QUILTS 2000 AWARD TO CHRISTA SANDERS

© Barbara Macey

Ozquilt Network Newsletter #37, September 2000

Congratulations to Canberra quilter Christa Sanders whose quilt 'World Games; Circles of Endurance, Sydney 2000' has won the major individual award of $5,000 cash provided by Quilts 2000 sponsor Brother Sewing Machines. Christa's quilt is one of 630 donated to the Quilts 2000 project to raise funds for the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. Judges were Dianne Finnegan, representing the Quilts 2000 Committee, well known quilter Judy Hooworth and Christina Sumner, Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the Powerhouse Museum.

In 'World Games: Circles of Endurance, Sydney 2000' Christa wanted to honour the original spirit of the Olympic Games. Competition, which she had previously seen in a negative light, also has a positive side, motivating people to raise their standards and levels of achievement. However, she believes that it is vital to find a 'level playing field', a balance between the positive and negative sides of competition, so that people are inspired to go forward despite setbacks.

Inspired by the Paralympic athletes' stories, both their successes and failures, she concluded that the real spirit of the Paralympic Games is expressed in the athletes' endurance and the hard work that's necessary to reach their goal.

Christa finds Paralympians particularly inspiring because of this profound commitment under adverse conditions. They are unwilling to give away their dream no matter how hard it is to keep going. She feels sad for those who've missed out on a place at the games and in celebrating the winner she doesn't forget the pain of the loser.

Using appealing and highly appropriate imagery, Christa depicts the difficult but uplifting journey of the Paralympic athlete. 'World Games: Circles of Endurance, Sydney 2000' expresses a mountainous landscape representing the athlete's journey towards the Paralympic Games. Within the landscape the olympic rings, depicted as coloured circles, portray aspects of this journey to success or failure.

In her statement on the Quilts 2000 website Christa says: "The journey of an athlete is not easy, and Paralympians face an added challenge. I see their effort like a never-ending circle with strength found from within to face each challenge which must loom like huge mountains at times.

In my quilt the red circle represents the passion every individual has for his or her sport. During ups and downs, this passion needs constant renewal, which is represented by the green circle. Without a doubt, every athlete encounters the dark side of a steep mountain, the black circle. It is then that power and perseverance are found within oneself. Every Paralympian in Sydney reaches the gold circle, captured for all time in the blue circle."

Christa had a wonderful time at the award presentation function at Camden. Typically modest about her success, she commends the hundreds of quilters whose quilts did not win an award. She feels incredibly fortunate to have won this honour which she finds very encouraging for her quiltmaking as well as being a help financially.

She also pays tribute to the thorough professionalism of all members of the Quilts 2000 Committee and to the unusual amount of time and effort that all have invested in promoting the quilts hrough exhibitions and their website, giving talks, and writing the book.

Christa has been making quilts for twenty years. She has exhibited widely and her work is represented in many public and private collections In Australia and overseas. Thanks to Christa Sanders and to the Quilts 2000 Committee for permission to quote text from their website (no longer operating).