August 4 – October 25, 2009
This exhibition is possible through the generous loan of works from the collections of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin.
Opening reception: Sunday, August 9, 2:00-4:00pm.
This exhibition makes a case for the importance of the quilt to the history of American women. This selection of 30 important historical quilts and quilt-related ephemera from the collection amassed by Joyce Gross over 35 years provides a fascinating portal into the discovery of the real value of quilt-making to the lives and creative spirit of American women. Including 30 important quilts dating from 1845 to 1980, this exhibition has an emphasis on appliqué quilts. Included are four by Pine Eisfeller; two of these, The Garden and Tree of Life, were named two of the top 100 quilts of the 20th century.
Joyce Gross recognized the value of not only preserving quilts but also was one of the first to appreciate the importance of documenting the lives of quilters and preserving related materials. In the early 1970s Gross began to collect and study historical quilts and related ephemera, such as the patterns and notebooks of notable historical quilt-makers. Her fascination with quilts and quilt-making was part a larger revival of interest in quilts, spurred by the renewed interest in craft and the backto- the-land and women's movements. The San Francisco Bay Area was an important nexus for these cultural developments so it is not surprising that out of this milieu Joyce Gross's collection was to emerge.
Joyce Gross generously made her collection of quilts and related documents available to scholars who in the 1970s began to recognize and study the important role the quilt and the quilt-making process played in the lives of American women of all social classes throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. For much of American history, quilt-making was one of the few socially acceptable forms of self-expression available to most women. "It was one of the only ways women could claim a space and time for themselves, away from children and household responsibilities, while also gaining an outlet for self-expression," said Jane Przybysz, Executive Director of the Museum. "Making quilts wasn’t, as is often popularly believed, simply a means to recycle fabric in times of scarcity. Women of all social classes engaged in quilting for both social and personal reasons."
In addition to her important collection, Joyce Gross contributed much to the study of quilts. She founded Quilter's Journal as a means to disseminate research, and was also a founding member of the American Quilt Study Group. She organized retreats for quilters and quilt historians. In recognition of her many contributions to American quilting, Joyce Gross was inducted into the Quilter’s Hall of Fame in 1996.
August 4 – October 25, 2009
Opening reception: Sunday, August 9, 2:00-4:00pm.
Fabric Tattoos: The Spirit of the Mola is an exhibition of recent acquisitions to the Collection of this South American art form.
Molas are a traditional Panamanian textile created by the Kuna Indians of the San Blas islands and worn in their costumes. They are created using a unique reverse appliqué technique, where the layers of colored cotton cloth are turned under to reveal the colors in the layers below. Collector Isabella (Miz) Lively, who had lived in Panama for many years, recently donated this charming collection to the Museum. The collection showcases a variety of styles, designs and iconic imagery inspired by nature, mythology and contemporary subjects. According to Museum Curator Deborah Corsini, "The strength of this group focuses on quirky abstract geometric designs – often earlier pieces referred to as grandmother designs, local Panamanian images and exotic flora and fauna."
Although mola- making is said to come from a tradition of tattooing and body-painting, molas have become a continuing artful presence in the life of the Kuna Indian. They are a prime component of the daily costume of the women as well as an income-generating commodity. "Whether pictorial or geometric, molas capture the imagination and inventive spirit of the Kuna Indians and this traditional art form has become a unique art presence of this remote indigenous group," said Corsini. Also included in this exhibition are two beautiful examples from the Museum’s collection of Pakistani appliqué quilts.
October 17, 2009
October 30 – November 8, 2009
annual art sale of fiber art for $500 or less.
November 17, 2009 – February 7, 2010
a huge selection of historical crazy quilts, most from the permanent collection.
|
