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USC graduate in the quilting ‘olympics’
What a pearler! After 20 years sewing the seeds of her art, Eudlo’s Trish Alcorn has made the finals of the World Quilt Competition.
Her poignant work, ‘February Twin’, will be one of 10 quilts representing Australia at the competition premiere in Manchester, near Boston in the US, from 13-16 August.
“It’s really exciting because it’s so hard to get into the international events,” said the University of the Sunshine Coast graduate and mum of three.
Trish, 49, has taken leave of absence from her administrative job at USC to teach in Winton after gaining her Graduate Diploma of Education at the Sippy Downs campus. Her partner is CEO of Winton Council.
Trish said she was thoroughly enjoying putting the theory of her diploma into practice with children in Years 4-7 at state and private schools.
“I’ve just got an arts grant so I’m also teaching children’s craft and sewing classes. They couldn’t thread a needle when we started but now they love it. It’s so nice to see your passion being passed on.”
Her first teaching experience was in Japan in 2002 after she got her degree from USC, a Bachelor of Arts (Communications).
“As a mature-age student I’ve had a really good support network at USC,” she said. “The tutors are motivational and very passionate about education.”
She is thrilled with the success of her textile art this year, with global recognition the icing on the cake.
Judging for the 13th annual World Quilt Competition will be done at the New Hampshire show. The exhibition then tours other US cities before a grand finale in mid-November in Florida.
Trish currently has a quilt featured in a 14-month tour of Australia and New Zealand and was highly commended in the Ergon Energy Waltzing Matilda Art Show 2009 at Winton.
She prefers to give her creations to special people rather than sell them, but one that was hung in the National Wool Museum in Geelong was valued at almost $2000.
“All of my quilts tell a story and I love sewing, by hand and machine,” she said.
“The February Twin quilt took about four months, even though it’s not huge at 130cm by 140cm. But it has a lot of meaning because it symbolises the strength of women who’ve lost children to miscarriage."
She’s now making a quilt for her 19-year-old son incorporating material from his christening gown and a theme based on his favourite band, Korn.
– Julie Gatehouse