events

Potluck Quilts: Art Quilts From the Piecemakers

SHOW BEGINS TODAY: A quilt exhibit that seems good enough to eat will feature the work of 53 quilters from the Rocky Mountain region from 30 January to 24 March 2007. It joins together two strong threads – quilts and food, and reminds the viewer of community, family, and the strength of two beloved American traditions, quilting and Potluck dinners. Quilts are colorful and beautifully constructed, showing various styles and points of view. Humor permeates the show, which will be held at the Grout Museum of History and Science, 503 South Street, Waterloo, Iowa.

Traditional expressions of economy and the pioneer spirit of making beauty out of leftovers; quilts in past American centuries were created for utilitarian purposes: warmth and comfort. Quilts had many functions in frontier life�they provided covering from birth to death and used every bit of surplus fabric in their making. They decorated the home and were highly prized by generations of settlers. But beyond the piecing of the patterned top, quilts also provided frontier women a chance to relieve their isolation through the annual ritual of the quilting bee. At these events, often held just once a year during the summer before harvest, the three layers of the quilt sandwich were stitched together by many women from diverse backgrounds who traveled far distances to this event. The quilting bees were often the only time during the year when women could meet for many days to sew, exchange news eat food specially created for themselves, and have a break from the un-relenting chores necessary to rural life. In many ways, quilting bees considered the only woman’s community they had.

Quilts in the 21st century have become recognized as art throughout the world, and the tradition of communal making still prevails. Contemporary women meet in quilting clubs and guilds, art critique groups, and at bees to exchange ideas, swap news and create new work. Like their pioneer foremothers, these gatherings serve as the fabric that holds them together. An important part of these gatherings, like in frontier times is food and shared meals, usually potlucks.

The Potluck exhibit brings food and quilts together, celebrating both tradition and modernity. Developed by The Piecemakers, a group of Colorado quilters, the exhibition was conceived over lunch one day where most of the Piecemakers were at the home of Marguerite Wilson in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Naturally the conversation was about food and quilts. And, it was delicious. “We had kicked the idea of a food show around for several years. But the wonderful smells coming out of Maruqerite’s kitchen, made our thought turn serious. What could be better than an exhibition that celebrates two distinctly American traditions – potluck meals and wonderful quilts! We knew we had an idea worth cooking up.�

The exhibit’s fifty-three original and stunning quilts are a fusion of the traditional and the newest trends in quilting, ranging from time-honored techniques such as appliqué to the latest in computer-generated printing. All quilts are 24� x 24� and each quilt has red and white checks somewhere in the quilt in homage to American quilt makers who made great quilts and great potlucks. Also included will be quilts from area quilter makers that incorporate the same tasteful theme. Other surprises will include artifacts, photographs and ephemera related to our love of cooking and eating.

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