Quilt Show poster unveiled

Feeling the inspiration that nothing other than nature can bring, there was only one thing for Kathy Deggendorfer to paint for this year's Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show poster: flowers and mountains. Her work "Nature's Inspiration" perfectly depicts this year's quilt show theme "Inspired by Nature."

Deggendorfer's poster was officially unveiled at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Poster Preview Party and Artist's Reception on Saturday afternoon, May 12, at High Desert Gallery. Myrna Dow, the gallery's owner, with her husband Todd, who assists with gallery operations and marketing, graciously hosted the event.

The affair brought many area art buffs together to collect a poster signed by the artist. Deggendorfer has already signed some 200 posters for the quilt show.

"I'm regretting that I have so many letters in my name," Deggendorfer said. "I'll be happy to sign as many as anybody wants."

In addition to the original watercolor from which the poster has been printed, Deggendorfer also exhibited her newest paintings and the mixed media collaborations she creates jointly with Tonye Phillips.

For many years Sisters noted illustrator and graphic designer Dennis McGregor designed the quilt show's poster. Then, last year quilt show founder Jean Wells decided to invite five or six artists to make submissions. Deggendorfer was one of those invited, although it was John Simpkins' design that caught Wells' eye for the 2006 poster. When given the opportunity to submit an idea again this year, Deggendorfer quickly responded.

"There are some criteria that she (Wells) puts into it. One thing is that it has to include the mountains, and the other is kind of the format so that it will fit in to the poster size and of course the theme," said Deggendorfer.

Deggendorfer's picture depicts a quilt thrown over an old rail fence with the mountains in the background or maybe a garden.

"My interpretation of this scene is sort of the border of the quilt as if it were laying over that fence," Deggendorfer said.

She hopes her image will challenge viewers to question if they are seeing a quilt or a garden.

"The whole idea is the way fabric is patterned. It's often patterned after nature," Deggendorfer said, mentioning the patterning of the quails' feathers and the pine cones in her creation.

Deggendorfer chose to paint flowers that the deer allow us to have in our gardens like California poppies, sunflowers, prairie cone flowers and bachelor buttons.

She incorporated her signature vibrant colors in her work.

"I use a liquid watercolor paint called Luma that is made in England," she said. It is the paint that allows Deggendorfer to achieve the brightness in her colors. "Yellow is the base of almost every painting. ... It's like you paint a sunshine on there first and then drop the other colors on to it," she said.

In making her submission this year, Deggendorfer presented sketches of her two concepts, the one that was chosen of the quilt/garden and another of flowers in a vase with the mountains seen through the vase.

Jackie Erickson, a master quilter who works at The Stitchin' Post, has made a pattern of Deggendorfer's work.

"They create a pattern and a kit," Deggendorfer said. From the pattern and kit, people are able to go home and make a quilt of the image that is depicted on the poster.