Exploring Art Quilts and Fiber Art
Ranked #6,654 in Arts & Design, #110,812 overall
From the Bed to the Wall
Quilt or Art Quilt? Craft or Fine Art? Traditional or Contemporary? What is an art quilt?
Have you asked these questions? I have. My search for answers to these questions resulted in a mass of information and the reason for creating this Lens.
Who made the first quilt? Who are the pioneers of art quilting? Did quilting begin in America or did it come here from a foreign country? I don't know the answers to many of these questions, but I have found a lot of information written by others that address these questions and have added those links here.
Although I enjoy creating art quilts, I am NOT an expert. I am fascinated by this art form, and I am curious to know more. It is my hope that the information contained here will inspire you in your own creativity and maybe answer some of your questions. If not, I hope the links included here will help you find your answers.
What are your questions? Have you found answers to them? Share them in my comment module so we can all learn from you.
The information contained in this lens is not meant to be complete. At this stage, it is a work in progress and it is a compilation of information I have found so far. At some point, I will provide some order.
Enjoy your exploration into this exciting art form. I hope it sets you on your own path to discovering the World of Art Quilting.
Enjoy,
Fannie
Have you asked these questions? I have. My search for answers to these questions resulted in a mass of information and the reason for creating this Lens.
Who made the first quilt? Who are the pioneers of art quilting? Did quilting begin in America or did it come here from a foreign country? I don't know the answers to many of these questions, but I have found a lot of information written by others that address these questions and have added those links here.
Although I enjoy creating art quilts, I am NOT an expert. I am fascinated by this art form, and I am curious to know more. It is my hope that the information contained here will inspire you in your own creativity and maybe answer some of your questions. If not, I hope the links included here will help you find your answers.
What are your questions? Have you found answers to them? Share them in my comment module so we can all learn from you.
The information contained in this lens is not meant to be complete. At this stage, it is a work in progress and it is a compilation of information I have found so far. At some point, I will provide some order.
Enjoy your exploration into this exciting art form. I hope it sets you on your own path to discovering the World of Art Quilting.
Enjoy,
Fannie
THE EVOLUTION OF ART QUILTS IN THE UNITED STATES
- June 1971
- Jonathan Holstein and Gale van der Hoof exhibited their collection of 62 pieced quilts at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
- 1979
- The First Quilt National at the Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center.
- 1984
- Michael Kile and Penny McMorris organized a traveling exhibit titled "The Art Quilt"
- September 1986
- Exhibit titled "The Art Quilt," curated by Penny McMorris and Michael Kile at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery
- 1985
- Mazloomi founded the Women of Color Quilters Network (which includes men), to promote inclusiveness in African American quilt making.
- 1989
- Yvonne Porcella founded Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA)
Why Quilts Matter?
Documentary series on DVD
Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics--A nine-part documentary series that explores quilts in fresh new ways
powered by Youtube
Why Quilts Matter?
The Kentucky Quilt Project, Inc. (KQP), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 1981 and created the first of the state quilt documentation projects. It ultimately inspired the documentation of quilts at thousands of quilt days, generating projects that resulted in extensive research, exhibitions and publications. With the quilt projects spanning from 1980 to the present, more than 200,000 quilts have been documented in almost every state and a multitude of other countries.
- Why Quilts Matter?
- Website
- Why Quilts Matter?
- Blog
- Why Quilts Matter? DVD series
- Order your personal two-disc DVD set (containing all 9 full episodes and extras).
I own this DVD set and highly recommend it. I am not affiliated with this organization.
Visions Art Museum
The Visions Art Museum presents art quilts, fiber, and textile exhibitions throughout the year at the NTC Promenade, the arts and culture district of Liberty Station in San Diego, California. Artists from around the world are showcased in this state-of-the-art gallery built in 2007. The Museum is a program of Quilt Visions and together with the international juried museum biennial fulfills the mission of the organization.
- Visions Art Museum
- Website
- Visions Art Museum
- Exhibitions
- Visions Art Museum
- Membership Information
ART QUILTERS WHO HAVE MADE THEIR MARK
There are so many quilt artists who have made their mark in the world of art quilting. This link list will probably be an ongoing work in progress.
- Carol Taylor
- Website
- Carolyn L. Mazloomi
- Website
- Caryl Bryer Fallert
- Website
- Hollis Chatelain
- Website
- Jane Sassaman
- Website
- Katie Pasquini Masopust
- Website
- Michael A. Cummings
- Website
- Nancy Crow
- Nancy's biography.
- Susan Shie
- Blog
- Yvonne Porcella
- Blog
Inspiration--Books from Amazon
Gee's Bend Quilts and Quiltmakers
Are the quilts of Gee's Bend the most famous quilts in America? I don't know, but I think they're a special group of quilts made by wonderful quiltmakers who deserve special mention here. The quilts are great examples of improvisational quilting and the beauty that can result when we create from our heart. A study of the quilts of Gee's Bend can offer important artistic insight and inspiration for our own artworks.
