How quilts are made


Art quilts

Distinguishing art quilts from the mainColour  Theory  and  Patterns
category of quilts can be difficult. Art
quilts can be created using any of theThe colours used in art quilts are determined
techniques of a quilt - piecing, applique,by their creators, but quilts which go beyond
whole cloth, or even machine embroidery.the basic "bed quilt" are usually
These are techniques, though, and artdistinguishable by non-traditional colours or
involves more than mere technique.pattern interpretation. Fiber Artists such as
Meaningfulness, in whatever way the viewerValerie Page of PageQuilts, or Melody Crust,
perceives it, is involved in the experiencedemonstrate their vision by the use of
of an art quilt, as opposed to a quilt builtcomplementary and contrasting colours, and
as an exercise in craft or technicalcomplex and unpredictable but balanced
capabilities, or for practical bedroompatterns. The result may be mathematical in
purposes.nature, as is the case with the Fibonacci
number textile patterns Valerie Page creates.
The term 'art quilt' itself is controversial,
since it implies that quilts in otherQuilts  are  named
categories are not art. Quilts have always
been made, however, with their aestheticDuring the late 1900's, the quilt community
value as a consideration, even when makersstarted to encourage quilters to label their
were creating objects for practical use inquilts, starting with a name for the quilt,
their homes and bedrooms. To this extent,in addition to their own name, and completion
nearly all quilts evidence artistic/creativedate for the work. This was an important step
expression and their functional raison d'etrein taking the craft of quilting into the art
as well as their materials and techniquesrealm. A quilt's name implies there is some
support their visual statements, expressionsmeaning to a quilt beyond its creation, to
that can be as powerful viewed on a bed aswhatever degree, though meaning is found in
from the flat expanse of a gallery wall. Whatquilts  without  names  as  well.
perhaps distinguishes the art of the
home-based maker from that of theEmotion  in  an  art  quilt
studio-based maker are context and intent.
The works of makers such as the quilters ofOne aspect of some art quilts is the ability
Gee's Bend, Alabama demonstrate, however,of the piece to evoke an emotion in the
that notions of what distinguishes aviewer. While examples of quilts displaying
so-called 'art quilt' from an everyday 'bedthe darker end of the emotional spectrum are
quilt' may reside less in the minds of thestill rare, they do exist. Quilts focused on
makers  than  in  the  eyes of the beholders.the September 11, 2001 attacks have
particularly explored grief and anger.



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