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A 'LOOK AND LEARN' DAY

© Helen Gritscher

Ozquilt Network Newsletter #28, June 1998

Recently the A.Q.A. (Melbourne group Australian Quilters' Association), held a Design Forum for its members and anyone else who wished to come along. Twice the number of expected people arrived. Two women even travelled 180kms (approximately 110 miles) from Shepparton. As chief organiser for the day I could not become involved with any one of the groups but as an outsider I could feel the enthusiasm being generated between the tutors and the participants.

For me the mark of success was that I had trouble breaking up the sessions at the end of the allotted time. Everyone just ignored me when I tried to tell them they had to move on to the next tutor. That we ran late all day didn't seem to worry anyone - perhaps because I had told them that this was a 'right side of the brain' day.

Why was this forum such a success? We have had trouble filling workshops and have either had to subsidise or cancel them too often. The excitingly 'different' are always the most difficult ones to sell. Do people know all there is to be known? Are they afraid of having to produce something to take home if it is a 'different' class?

This was a look and learn day - no cutting, pasting or drawing was done. Nothing was made to take home! Did this take the pressure off by not actually having to produce? We have a mixture of old (translate - been doing it for years) and new members in our association. Eventually the new become more experienced and hopefully, feel the need to try something new in their work.

Maybe we at last have some people who are fed up with very structured workshops and are finally needing the freedom, stimulation and encouragement to become brave enough to try something 'different', something experimental of their own. the value of this day may not be immediately apparent - ideas may be mulled over for weeks or months before the experiment commences. The most important thing was that these women went home and either dreamed vividly all night or couldn't sleep at all.

© Helen Gritscher 1998
 

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