| Good Morning, | | | | Also as the interest grew in sewing and new fabrics |
| I have been mulling over the question of how one | | | | came on the market, new kinds of threads emerged |
| learns to appreciate art, fabric art in particular, and how | | | | on the scene. Metallic threads in all colors meant that |
| to educate the public about art quilts. | | | | some very interesting effects could be achieved by |
| First of all, art quilts as an art form is a relatively new | | | | machine quilting in specific areas. All kinds of threads |
| concept in the art world. Textile art has existed a long | | | | came along with different kinds of qualities that could |
| time in the form of woven tapestries or sewn | | | | be used in creative ways. |
| garments. Quilts have also existed a long time and | | | | The latest trend is the renewed interest in yarns of all |
| have even been decorated with embroidery even as | | | | kinds which many fabric artists like to incorporate onto |
| they were used as bedspreads on beds for warmth. | | | | the surface of their art quilts. Specialty yarns of all |
| Some garments were quilted and used under armor | | | | kinds and colors can add exciting textures to the |
| and other outerwear to keep people warm. | | | | designs. Additional embellishments used nowadays are |
| Traditional American quilts flourished in the 1800s and | | | | beads, ribbons, trinkets and even new kinds of fibers. |
| were mostly used for practical purposes although they | | | | Some artists are even incorporating materials and |
| were very artfully hand sewn and embroidered. A lot | | | | techniques from other artforms. |
| of women made quilts for their trousseaus and also | | | | So how are these wall quilts art? They are art |
| telling family histories such as births, marriages and | | | | because they're original visions manifested in various |
| deaths. Still, they were mostly treasured as family | | | | ways using fabrics much in the same way as an artist |
| heirlooms handed down for several generations. | | | | would use brushes. They are art because they |
| Today, museums and private collectors pay huge | | | | express high levels of creativity of images never |
| sums for antique bed quilts so in that sense, they are | | | | before seen. They are art because of the innovations |
| now art. | | | | in techniques they represent. And they bring |
| The modern art quilts (to be hung on the wall) evolved | | | | tremendous amounts of beauty to our often |
| in the early 70s, through the 80s and the 90s. Many | | | | denatured, sterile and concrete-filled asphalt jungle |
| women were interested in their grandmother's quilts or | | | | environment. |
| quilts their mothers made for them and had learned | | | | I remember a few years ago when I saw my first real |
| sewing and hand embroidery since they were young, | | | | art quilts displayed at a local center where I frequently |
| but wanted to find new ways of expressing their | | | | went for meetings. It was a private display of three |
| creativity using fabrics of all kinds. The notion came | | | | very large art quilts depicting various scenes inspired |
| that maybe we could make quilts that would strictly be | | | | by the Holy Writings of the Baha'i Faith. I literally |
| for decorative purposes to be displayed on the walls in | | | | stopped in my tracks when I entered the room! The |
| homes, hotel lobbies, offices, restaurants and other | | | | atmosphere and energy were totally changed just |
| public spaces. | | | | because of those beautiful works of art. I will never |
| There was a lot of experimentation taking place at this | | | | forget that moment and I am sure that is one of the |
| time using traditional cutting or sewing techniques and | | | | reasons I decided that I wanted to create something |
| designs in new expanded ways where blocks were | | | | similar. |
| not all the same but different. Some artists even used | | | | So, how do you learn to appreciate this new art form? |
| blocks of different sizes to be sewn together in | | | | Go to quilt exhibits, local and national, as often as you |
| creative ways. Many started coloring, dyeing and | | | | can. Almost all traditional quilt exhibits now include |
| printing their own fabrics which then were cut up in | | | | some form of art quilts as a special category. Prizes |
| various ways and reassembled to form a new graphic | | | | are given and artists are given recognition. Many have |
| image. Some used one piece of fabric and embellished | | | | written books about the techniques they've invented or |
| it with more fabric sewn directly onto the top, either | | | | perhaps they've come up with a variation of a cutting |
| appliqued by hand or machine. Some added colorful | | | | technique. Find quilting programs on your local TV |
| hand stitching as part of the design. | | | | network or cable, many now devote one or two |
| Sewing techniques became innovative also because | | | | programs per week to fabric art. |
| of new sewing machine technology where lots of | | | | In general, read art books that you find in the local |
| machine stitching and embroidery became part of the | | | | library. Go to museums and regular art exhibits. Take |
| overall design, not just used to quilt two layers of fabric | | | | art classes and art appreciation classes to get a good |
| and the batting together. This trend continues today | | | | basic background about art in general. Then you will |
| with many fabric artists using free motion (random | | | | begin to appreciate the work involved and the time it |
| stitching) to highlight areas of design or even be an | | | | takes to create an art quilt. |
| intricate part of the graphics. | | | | |