Hospital Quilt Installation
I finally got to see my quilt installed at Nemours Childrens Hospital, in Orlando, FL. I knew it had been framed, a first for me, and I was anxious to see how it looked.
The building is modern, colorful, and happy. Definitely designed for children and their families.
We noticed kids heading for home, not in wheelchairs, but in red wagons. And the chairs and benches were soft and low. My son was with me, and he noticed that the benches included areas of both shallow and deep seating. Very clever.
I was excited by these observations, thinking that my colorful quilt would fit into this atmosphere very well. And it did. Sorta.
Click any image for a larger view
Here’s Blessings Underfoot, in the infusion center. I love the way it plays with the berry colored chair, but I was disappointed by the huge amount of glare from the nearby window.
It was impossible to photograph it straight on without significant glare, but here it is shot an angle. (With yours truly.) It sure would have been nice if non-glare glass had been used!
I was also puzzled by the use of matting. I assumed that the quilt would be stitched to mat board with a large border of it showing around the quilt. Instead, matting was brought right up to (or over) the edge of the quilt. Darn. I think the edges help show off the texture of the piece, so I would have rather had them show.
But, maybe my artist’s vanity is getting the best of me here. I do think it looks good, if perhaps not great. And, I’d definitely accept similar commissions in the future. But, I think I’ll give some framing and hanging pointers to the next client.
Have you ever framed a quilt? What are your thoughts on it?
Ellen Lindner
I donated several quilts to my local hospital about 10 years ago. An artist friend worked there and he did the framing, between 2 pieces of plexiglass with spacers so that the plexiglass didn’t touch the quilt. He used a metal rod through the rod pocket and hooked that somehow into the frame. There is space all the way around the quilts where you look through to the wall behind. Most of mine are mounted in the hallways away from windows so I don’t remember if there was glare on the glass.
Ellen, you’re wrong . . . your quilt looks GREAT! Yes, I agree that the reflection on the glass is a distraction, but I imagine people will come close and see the beauty in the details and ignore the glare.
I have framed quite a few pieces and really am not bothered by the glare (in person), although they are hard to photograph. Non-glare glass adds a cloudiness I don’t like. My favorite display method is on a slat through a sleeve. A little dust doesn’t really harm the quilt, and the richness of the colors and texture are worth the risk IMHO.
I think it looks great, Ellen! It does go very well with the decor.
Sorry to have something negative, but I’ve got two problems. All that bright sunlight on it can’t be good for it. And, unless the matting is lifting the glass up enough so that it’s not touching the quilt, there’s the potential of moisture accumulating in the future. Again, sorry, but those things bother me!
I agree with Martha about the dust. But, it could be that the hospital wants to prevent people from touching it. The texture is very inviting, not like a painting or print.
Hi Wanda. Thanks for your comment. The Plexilgas “sandwich” you described sounds like a good alternative.
Thanks, Martha! You’re right that people will come up to it and overlook the glare. I hadn’t thought of that.
And even with the glare, I’m basically happy with the installation. I’m defintiely glad to have it bringing joy to sick children and their parents.
Still puzzled by the matting, though.
Hi Debbie. Good points. I used a UV protectant on this piece (as I do with all my quilts,) and since the sunlight doesn’t fall directly on it, I hope it will not fade.
I, too, was concerned about the glass touching the quilt. I studied it and I THINK the glass just barely clears the fabric with a very small space between the two. It certainly wasn’t smashing the fabric flat, so I hope I’m right about.
So much to think about with framing and display!
Your piece looks great, Ellen – congratulations on the commission. I prefer art quilts to be presented without glass in front, but can understand why it might be necessary to do so here, to stop people touching it.
Thanks, Ruth. You’re right about the touching issue.