“Rooted in Tradition,” an Exhibit of Art Quilts
Recently, I visisted the “Rooted in Traditions: Art Quilts from the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum” exhibit, in Vero Beach, FL. It was my second visit and I enjoyed it as much as the first.
The exhibit shows art quilts from the 1970s (or 80s?) forward, sort of an explanation or retrospective of art quilts. Quite a few of the quilts are made by well known quilters: Yvonne Porcella, Caryl Bryer Fallert, Micheal James, and others. It was interesting to see the progression of techniques, materials, and designs over time. Some of the earlier quilts were hand quilted, and the designs were very symmetrical and reminiscent of traditional quilts. Later hand dyed fabrics and other surface design techniques became prominent.
The exhibit was curated by Judith Trager, who had two of her own pieces on display. The one below is my favorite: “Abstraction/Difraction.”
The exhibit will be on display at the Vero Beach Museum of Art through October 25th. It’s a GORGEOUS little museum! One of the docents there is a quilter and she create several hands-on clipboards which explain the various techniques. This is a fabulous idea! (And one that should really travel with the show.)
If you’re in east central Florida anytime soon, I really recommend this exhibit. (Be sure to include lunch overlooking the river or nearby beach, as part of your trip.)
I visited the show last month and hope to take it in a second time before it leaves. There is just so much to see and appreciate in the collection. I really admire the bold steps made by the early art quilters, that paved the way for artists today.