Donald C. Bunce Quilt Exhibit is Featured at the MOarts Gallery

Moneta, Virginia – January 18, 2018- The Donald C. Bunce Quilt Exhibit will be held from February 1st through February 28th in the MOarts Gallery at the Moneta/ Smith Mountain Lake Library. Donald Bunce, an octogenarian from Hardy, Virginia, is an award winning and accomplished quilter specializing in hand applique technique. A former Norfolk and Western employee, Bunce retired from the railroad in 1995. After retirement, he became fascinated with the craft of quilting after watching TV personality Alex Anderson present her quilting techniques on television. Convinced that he could produce similar quilts, he imitated her style and learned to create his own patterns from objects he saw in his daily life. Since that first television program, he has created over 100 quilts. Asked how he chooses his designs, he replied that he uses "anything that catches my eye." When asked if he has a favorite material, he said that he quilts with "all of it, I never met a fabric I didn't like." Vickie Seekford, owner of the General Store in Moneta, met Donald Bunce at the Roanoke Star Quilters Guild. She notes that he encourages others who enjoy the craft of quilting. For example, for many years Bunce set up the biannual Roanoke Star Quilt Show, hanging all the quilts and setting up the frames for draping the display. As a member of several quilting groups, Bunce has shared his sewing techniques with guild members and has taught many quilting classes. Additionally, Seekford admires his creative use of appliqué and artistic designs. She describes his work as “Magnificent, exquisite, hand quilting.” To honor him for his achievements she arranged to bring his unique quilts to the MOarts Gallery for an exhibit in February. Prizes like Best in Show from the 2014 West Virginia Quilt Show have been showered on Donald Bunce since he started competing in shows across the region. Bunce continues to win awards each year like the Ella M. Harris Silver Thimble Award that he garnered at the annual quilt show sponsored last year by the Floyd Quilt Guild. Out of the 135 quilts entered in that show in May, 2016, his quilt “Floral Fantasy,” quilted by Joni Hoffman and created by Bunce, was singled out for this award. Bunce also donates his quilts to worthy causes. He donated a queen size quilt, “Serenity” for a November, 2016 raffle to benefit Saint Francis Service Dogs. The Donald C. Bunce Quilt Exhibit will show at the MOarts Gallery through February. The gallery is located at 13641 Moneta Rd. Moneta call (540) 425-7004 for hours and directions.