Meet the Jurors of Interpretations 2023

Susan T. Avila

As a juror, I looked for pieces that made sense as textiles—while there were some beautiful digital images submitted, I wanted the textile connection to be clear and logical. Images that allowed me to see and understand not only what the piece looked like but how it was made were crucial; as the image of the artwork was all I could see, professional quality photography took on extreme importance. I had to rely on the photo to explain the technical qualities, details of stitching, surface design, and nuance of textile, tactile qualities. In addition to the full view, the detail image helped complete the story. I would encourage artists whose work was not selected this time to not be disheartened but to think about how they present their work in the digital format. I also carefully read the artist statements to determine if the meanings attributed to the work made sense and related to the overall concept. It was a great pleasure working with the other jurors. We each brought our own technical expertise to the process as well as our own aesthetic preferences. It was clear that we all had distinctive points of view so it was an interesting and rewarding process to see how we could come together in agreement. Often this meant a compromise which speaks to the subjective nature of jurying work. Overall, it was exciting to see the exhibition take shape through our selections.

About the Juror

Susan T. Avila is an artist and Professor of Design at University of California, Davis. Her work bridges art, design, and fashion and she has exhibited her artwork in Argentina, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Finland, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, Swaziland, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, and Uruguay as well as numerous exhibitions in the United States. Her creative work is included in several books and periodicals and she has written articles about Textile Art and/or Fashion for several publications including Fiberarts, Ornament, Selvage, Surface Design Journal, and Textil Forum.

Dolores Miller

Thank you, thank you, thank you – to the artists who submitted their work to be considered for Interpretations 2023, to Visions Museum of Textile Art for the invitation to serve as a juror, and to my fellow jurors for a wonderfully interactive and enlightening selection process.

It takes courage and belief in the strength of one’s work to enter it in such a competitive arena as this. It was incumbent upon me, therefore, to respect that bravery by considering each piece carefully and thoughtfully. I looked at every submission at least two times before starting my individual selections and appreciated it when the detail shots pointed out important elements not easily seen when looking at digital images. The broad range and high quality of the work meant that difficult choices had to be made, but what an opportunity it was to explore and affirm what “best work” means to me: visually impactful and engaging, well executed, created with an original voice that uses fiber/textiles as its own unique artistic medium, rather than an imitation of another art form. The works evoked a variety of emotions and touched on many topics, were figurative and abstract, brilliant or subdued in color, richly detailed or deceptively simple. The cohesion of the exhibition, I believe, is that each piece commands the viewer’s attention.

Congratulations to the artists whose works were selected to be part of the exhibition! For those whose work wasn’t juried in, please try again! I hope that seeing the exhibition will be an enjoyable and enriching experience.

About the Juror

Dolores Miller is a textile artist living in San Jose, CA. Her art often expresses wonder at the vastness and complexity of the universe and explores our place in it – our sense of belonging. A recent series of work on this theme incorporates needle felting and unusual materials in wall and sculptural pieces.

Dolores’ love of textiles started early. She sewed, crocheted, and embroidered, but her first excursion into the quilt world was as an adult. Piecing appealed to her inner puzzle-solver; an interest also evidenced in her long career as a research analytical chemist.

The decision to focus on textile art as a means of self-expression was deliberate. Dolores began exhibiting her work with Contemporary Quilt and Fiber Artists in northern California. Her work has been juried into many regional and global exhibitions, including Visions: Interpretation 2021. An active SAQA member, Dolores has curated two regional exhibitions, chaired its Education Committee, founded a contemporary art discussion group, and currently serves as a board Vice-President.

Dolores holds an AB degree in chemistry from Bryn Mawr College and an MS degree in analytical organic chemistry from Stanford University and worked for IBM Research.

Jason Pollen

Looking at, and having to choose from, several hundred images of the works of dedicated quilt artists was both a joy and a daunting challenge. The most problematic aspect of this was seeing works from the miniature to the near monumental, all having similar dimensions on the screen. The other troubling aspect of this on-line jurying is that bold, graphic works grab our attention, while subtle, delicate works are harder to appreciate than they would be in person.

What I always look for is how each layer, each color, thread, stitch, line, shape, feel essential to the success of the completed piece. Some quilted works we saw could have been just as strong as paintings. Some were overworked, underworked, or just right. So it was imperative to re-review each work several times before giving it a score.

What we always look for is superb craft of course, but more importantly, a fresh and inventive approach to this age-old discipline. The three of us worked harmoniously to seek out what we considered the most compelling works and then, much more demanding, choosing to award the few that stood out the most. Having juried shows before, I know when I see the exhibition there will be some works that do not reflect what we saw on the screen. But almost always, the vibrant inner life, and all the creative choices that are front and center in the artworks transcend our expectations.

What an honor to see what so many quilters devote so much of their lives to. I thank each one of you for sharing your work with us. I also want to thank the other jurors and organizers of this event for their hard work and intention to make this the successful and memorable exhibition it is destined to be.

About the Juror

Jason Pollen is an internationally acclaimed artist, designer and educator.

He has been on the faculties of the Royal College of Art in London, Parsons School of Design, and Pratt Institute in New York City and as Professor and Chair of the Fiber Department at the Kansas City Art Institute. Pollen has had multiple solo shows in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has designed textiles for dozens of renowned fashion and home furnishings firms. Pollen has collaborated as scenic designer with the Kansas City Ballet.

He is Professor emeritus of Kansas City Art Institute, President emeritus of the Surface Design Association, and an American Craft Council Fellow. The Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina honored him with the Outstanding Artist Educator Award in 2012.