Spawning Salmon Art Quilt

2010 is the year of a big run of sockeye salmon that spawn in the Adams River, near our home. In October the river will be the scene of millions of these salmon that are returning to the river of their birth to lay their eggs. There is a salmon run every year . . . but every fourth year is a "dominant" run and this one is the biggest since 1913 with an estimate of 30 million sockeye spawning.

This art quilt has been made in honour of the salmon returning to the Adams River. The sockeye salmon becomes very red as it returns from the sea, the head becomes green and the shape changes. To see more about the salmon run click here.

This art quilt measures 19.5" x 27.5" and is constructed from synthetic crushed fabrics and dupioni silk that have a bit of sheen and iridescence that mimic the waters of the river and cottons that I have used to create the salmon and the rocks of the river bottom. The bright salmon eggs are laid in the gravel rock bed. This has been made using curved piecing as well as raw-edge applique to add some more texture to the water. There is hand embroidery and beading on the background as well as on the salmon and the tail-end of another salmon is ghost-stitched on the top left side.

If you click on the photo you will see more of the details of this piece.

UPDATED July 9, 2010: This art quilt has been awarded a "Juror's Choice" Award at the Shuswap Lake Festival of the Arts this week. This quilt is SOLD.