"Gee's Bend is a small rural community nestled into a curve in the Alabama River southwest of Selma, Alabama."~The Quilts of Gee's Bend (Trademark)
"In 2002, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in partnership with the nonprofit Tinwood Alliance, of Atlanta, presented an exhibition of seventy quilt masterpieces from the Bend."~The Quilts of Gee's Bend (Trademark)
"Gee's Bend is a small rural community nestled into a curve in the Alabama River southwest of Selma, Alabama."~The Quilts of Gee's Bend (Trademark)
"In 2002, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in partnership with the nonprofit Tinwood Alliance, of Atlanta, presented an exhibition of seventy quilt masterpieces from the Bend."~The Quilts of Gee's Bend (Trademark)
- The Quilts of Gee's Bend (Trademark)
- Website
- The Quiltmakers of Gee's Bend
- "The women of the Gee's Bend Quilters Collective all live in the area of Rehoboth and Boykin, Alabama."~The Quilts of Gee's Bend (Trademark)
Books about Gee's Bend
Fannie Narte
My Blog
MY FAVORITES
This section is a work in progress. More artist features to come.
Carol Taylor
- Carol Taylor's Website
- "My quilts are contemporary in style and often abstract in design, emphasizing color, contrast, and value relationships. I piece by machine and free-motion machine quilt them extensively, adding another layer of color and design to each quilt."
Books by Carol Taylor
Buy from Amazon.com
Caryl Bryer Fallert
- Caryl Bryer Fallert's Website
- "I make original fine art for the walls of homes and businesses from fabric that is stitched together and quilted. Most of my work is made from 100% cotton fabric, which is dyed and painted, then pieced, appliquéd, embroidered, and quilted on my sewing machine."
Publications by Caryl Bryer Fallert
Buy from Amazon.com
Jan Krentz
- Jan Krentz Website
- Jan Krentz is a nationally recognized quilt instructor, author and designer. Winner of the 1998 Teacher of the Year award, Jan's motivating workshops are packed with practical tips, techniques and methods to insure success.
Books by Jan Krentz
Buy from Amazon.com
Jane Dunnewold
- Jane Dunnewold
- Website
Books by Jane Dunnewold
I attended Jane Dunnewold's "Purposeful Imagery: Composing A Visual Language" workshop. I was able to find meaningful marks and tools to add to my art making . . . and more. If you get a chance to attend one of her workshops, I highly recommend. If you can't attend her workshops, the next best thing are to study her books. I own most of her books, and I refer to them quite frequently. They are informative and inspiring.
Crystal Star Quilt Designed by Jinny Beyer and made by me
Jinny Beyer
- Jinny Beyer's Website
- Before I began painting my own fabrics, my favorite fabric designer was Jinny Beyer. Her color pallettes are wonderful! The quilts she designs definitely blur the line between traditional and contemporary quilts. Her quilts can go from the bed to the wall to the bed. It may be that she is the link that connects the traditional quilting world to the contemporary quilting world. I like playing with her online quilting design board. I even made her Crystal Star quilt, which I use as a color chart in my studio. You might have guessed that I own many of her books.
- Jinny Beyer's Quilter's Design Board
- Free patterns. Design a virtual quilt using the blocks and get fabric recommendations, yardage requirements and more.
- Classes at Jinny Beyer's Studio
- Create beautiful quilted projects.
- Quilting With Jinny
- Tips & Lessons
Books by Jinny Beyer
Buy from Amazon.com
Katie Pasquini Masopust
- Katie Pasquini Masopust's Website
- I discovered Katie on a segment of HGTV's "Simply Quilts" with Alex Anderson several years ago. Her ghost quilts were amazing, and that was my first Katie Masopust Pasquini book. If you want to learn about composition, design, color and work with projects that will make your heart sing and dance, you may want to take a look at her books.
Books by Katie Pasquini Masopust
Buy at Amazon.com
I own four of these books by Katie Pasquini and "Design Explorations for the Creative Quilter" is on my list. Katie's books are well written.
Studio Art Quilt Associates--SAQA
- About SAQA
- The facts about SAQA.
- SAQA Benefit Auction 2011
- This year's Auction will begin on Monday, September 12th at 2:00 pm Eastern and conclude on Sunday, October 2 at 2:00 pm Eastern.
- SAQA Exhibitions
- Current, Future, Past and Traveling exhibits.
- SAQA Galleries
- Select an artist from the pull down menu or images to view their portfolio.
- SAQA Membership
- Join Studio Art Quilt Associates--SAQA
FIBER ART ORGANIZATIONS
Connect with like-minded artists.
