A blog sponsored by the Michigan State University Museum's Michigan Traditional Arts Program, a partnership with the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Sharing news and information about the Great Lakes Folk Festival, Quilt Index, the MSU Museum's traditional arts activities, Great Lakes traditional artists and arts resources, and much more. Development of content for this blog supported by funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Friday, June 15, 2012

QUILTS BECOME 'PATTERNS OF INQUIRY" IN NEW MSU MUSEUM EXHIBITION


From treasured bed coverings, to provocative works of art and political statements, to sophisticated 
On June 3, 2012, a new exhibition opened at the Michigan State University Museum. "Patterns of Inquiry: Quilts in Research and Education," showcases a number of the museum's historic and contemporary textiles in the context of the research and education projects with which they are affiliated. Quilting has never been more popular, and "quilt studies" is a fast-growing field of research. 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.

Read more here.

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