"The Last Call" by Kestrel Michaud won Second Place - Pictorial-Small at Houston 2023.

Houston 2023 Artist Statement: "This quilt was my attempt to illustrate fate. Lightning flashes behind Jacques, the steampunk-enhanced raven. The raven, the seedy setting, the creepy low light, and the dramatic three-point perspective convey a feeling that bad things are coming. Despite the unsettling vibe, Jacques himself is a beloved pet. There is a peculiar juxtaposition between a treasured raven and the sense of impending doom he is foreshadowing."

Techniques: Fused Applique; Digitally Cut; Machine Quilted

Design Source: Original Design

Kestrel's goal with The Last Call was to illustrate the idea of fate. With fate being such a nebulous concept, Kestrel wanted to know what that would look like in a two-dimensional piece of art. Using a raven as its centerpiece, considered a sign of death, doom, and gloom, a stormy night, and low lighting to produce terrifying shadows, the quilt is meant to give off a sinister tone that something bad is coming on the horizon. And, to go along with Kestrel's steampunk aesthetic seen throughout her quilts, the raven has a clockwork wing.

Date Created: April 29, 2022

Number of Fabric Pieces: 1232

Medium: Fused Appliqué Fabric Quilt

Materials: Cotton Fabric, Polyester Thread, Wonder Under, Mod Podge, Wool / Rayon Batting