"Hunting & Working:   Upland Bird Flushing"

Artist:   Christie Williams

Media:   Machine Embroidery and Appliqué

Artist's comments:

This block is dedicated to the many tenacious Airedales who excel at hunting, both while exploring the wilds of their own backyards and at formal events . Hunting Tests constitute one of the four competitive/titling events (in addition to Obedience, Conformation and Agility) that are sanctioned by the Airedale Terrier Club of America. Hunting Airedales demonstrate innate abilities, requiring independent thinking, for which our breed was designed. However, the titling events require that the Airedales engage in teamwork with their human partners. This combination of independence with cooperation is the result of training and a special relationship between dog and person. The glee and enthusiasm of a Airedale working game is exciting to watch. It is a demonstration of a dog living up to her genetic potential. This block was inspired by a a photograph that Chris Halvorson took of Winston, (Ch. Moraine Prime Minister JHV, SHV: R and S. Cooley ) retrieving a chuckar in the Upland Bird Flushing and Retrieving Test. I was present to see Winston earn both Junior and Senior Hunter Versatile titles, confirming that he excels at flushing, land and water retrieves and tracking raccoon.

Artist's bio:

Christie Williams lives in West Lafayette Indiana, with her husband Greg and their two Airedales Erin and Argus. Christie is a USDA scientist and an assistant professor at Purdue University, specializing in Plant Molecular Genetics and Resistance to Insects.

Most of Christie's spare time is spent being trained for agility by Erin and Argus. Erin is a demanding "wild child" Rescue Airedale who "will not be ignored", in other words, quite lovable and normal. She and Christie were thrilled to win first place in the Novice A Class of Standard Agility at the First All-Airedale AKC-Sanctioned Agility trial that was held at the Airedale National Floating Specialty in Ohio last fall. At that point, Argus had not yet started in agility so could only cheer them on with big woofs from the side lines. Now Argus is learning agility too and is incensed when it is Erin's turn to play on the equipment!

Quilting is Christie's other main hobby. She currently has five quilts under construction and has vowed to finish one before starting the sixth (what a concept!). Erin and Argus camp outside the quilt room door and complain that they are being ignored. Christie also enjoys pen and ink drawing, mostly with Airedales as her subjects. Her drawings have been used on cards and t-shirts to benefit Airedale Rescue and are in the book "To Aire is Divine". Christie and Greg enjoy hiking, cross-country skiing and canoe camping with the pups. Both Erin and Argus like to stalk chipmunks, play bitey-face and have their bellies rubbed. Christie and Greg enjoy participating in these activities too!