The Fine Arts Department at Southeastern Oklahoma State University will present an exhibition of original quilt designs by local award-winning quilters Royce Prentice and Paula Platter at the Visual and Performing Arts Gallery. The exhibition, which is sponsored by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council, the Red River Arts Council and Southeastern Oklahoma State University, will run from Nov. 6 through Nov. 22.

Prentice is the founder and current president of the Durant Heritage Quilters. She started quilting in 1983, and did three quilts ‘by the book.' “When I started Heritage Quilters, I was the ‘old pro.' And I had only done three quilts.” The group is helpful and supportive, and “Quilters are the best people anywhere,” said Prentice, “It is a great group.”

A few years ago, “I read a book about free quilting, and a quote in the book really spoke to me, ‘There are no rules, you can do anything,'” said Prentice, who draws out the designs freehand. “It is fun, which is the point,” she admits, “It's so much work, we wouldn't do it if it wasn't fun,” Her friends encouraged her to enter her first freestyle quilt in the national contest ‘If this quilt could talk.' Her quilt won and is on file with the library of congress. Her designs are characterized by the use of hand applique, hand quilting and a special technique for creating impromptu arrangements of silk and beaded fabrics.

Platter is a retired Southeastern Oklahoma State University mathematics instructor. She is a very serious competitive quilt designer. Her first award winning contest quilt was used to help raise money for the Smithsonian Institute's American quilt collection. She is a problem solver and innovator, both in the design of and the technical processes of quilt making. She invented a copyrighted quilting tool called a “star generator” which makes the process of drafting designs easier. Beautiful, as well as intricate, one of the quilts on display is also an optical illusion.

The art of quilt making traces its heritage back to the utilitarian roots of American craft. In recent years the ‘domestic arts', which were held in low esteem for many years, have been reclaimed as high art. Quilt making, basketry, needlepoint and other art forms associated with ‘woman's work' are now seen as a rich source of aesthetic vision, sensuality and visual delight. The quilts of Prentice and Platter exhibit all these qualities and more.

“These women are amazing and talented artists,” said the Rev. James Blagg, who had come early to see the exhibit, with his daughter Catherine.

The exhibit runs through Nov. 22, in the Visual Performing Arts Center.