Saturday, March 31, 2018

Art Quilts - Part III
Art Review

Marie-Therese Wisniowski

Preamble
Art Quilts have featured on this blogspot and so for your convenience I have listed below previous posts in this series:
Art Quilts - Part I
Art Quilts - Part II
Art Quilts - Part III
Art Quilts - Part IV
Art Quilts - Part V
Art Quilts - Part VI
Art Quilts - Part VII
Art Quilters of the Netherlands - Part I
Art Quilters of the Netherlands - Part II
Art Quilters of the Netherlands - Part III
Four Selected European Art Quilters - Part I
Four Selected European Art Quilters - Part II
Four Selected European Art Quilters - Part III
Art Quilts of Jane Sassaman
Art Quilts of Michael A. Cummings


Introduction
The art of quilting basically involves stitching together two or more layers of fabric to form a decorative design on the top surface, either to create warmth and softness or simply to add interest. There are four main types of quilting, each with its own characteristics.

Padded or "English" quilting
This is perhaps the best known form of quilting where the entire surface is padded. Two layers of fabric and one of padding are required.

A coverlet made from a wide range of block-printed cotton (England, 1797).
Victoria Albert Museum is the world's greatest museum of design and the arts: its collections cover two thousand years up to the present, in virtually every medium and from Britain, Europe and Asia.

Stuffed or "Trapunto" quilting
Here the design is stitched first then certain areas are stuffed with padding from behind to make them stand out.

Victoria Albert Museum. Detail tristan trapunto quilt circa 1360-1400 AD.

Corded or "Italian" quilting.
Only two layers of fabric are used here. The raised design is made by inserting rug yarn, quilting yarn or cord between double lines of stitching.


Characteristics: Fabric-usually lustrous, silk, satin, shantung, also fine linen, polished cotton Design-flowing parallel lines worked in running stitch, back stitch or machine Traditional work did not have other embroidery stitches Padding-cord, wool or wool tops, between parallel lines creating a raised surface| Thread-cotton or linen, same or contrast colour Quilting or trapunto is often used in association.

Flat quilting
Two layers of fabric are held together by an overall-design of decorative stitching, but no padding is inserted. This type of quilting gives body and extra warmth to the fabric without adding bulk. Most Art Quilts fall into this category, since in most cases the quilts are only useful for display as a work of art rather than for practical use.

Melody Johnson, "Autumn Hues".
Hand dyed cottons, fused, machine quilted.

Today's blog will investigate some Art Quilts that have featured in reference[1].


Art Quilts[1]
Many people see the genesis of today's fiber scene to have arisen from the counterculture movement of the 1960s, where young people lived tribally, tie-dyeing and weaving fabric, embroidering their blue jeans and spinning yarn from their own sheep, goats, rabbits and dogs. The era kicked off creative street fashion - at a time when no one even heard of the word "Indy". I hope you enjoy these artists.


Artist: Iran Lawrence; Title: Dowery.
Technique and Materials: Hand dyed, machine pieced and hand quilted; cotton muslin.
Size: 62 inches in diameter.
Photograph: John Jenkins.


Artist: Vebjorg Hagene Thoe; Title: Northern Lights.
Technique and Materials: Machine seam application; silk, cotton, nylon, velvet.
Size: 39 x 29 cm.


Artist: Jane Fawkes; Title: Howe Sound Summer.
Technique and Materials: Quilted and machine stitched cotton, painted with acrylic.
Size: 28 x 38 inches.


Artist: Dominie Nash; Title: New Day.
Technique and Materials: Piecing, appliqué, machine quilting, drawing; cotton, dyes, pastel.
Size: 31 x 51.5 inches.
Photograph: Edward Owen.


Artist: Judith A. Weiss; Title: Bijou Dream.
Technique and Materials: Pattern drifting, piecing, quilting; cotton and cotton blends.
Size: 49 x 49 inches.
Photograph: Calista Lawton.


Artist: Judith Tinkl; Title: Trellis.
Technique and Materials: Pieced and quilted cotton and synthetics.
Size: 74.5 x 92 inches.
Photograph: Saltmarche.


Artist: Emily Zopf; Title: October.
Technique and Materials: Pieced, quilted, and hand painted cottons.
Size: 78 x 41 inches.
Photograph: Linda Kimura Rees.


Artist: Lynne Sward; Title: Fragment Series II.
Technique and Materials: Machine sewn cotton and cotton blends.
Size: 15 x 12 x 2 inches.
Photograph: Brenda Wright.


Artist: Judith Larzelere; Title: Fragment Jappa Sunrise.
Technique and Materials: Machine strip piece and quilted cotton broadcloth and chintz.
Size: 113 x 84 inches.
Photograph: Bindas Studio.


Artist: Ursula Gerber-Senger; Title: Metropolitan.
Technique and Materials: Hand pieced and quilted silk, cotton, satin, and velveteen.
Size: 235 x 185 cm.
Photograph: T. Cugini, Zurich.


Reference
[1] Ed. K. Mathews, FiberArts Design Book Three, Lark Books, Asheville (1987).

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