- Austin Fiber Artists
- Website
- Contemporary Quilt Art Association
- A group of artists, teachers, writers, and collectors living throughout Washington state. Formed in the fall of 1986, the group views quilts as an exciting, emerging medium of expression and a viable contemporary art form.
- Dallas Area Fiber Artists
- Website
- Fiber Artists of San Antonio
- Website
- Houston Area Fiber Artists
- Website
- Studio Art Quilt Associates
- Studio Art Quilt Associates, Inc. (SAQA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the art quilt through education, exhibitions, professional development and documentation. Founded in 1989 by an initial group of 50 artists, SAQA now boasts over 2,700 members: artists, teachers, collectors, gallery owners, museum curators and corporate sponsors.
- Surface Design Association
- The Surface Design Association is a member-supported community of international creators, educators, collectors, and curators dedicated to the art and practice of surface design.
- The Textile and Fiber Art List
- The Textile and Fiber Art List is a membership organization of fiber artists and textile businesses on the web. TAFA showcases member portfolios through its website, provides access to larger markets, offers business resources and fosters community.
- Texas Federation of Fiber Artists
- Website
Books About Art Quilting
Buy from Amazon.com
The Quilt Index
The Quilt Index aims to be a central resource that incorporates a wide variety of sources and information on quilts, quiltmakers and quiltmaking. It is a partnership project of The Alliance for American Quilts, MATRIX: The Center for Humane Arts, Letters and Social Sciences Online at Michigan State University and the Michigan State University Museum. This resource represents years of planning, research and development to bring together quilt information in a centralized online tool for education, research, and public access. These notes on the history of the Quilt Index come from the project and staff archives and the papers of Shelly Zegart.
- The Quilt Index
- Website
- The Quilt Index
- History
Quilting Around the Web
Links to Interesting Sites
Want to explore the Quilting World? Want to donate your art quilts to a great cause? Want to see galleries of art quilts by contemporary artists? Check out these links. Enjoy.
- Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative
- A national, grassroots charity whose mission is to raise awareness and fund research. The AAQI auctions and sells donated quilts, and sponsors a nationally touring exhibit of quilts about Alzheimer's. Ami Simms of Flint, Michigan is the founder and executive director of the AAQI.
- Art Quilt Network
- A members only site founded in 1986 by the internationally acclaimed quilt artist, Nancy Crow, the Art Quilt Network has grown from a small core to over 80 highly creative artists from the U.S. and Canada. See the gallery of art quilts by its members.
- C&T Publishing
- Since its founding in 1983, C&T Publishing has become the industry leader for providing exceptional books and products to the quilting, paper craft, and fiber art markets throughout the United States and internationally.
- Friends of Fiber Art International
- Friends of Fiber Art tells the world that fiber art is the collectible of the 21st century and helps you find it. We facilitate opportunities and programs for the education of potential collectors.
- Quilts, Inc.
- Headed by Karoline (Karey) Bresenhan, founder and president, QUILTS, INC. produces three consumer shows and two trade shows each year that set the standard for both the art and the business of quilting.
- Quilting Arts
- An online community just for contemporary quilters!
- Sacred Threads
- An exhibition of quilts exploring themes of spirituality, joy, inspiration, peace/brotherhood, grief and healing. This biennial exhibition was established to provide a safe venue for quilters who see their work as a connection to the sacred and/or as an expression of their spiritual journey.
- The Quilt Show
- Traditional quilter or contemporary quilter or art quilter or fiber artist--The Quilt Show is for all quilters. "The hosts, Alex Anderson, former host of HGTV's Simply Quilts and Ricky Tims, quilt teacher, author, and performing artist/entertainer, combine their comprehensive skills to bring to the World Wide Web the richest, most diverse website for quilters ever created."
QUILT NATIONAL
Biennial Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art Quilts
Purpose of Quilt National: "Quilt National was intended to demonstrate the transformations taking place in the world of quilting. Its purpose was then, and still is, to carry the definition of quilting far beyond its traditional parameters and to promote quiltmaking as what it always has been -- an art form."
