The work of quilt-maker Sheila Gaquin, pictured here, will be on display at Orcas Center for the month of September.

Everyone is invited to an opening reception on Friday, Sept. 7, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

“Most of my quilts are photo-realistic images of the people and places I love,” said Gaquin.

Gaquin and her husband have lived on Orcas for 22 years. Many of her pieces have been juried into international quilt shows, and she has a small piece in the permanent collection of the National Quilt Museum. Gaquin is a member of the Studio Art Quilt Association.

Quilting has a long history as a practical handicraft, but since the 1960s there has been a shift from seeing quilts simply as warm bedcovers to appreciating them as artistic works, capable of evoking aesthetic and/or emotional responses.

There will also be a Community Art Show in the Madrona Room. The Visual Arts Committee will be receiving art from community members on Sept. 5 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Inquiries can be sent to Kathy Youngren at kathleenyoungren@rockisland.com or Peg Laycock at llafingirl@aol.com.