From a household necessity to a form of art, quilting has undergone many changes throughout its history.

Each year hundreds of hopeful contemporary quilters from around the world submit their creations to be displayed in the annual Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center's Quilts=Art=Quilts exhibit.

Contemporary quilters from the United States, Canada, Japan, Israel and New Zealand will be included in the 29th annual juried show.

The exhibit, which features 89 quilts by 67 artists, will run through Jan. 10.

“Quilting is very popular,” said Stephanie Schuster, the assistant director of the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center. “Contemporary quilting has really opened up in recent years. The exhibit has become a tradition for many people over the years. People really truly enjoy it.”

On Saturday evening many of the exhibitors and guests attended a preview reception of the exhibit that included an awards presentation.

Exhibitor Thelma McGough traveled from her home in New Zealand to attend the opening reception.

Contemporary quilt exhibitor, Valerie Maser-Flanagan, of Carlisle, Mass., said that she had been a traditional quilter since making her first quilt in the 1970s.

“It was just this past summer that I really became interested in contemporary quilting,” she said. “The quilt that is on exhibit is the third one that I created.”

The quilt, titled “The Feel of the Earth under your Feet,” is a mix of varied size and shaped vertical lines.

For many contemporary quilters it is the freedom of expression that they enjoy the most.

“I wanted to create something of my own,” said exhibitor Marcia DeCamp, of Palmyra, “I switched from traditional quilting because I wanted more than just to make someone else's patterns.”

DeCamp, a contemporary quilt exhibitor in the 2008 exhibit, entered her quilt titled “Purple Sunset,” which consists of all hand-dyed fabrics.

In addition to the exhibit, several weekend quilting classes will be held through Nov. 15.