the pieces.

Maybe worth some thought -

I bring a good-sized niche audience of quilters, crafters, and other creative spirits who would be very interested in following this process and the event if I were to document it with a feature in my magazine and on my show. I can almost certainly say that I could get other quilting/crafting shows on board - through my publisher and others. I can even see doing a souvenir-style book on the details of this process - from concept through fruition.

I've submitted my costume design resume to ABT and I think it could be great publicity for this event to design a show in conjunction with it (if that's a possibility).

All of this can help create a buzz among a group of people who might not otherwise know about ABT or BC/EFA.

These are just some preliminary thoughts and I’m completely open to your ideas on how this might work at Arizona Broadway Theatre.

We’d like to kick off the larger event with a teaser at the Broadway Flea Market in September 2012 if we can make this local effort successful.

Thanks for your consideration. I appreciate the chance to share my ideas with you.


Cheers,

A design for a banner quilt based on Godspell



Almost finished...