Sunday, September 9, 2012
All day
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Patterns of Inquiry: Quilts in Research and Education
(Exhibits (Museum, Gardens, ...))
From treasured bed coverings, to provocative works of art and political statements, to sophisticated digital learning tools, curators at the Michigan State University Museum are patterning together a whole new understanding of what quilts are.
Opening in the Main Gallery on June 3 is "Patterns of Inquiry: Quilts in Research and Education," an exhibition which will showcase a number of the museum's historic and contemporary textiles. Quilting has never been more popular, and "quilt studies" is a fast-growing field of research now as well. Studies indicate there are more than 27 million quilters in the U.S. alone, and the new exhibit explores why quilts are created and some innovative ways they are being used.
"The rise of the feminist art movement in the 1960s and heightened national interest in American history spawned by the nation's bicentennial celebration in 1976 paved the way for more scholarly investigation of historical and contemporary American traditions, women's artistic contributions, crafts in general and quiltmaking in particular," notes Mary Worrall, assistant curator of folk arts and museum educator. "Investigations into the history and meaning of American quilts have now evolved into extremely sophisticated studies spanning many disciplines," she adds. more information...
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