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