PHOTOS: Atlanta Quilt Festival

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PHOTOS: Atlanta Quilt Festival

Quilters are showcasing their work during the Atlanta Quilt Festival at Southwest Arts Center.

Toni Presha displays her quilt piece entitled “Vote” during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on Aug. 6, 2023 in South Fulton. The quilt was applied with cotton fabrics. “Helping my grandchildren register to vote was a happy memory for me and looking at John Lewis campaign for Obama,” Presha said. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Quilts are displayed during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on Sunday, August 6, 2023, in South Fulton. The exhibit of quilts continues through Sept. 2. As part of the fest, quilting classes are being held every Friday and Saturday this month.(Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Toni Presha displays her quilt piece entitled “Vote” during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Art Center on Aug. 6, 2023 in South Fulton. “Helping my grandchildren register to vote was a happy memory for me and looking at John Lewis campaign for Obama,” Presha said. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Cheryl Taylor, left and Jill Hill, right, looks through jewelry at a vendor booth during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Jill Hill looks through jewelry at a vendor booth during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. The exhibit of quilts continuing through Sept. 2 at the Southwest Arts Center in South Fulton. As part of the fest, quilting classes are being held every Friday and Saturday this month.(Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Cheryl Taylor looks through jewelry at a vendor booth during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. The exhibit of quilts continuing through Sept. 2 at the Southwest Arts Center in South Fulton. As part of the fest, quilting classes are being held every Friday and Saturday this month. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Derrick Gilbert looks at different quilts during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Myesha Good takes photos of different quilts during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

A third place quilt is displayed with an award badge during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Joy Howtetler (left) and Kathleen Kennel look through different quilts during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center in South Fulton on Sunday, August 6, 2023. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Olivia Pope poses for a photo of her against quilts during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Valez White, from New Orleans, looks at different quilts during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Lauren Lacy talks to guest as she displays her quilts and other art pieces, including a painting of Beyonce, during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. The arts center also features the special exhibit “Thank You John Lewis! I Am Your Wildest Dream!” A collection of about 25 original quilts expresses joy and gratitude for the sacrifices made by the late congressman and other civil rights advocates. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

(From left) Helen Spears, Terri Weekes, and Patricia Jackson, look at an art piece that has a three sided display of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, center, and Martin Luther King Jr., during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. The quilt art piece won first place. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Queen Esther Smith prepares to walk to the next gallery during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. The arts center also features the special exhibit “Thank You John Lewis! I Am Your Wildest Dream!” A collection of about 25 original quilts expresses joy and gratitude for the sacrifices made by the late congressman and other civil rights advocates. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

Global Textile Village Vendors Jeanettte Zakkee-Darnes, second from right, and Zena Dixon, right, sell designer fabrics to costumers including Monek Harris, left, during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on August 6, 2023. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

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Credit: Michael Blackshire

Toni Presha displays her quilt piece entitled “Vote” during the Atlanta Quilt Festival opening reception at Southwest Arts Center on Aug. 6, 2023 in South Fulton. The quilt was applied with cotton fabrics. “Helping my grandchildren register to vote was a happy memory for me and looking at John Lewis campaign for Obama,” Presha said. (Michael Blackshire/Michael.blackshire@ajc.com)

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