Friday, April 6, 2012

Quilt Museum Visit

One of the exhibits at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum is one by Jean Ray Laury. She was an important quilt artist and feminist as well. This set of murals was gorgeous. It portrays the Ten Virgins parable about the five wise virgins and the five foolish virgins. This side shows the foolish virgins coming to the wedding without light.
When you walk around to the back side of these murals, you will see the wise virgins, coming to the wedding with their lights held high. The moral of the story, to be prepared, is also coupled with her belief that women should let their lights/talents shine, not hide them.
These pictures don't really do them justice...they are stunning!

Her sense of humor showed through on many of her quilts as well. This one she made in response to a speech by an Arkansas senator about women and their opinions! We saw many other examples of her work at the museum and you can see some here.
There is also an exhibit of many quilts that artists made honoring Ardis James, whose contribution of a huge quilt collection started the Museum's collection.  She and husband Bob accumulated many antique quilts over their many years of traveling. This quilt is by Susan Shie. Her work has been featured in magazines and it was fun to see it up close. She covers every inch with writing, like a journal. She made this quilt honoring Ardis James.
More of her work is found here.
I don't remember the artist's name for this quilt, but it had to do with dreams and nightmares.....the details up close are so awesome.
This quilt was in an exhibit of signature quilts and I love the block! It is called King's Crown variation, but is nothing like the King's Crown block I have seen in the past. I would love to make this block and need to do some research to see if I can find it anywhere.
We ended up in two quilt shops in Lincoln after lunch. I bought a few pieces of fabric, but was pretty good! It was a great day with friends!

4 comments:

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

Jean Ray Laury wrote one of the very first quilt books when the 1976 revival started. I was lucky enought to take a workshop she offered for our guild in the 1980s. Her work has always inspired me.

Kerstin said...

Thanks for the pictures. there is no quilt museum around here. So I enjoy pictures when people go to shows or like you did the quilt museum.

Barb said...

Sounds like a fun day...so love the quilts you showed.

Angie Kritenbrink said...

Very cool!