What happens when a photographer collaborates with a group of quilters? Inspiration is born.

In 2010, several Miami Valley Art Quilt Network members saw a group quilt exhibit inspired by a single image.

The quilters knew fellow member Ronnie Doyal was also a fine photographer. She photographed several prominent buildings in the local area, and the Dayton Landmarks Project had begun.

Doyal’s images were screened by quilters Lori Gravely, Mindy Marik, and Lisa Quintana. They were looking for photographs that would make good slice quilts.

The locations that made the final cut were: Dayton city skyline, Dayton Art Institute, The Carillon, Key Bank Tower, The Arcade, Mendelson’s Liquidation Outlet and Sacred Heart Church.

Art quilter Ann Diller is a quilt network member who received the far right section of the Sacred Heart Church in a random drawing. The resulting work is fascinating because you can see a ran of sunshine that runs through two of the pieces.

“It’s fun when you see it all together,” said Diller, a Centerville resident. “My piece had a lot of sky in it, and I added a layers of tulle and pieces of netting to create a sort of wispy effect for the clouds.”

The other two quilters who worked on this particular landmark were Sara Lynne Walsh of Dayton, and Pam Geisel of Yellow Springs.

The first presentation of these works were shown at the Dayton Metro Library this past fall. Now the fabric art is getting a new look at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Centerville.

“There were enough architectural details to make it a challenge but not too many to make it really difficult,” said quilter and quilt network member Pam Geisel. “And while there was a large amount of sky it wasn’t too much to make it uninteresting.”

The remaining quilters who have works in this exhibit are Debra Bentley, Diane Boley, Kate Burch, Ginny Crabtree, Sue DeSantis, Suzanne Kirchner, Chris Landis, Fran LaSalle, Lisa Quintana, Susan Schaller, Carroll Schleppi, Liz Schneiders, and Joan Sterr. Gallery curator Jeanne McIver indicated the SM Presbyterian gallery has been there as long as the church has, about 20 years.

The MVAQN is always welcoming new members. They meet monthly, exploring new techniques and designs for fiber art. For information, visit their website at www.mvaqn.com.