Distilling the comparison of my previous blog…
Here are three wall hangings celebrating the 250th at Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza, from a challenge by a Pennsylvania quilt guild. From left to right: A bargello version of the flag, a center medallion with borders, and a small rectangle of even, geometric blocks. Each is an original design, well-constructed, crisp and neat.
Now take a look at three art quilts from Art Quilters Celebrate Independence, a juried exhibition by Studio Art Quilt Associates of Pennsylvania, also in honor of the 250th. Each features symbolism depicting a particular point of view:
Faded Glory, by Frances Anne Frederick –This version of our flag shows the grandur of Old Glory diminished, with falling stars, lightning bolts, bullet holes, noxious creatures, and ragged edges.
Liberty, by Gay Bitter, has similarities to the traditional medallion in the first photo: center pictorials and text, surrounded by perfect patchwork blocks. However, Gay has deconstructed the Liberty Bell –its dome on the top third, its clapper on the right, her bowtie/hourglass blocks depict the red states mostly separate from the blue states, and she and latches onto a quote from John Adams: “Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.”
Keystone, by Peggy Black, is made up of patchwork blocks like the geometric design in the top photo on the right. However, here, an improvisational construction takes the place of repeat blocks, rendering the work a sophisticated abstract. Also, there’s meaning: down the vertical center, the blocks symbolize the 13 colonies, with Pennsylvania, the blue quadrangle in the center. Pennsylvania is called the Keystone state, and that architectural term refers to that block at the top of an arch that unifies and holds all the other blocks together…Just as Pennsylvania operated as a political center for early colonial resistance.
What other distinctions can you make between traditional quilted wall hangings and art quilts?
Please leave your thoughts in a comment below!