1979--First major exhibit, The Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, Ohio. " One hundred ninety-six artists submitted 390 works. Jurors Michael James, Renee Seidel, and Gary Schwindler selected 56 quilts by 43 artists. The exhibitiors represented twenty states and one foreign country. There were no awards granted. Included among the exhibitors for that first show were Joyce Marquiss Carey, Terrie Hancock Mangat, Rhoda Cohen, Debra Lunn, Nancy Halpern, Elaine Plogman, Beth Gutcheon, Chris Wolf Edmonds, Tafi Brown, and Maria McCormick-Snyder. "
1979--First major exhibit, The Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, Ohio. " One hundred ninety-six artists submitted 390 works. Jurors Michael James, Renee Seidel, and Gary Schwindler selected 56 quilts by 43 artists. The exhibitiors represented twenty states and one foreign country. There were no awards granted. Included among the exhibitors for that first show were Joyce Marquiss Carey, Terrie Hancock Mangat, Rhoda Cohen, Debra Lunn, Nancy Halpern, Elaine Plogman, Beth Gutcheon, Chris Wolf Edmonds, Tafi Brown, and Maria McCormick-Snyder. "
QUILT NATIONAL LINKS
- The first Quilt National, 1979
- Under the administrative leadership of Nancy Crow, Françoise Barnes, and Virginia Randles, the first Quilt National Exhibit was held in 1979 in the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio. Jurors and names of some of the exhibitors.
- Insights of the first Quilt National by Juror Gary Schwindler
- Gary Schwindler, one of three jurors of the first Quilt National Show, reviews the Show and provides his insights and makes specific comments regarding the submissions in the show.
- The Artists and Quilts of the first Quilt National Show in 1979
- Names of artists and links to photos of their submissions
- Quilt National Archives
- Links to biennial juried exhibitions of contemporary art quilts, includes brief summary of show and photographs of winning quilts.
Great Books about the History of Quilts
Buy from Amazon.com
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BOOK
Top Five Art Quilting Books
Add your book to the list or vote a book up or down.
Masters: Art Quilts, Vol. 2: Major Works by Leading Artists by Ray Hemachandra, Martha Sielman
This inspirational and simply gorgeous book of p more...0 points
Masters: Art Quilts: Major Works by Leading Artists by Martha Sielman
These art quilts showcase such versatility, innovation, more...0 points
The Art Quilt Collection: Designs & Inspiration from Around the World
Using the well-established methods and styles of the more...0 points
Color and Composition for the Creative Quilter: Improve Any Quilt with Easy-to-Follow Lessons by Katie Pasquini Masopust, Brett Barker
Art lessons every quilter will love.0 points
Help for the Beginning Art Quilter
If you're a beginning art quilter, this section will include videos and links to help you get started.
Finish Your Quilt Using Bias Tape
There are several ways to finish the edges of your art quilt. The most popular way is to use bias tape. You can buy bias tape from your favorite fabric store, or you can make your own. Here are two videos to help you make your own bias tape.
How to Make a Continuous Bias Strip
Video by Erin Compton Design
Once you've made your continuous bias strip, turn it into bias tape following the instructions in the next video by Nancy Zieman.
Learn How to Create Bias Tape and Quilt Bindings in Minutes
Video by Nancy Zieman
How to Bind a Quilt
Video by ConnectingThreads.com
Now that you've learned how to make your own bias tape, here's how to sew it onto your quilt, including how to make a mitered corner.
curated content from YouTube
Free Motion Quilting Demonstration For Beginners
Stipple Quilting
What do you think?
Ask a question, make a comment, share your thoughts
This is a new lens, and I have a lot more content to add. But hey, let me know what you think. If you have ideas that will help me create a Five-Star lens, feel free to share. Happy Creating!
-
-
landscapelady
Apr 24, 2012 @ 5:42 pm | delete
- Wow! What a wealth of information! Thank you for sharing. I consider myself an art quilter although I stick to the pictorial type but I do admire the abstract.
-
-
-
ImagineCreateInspire Apr 24, 2012 @ 6:15 pm | delete
- Thanks for stopping by landscapelady! I appreciate your comments. Glad to meet you and I wish you magic in creating your pictorial quilts. More information to come . . . Hugs
-
-
-
mihgasper
Feb 29, 2012 @ 3:44 am | delete
- Another beautiful lens. Thumbs up!
-
-
-
- Thanks so much, mihgasper! I appreciate your visit. ~Fannie
-
-
-
BevsPaper
Sep 5, 2011 @ 6:13 pm | delete
- What a great resource for people exploring art quilts. I am drawn to quilts, too but I love the old traditional styles that I think are also pieces of art. Nicely done article!
-
- Load More
by ImagineCreateInspire
Besides my family and friends, I love creating. Anything that can be cut, painted, glued, sewn or hammered is a potential medium that could find its way... more »
- 3 featured lenses
- Winner of 4 trophies!
- Top lens » Create Art With Neocolor II Watersoluble Wax Pastels
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Amigurumi: Cute, Cuddly, Crochet Amigurumi: Cute, Cuddly, Crochet
- Handmade Fiber Arts on Etsy, Mine..... and Others! Handmade Fiber Arts on Etsy, Mine..... and Others!
- Create Art With Neocolor II Watersoluble Wax Pastels Create Art With Neocolor II Watersoluble Wax Pastels
- Fabric Postcards Fabric Postcards
- Quilted Postcards Quilted Postcards
- Recycled Felt Recycled Felt
