| Distinguishing art quilts from the main | | | | Colour Theory and Patterns |
| category of quilts can be difficult. Art | | | | |
| quilts can be created using any of the | | | | The 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 art | | | | distinguishable by non-traditional colours or |
| involves more than mere technique. | | | | pattern interpretation. Fiber Artists such as |
| Meaningfulness, in whatever way the viewer | | | | Valerie Page of PageQuilts, or Melody Crust, |
| perceives it, is involved in the experience | | | | demonstrate their vision by the use of |
| of an art quilt, as opposed to a quilt built | | | | complementary and contrasting colours, and |
| as an exercise in craft or technical | | | | complex and unpredictable but balanced |
| capabilities, or for practical bedroom | | | | patterns. 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 other | | | | Quilts are named |
| categories are not art. Quilts have always | | | | |
| been made, however, with their aesthetic | | | | During the late 1900's, the quilt community |
| value as a consideration, even when makers | | | | started to encourage quilters to label their |
| were creating objects for practical use in | | | | quilts, 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/creative | | | | date for the work. This was an important step |
| expression and their functional raison d'etre | | | | in taking the craft of quilting into the art |
| as well as their materials and techniques | | | | realm. A quilt's name implies there is some |
| support their visual statements, expressions | | | | meaning to a quilt beyond its creation, to |
| that can be as powerful viewed on a bed as | | | | whatever degree, though meaning is found in |
| from the flat expanse of a gallery wall. What | | | | quilts without names as well. |
| perhaps distinguishes the art of the | | | | |
| home-based maker from that of the | | | | Emotion in an art quilt |
| studio-based maker are context and intent. | | | | |
| The works of makers such as the quilters of | | | | One 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 a | | | | viewer. While examples of quilts displaying |
| so-called 'art quilt' from an everyday 'bed | | | | the darker end of the emotional spectrum are |
| quilt' may reside less in the minds of the | | | | still 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. |