The Citizen
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
On the cover: “Downtown” by Catherine Kleeman of Ruxton, Md. I
On the cover: “Downtown” by Catherine Kleeman of Ruxton, Md. I
Quilting is not your grandmother's art form anymore.
Fans of textiles and fabric arts will have a chance to see this fact for themselves in Auburn over the next two months. The Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center opens the 28th annual installment of its quilt show, “Quilts=Art=Quilts,” this weekend and will feature it through Jan. 4.
With 87 pieces from artists around the country - and a few from other parts of the world - the show includes style, technique and content from the traditional to the most contemporary.
“It's really growing in a way that we feel is producing a more successful show every year,” said Stephanie Schuster, assistant director at the Schweinfurth.
As is the case every year, the quilt show is not organized with any sort of theme in mind. That means variety is the spice of this exhibition.
There are traditional quilts with geometric patterns that one could see on a fine bed. There are quilts that depict nature scenes. There are abstract and complex pieces that look more at home in a modern art museum than a bedroom.
Sizes vary as well. Betty Taylor's “Peruvian Travesty” shows a group of women donning hats and braided hair through a 94.5-by-92.5-inch quilt that spans almost from the ceiling to the floor. “Reflections” by Tierney Barden, a texture-heavy piece, is only 20 by 14.25 inches.
Schuster said the variety reflects how quilting has changed as an artistic medium. While it involves fabric and stitch, new techniques and technology have made quilting a unique artform that fuses a folk tradition and artistic vision.
“I think that is a really successful combination,” Schuster said. “It never stays the same.”
Over the years, “Quilts=Art=Quilts” has become the Schweinfurth's most popular show for both artists and patrons. The center received more than 360 submissions this year, and the exhibition includes artists from as far away as California, Alaska and even Japan.
The show has also become the center's most interactive. As in past years, there will be trunk shows during which regional quiltmakers will showcase their work and discuss techniques. There is also a new series of workshops with fabric artists scheduled for the coming weekends.
And on Dec. 14, Dan Duggan and Peggy Lynn will perform songs about the art and heritage of quilting.
This is the largest batch of programs the Schweinfurth has had for the quilt show, Schuster said. It's no surprise, she noted, as quilting has become a billion-dollar industry.
“I think the fact that this is the most popular show here, and is the show people find most accessible, speaks to the accessibility and popularity of quilting,” Schuster said.
Christopher Caskey
253-5311 ext. 282
christopher.caskey@lee.net
Fans of textiles and fabric arts will have a chance to see this fact for themselves in Auburn over the next two months. The Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center opens the 28th annual installment of its quilt show, “Quilts=Art=Quilts,” this weekend and will feature it through Jan. 4.
With 87 pieces from artists around the country - and a few from other parts of the world - the show includes style, technique and content from the traditional to the most contemporary.
“It's really growing in a way that we feel is producing a more successful show every year,” said Stephanie Schuster, assistant director at the Schweinfurth.
As is the case every year, the quilt show is not organized with any sort of theme in mind. That means variety is the spice of this exhibition.
There are traditional quilts with geometric patterns that one could see on a fine bed. There are quilts that depict nature scenes. There are abstract and complex pieces that look more at home in a modern art museum than a bedroom.
Sizes vary as well. Betty Taylor's “Peruvian Travesty” shows a group of women donning hats and braided hair through a 94.5-by-92.5-inch quilt that spans almost from the ceiling to the floor. “Reflections” by Tierney Barden, a texture-heavy piece, is only 20 by 14.25 inches.
Schuster said the variety reflects how quilting has changed as an artistic medium. While it involves fabric and stitch, new techniques and technology have made quilting a unique artform that fuses a folk tradition and artistic vision.
“I think that is a really successful combination,” Schuster said. “It never stays the same.”
Over the years, “Quilts=Art=Quilts” has become the Schweinfurth's most popular show for both artists and patrons. The center received more than 360 submissions this year, and the exhibition includes artists from as far away as California, Alaska and even Japan.
The show has also become the center's most interactive. As in past years, there will be trunk shows during which regional quiltmakers will showcase their work and discuss techniques. There is also a new series of workshops with fabric artists scheduled for the coming weekends.
And on Dec. 14, Dan Duggan and Peggy Lynn will perform songs about the art and heritage of quilting.
This is the largest batch of programs the Schweinfurth has had for the quilt show, Schuster said. It's no surprise, she noted, as quilting has become a billion-dollar industry.
“I think the fact that this is the most popular show here, and is the show people find most accessible, speaks to the accessibility and popularity of quilting,” Schuster said.
Christopher Caskey
253-5311 ext. 282
christopher.caskey@lee.net
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