The Art of Quilting
by: Heidi Staggs
A giant, green and brown, three-dimensional quilt, “Pod,” stitched by Kevan Rupp Lunney, was one of several quilts featured in the “Bloodline” quilt exhibit Thursday evening in the University Gallery.
“Bloodline: A Quilt Exhibition” presents quilt-inspired artwork from a diverse range of nationally and internationally renowned artists, according to the Indiana State Art Gallery press release.
A second art exhibit, “Local Threads: Quilts of Vigo County,” displayed in the Fine Arts building Thursday, features many quilts that were donated to the Vigo County Historical Society and Museum, said MaryLee Hagan, executive director of Vigo County Historical Society and Museum.
Jacquelyn Chiddister, a former assistant dean at the ISU School of Graduate Studies said it was nice to see the evolution of quilts from function to art form.
“I learned that quilting is a creative expression of different mediums,” she said.
A piece in the exhibit, “Diamond Square Pattern,” was made by Lydia Schrock and the Amish community of Amherst, Wis.
“It is a double-sided quilt and is registered on each side,” said Melissa Vandenberg, the director of the university art gallery.
Another piece, “Bierbergen Oedelum Black,” was made by Ian Hundley, a Brooklyn-based artist.
“It was inspired by two towns in West Germany,” Hundley said. He first projected a map, then, he stitched the quilt, which he finished in 2006.
Alan Bundza, a non-degree seeking student, commented on Michael Aaron McAllister’s “Self Portrait Quilts.”
“They are very intricate, an excellent choice of colors to make the focal point stand out,” he said.
The theme of political figures was very interesting, he said.
Petra Nyendick is a Terre Haute contemporary artist and owner and operator of Halcyon, a contemporary art studio.
She had a piece in the exhibit entitled “Quilters 4″ which was inspired by American quilting, she said.
Shawn Quinton, a Pittsburg Penn., resident, created “The Quilt that Won’t Comfort” which was made within nine months of Sept. 11, 2001.
“I have been quilting for 12 years,” he said.
He was inspired by hypocrisy and the events of Sept. 11 to stitch his piece on display. He took an image of “The Last Supper” and distorted it to put an essence of patriotism and the reaction of individuals during the attack.
Deborah Ball, a first-year ceramic graduate student, said she learned that quilting could be a beautiful sculpture, no longer a stereotypical quilt.
Vandenberg believed the exhibit crossed good territory to bring both community and students to the gallery to view the exhibit beyond university walls.
“It opens up new territories and a new sense of possibility of use of materials,” Vandenberg said.
Amanda Hickey, a sophomore fine arts major, said the exhibits surprised her with the different uses of fabric.
“I have learned that sculpture can be found in many media,” she said.
Details:
“Bloodline”
Sept. 11 - Oct. 4
University Art Gallery, Center for
Performing Fine Arts
Monday - Friday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m.-8p.m.
Admission is free, open to the public and wheelchair accessible
“Local Threads: Quilts of Vigo County”
Sept. 11 - Oct. 4
Turman Gallery, Fine Arts Building
Monday - Friday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday 12 - 4 p.m.
For more information, contact Melissa
Vandenberg, the director of the University Art Gallery, mvandenberg@isugw.indsate.edu
( Heidi Staggs is a freshman communication major. She can be reached at sascamed@isugw.indstate.edu. )
Posted: September 12th, 2008 under Uncategorized.
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