40 Years to Become Me

Maker:

Kira Withers-Jones

Date:

2019

Contemporary quilt commissioned for The Forties Collection, a body of work representing contemporary quiltmaking across the U.K. in the 40th anniversary year of The Quilters' Guild.

The theme of this quilt is the maker’s journey to the age of 40. It was her birthday shortly before she was asked to take part in this Challenge, and her development over the years was very much on her mind. She has suffered from depression and confusion over her identity throughout her life, which is reflected in this artwork. The background has been painted, printed, torn, and re-assembled, then stitched with barely legible text about her illness. The shadowy figures express the different aspects of herself over the years and the tree represents how she has grown out of her depression.

The Forties Collection quilts were made to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles. The 18 regions of The Guild are represented, as well as the three age groups of Young Quilters. Each piece was a new work specially made by a Guild member not already represented in The Collection. The makers were asked to interpret the theme of 40 as creatively as possible. The rule was that the finished piece had to have one dimension of 40 inches and between 25 and 40 inches in the other dimension. These pieces were exhibited at the Festival of Quilts in 2019 in a gallery entitled ‘Spotlight@40’.

Commissioned by Region 12 (South and Mid Wales)

33 inches (84cm) x 40 inches (102cm)