Quilts=Art
Art 31: Fiber celebrated their month long "experimentation and collaboration with modern art" with Fiber Finale. Our guild was invited to participate in this event with a Pop Up Exhibition and Q&A session. Sarah, our guild President, arranged all the details with the Maitland Art & History museums and set up the exhibit herself with the museum Preparator.
I DO believe quilts are art. For myself, however, I am quite happy with my quilts being thrown over the back of a chair, waiting to be snuggled under. Never did I imagine, or even desire, one of my quilts displayed as sculpture in an art gallery.
WOW, right?!
I was completely blown away when I walked into the gallery and saw the exhibit for the first time! Sarah did such a fantastic job! It wasn't just that the quilts were hung and displayed as artwork; they were displayed in such an innovative and creative way. Below you can see my Bubbles bee quilt being displayed on a pedestal under a spotlight. Who would have thought?!
Debra's quilt on the platform; quilts by Alejandrina, Leslie, and Kate on the wall
The Q&A and panel discussion was relaxed and low key, which was a pleasant surprise. The Accidental Music Festival and visitors gathered in the gallery and we chatted among the quilts! I had an easy topic: starting our local modern quilt guild. It's also one of my favorite stories to tell! I shot several (15-second for Instagram stories) videos of the quilt display while the band was playing. The music is actually the perfect accompaniment to quilt viewing. I believe you can still see the videos on the guild's Instagram page under Highlights.
Dr. Rangsook Yoon, Director of Experiences, introducing the panel.
I forgot to mention the reason we were invited to the finale. Each weekend in March, we have demonstrated our skills and answered questions while visitors toured the Waterhouse Residence Museum as part of Art31: Fiber. We've been experiencing gorgeous spring days, and the weekends were perfect for getting out and touring the museums. I can understand why artists flock here to collaborate. You can learn more about the Maitland Art and History Museum and their artists in residence programs here.
A huge thank you is owed to Sarah for organizing this collaboration between the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild and the Maitland Art & History Museums. Most of the pictures on this blog post were also taken by Sarah.
Here's one more picture of my quilt as art. As much as I love snuggling under this quilt while reading a book in my favorite chair, I am wondering if I should investigate adding a pedestal and spotlight at home. This quilt may feel under appreciated after basking in its one night of glory!
If you've made it this far, thank you! So, what are your thoughts on quilt as art?
