How quilts are made


Art quilts

Distinguishing art quilts from the mainColour Theory and Patterns
category of quilts can be difficult. ArtThe colours used in art quilts are
quilts can be created using any of thedetermined by their creators, but quilts
techniques of a quilt - piecing,which go beyond the basic "bed quilt"
applique, whole cloth, or even machineare usually distinguishable by
embroidery. These are techniques,non-traditional colours or pattern
though, and art involves more than mereinterpretation. Fiber Artists such as
technique. Meaningfulness, in whateverValerie Page of PageQuilts, or Melody
way the viewer perceives it, is involvedCrust, demonstrate their vision by the
in the experience of an art quilt, asuse of complementary and contrasting
opposed to a quilt built as an exercisecolours, and complex and unpredictable
in craft or technical capabilities, orbut balanced patterns. The result may be
for practical bedroom purposes.mathematical in nature, as is the case
The term 'art quilt' itself iswith the Fibonacci number textile
controversial, since it implies thatpatterns 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 acommunity started to encourage quilters
consideration, even when makers wereto label their quilts, starting with a
creating objects for practical use inname for the quilt, in addition to their
their homes and bedrooms. To thisown name, and completion date for the
extent, nearly all quilts evidencework. This was an important step in
artistic/creative expression and theirtaking the craft of quilting into the
functional raison d'etre as well asart realm. A quilt's name implies there
their materials and techniques supportis some meaning to a quilt beyond its
their visual statements, expressionscreation, to whatever degree, though
that can be as powerful viewed on a bedmeaning is found in quilts without names
as from the flat expanse of a galleryas well.
wall. What perhaps distinguishes the artEmotion in an art quilt
of the home-based maker from that of theOne aspect of some art quilts is the
studio-based maker are context andability of the piece to evoke an emotion
intent. The works of makers such as thein the viewer. While examples of quilts
quilters of Gee's Bend, Alabamadisplaying the darker end of the
demonstrate, however, that notions ofemotional spectrum are still rare, they
what distinguishes a so-called 'artdo exist. Quilts focused on the
quilt' from an everyday 'bed quilt' maySeptember 11, 2001 attacks have
reside less in the minds of the makersparticularly explored grief and anger.
than in the eyes of the beholders.



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