Othello Old Hotel Ugly Fabric challenge underway
Courtesy photo - The Old Hotel Art Gallery has been receiving unique entries that include 'ugly' fabric that had been sitting too long on the gallery's fabric shelves.
OTHELLO — What began as a bolt of cloth ordered by Old Hotel Art Gallery director Jenn Stevenson that sat unloved on the organization’s fabric shelves might have become a new tradition at the heritage site: the Ugly Fabric Challenge.
The ugly fabric in question has a pumpkin-orange background with a smattering of flying squirrels and red, blue and cream trees. For $10, participants received a half-yard of the fabric and two quarter yards of other fabrics of their choice. The ugly fabric had to be used in submitted objects, which range from bags and quilts to aprons and pin cushions.
With last submissions received Nov. 1, the voting period has begun. All visitors to the Old Hotel Art Gallery can submit a vote for their favorite use of the ugly fabric until Nov. 16, when votes will be tallied and winners will be announced. Visitors can vote once per day. The first-place winner will receive $20 worth of quilting supplies from the Art Gallery and the second-place winner will receive $10 in quilting supplies.
The contest has proven so popular that the Art Gallery will likely hold another once a year or more in the future, said Stevenson.