"Quilts as Souvenirs" exhibit

The Art Institute 's exhibit Quilts as Souvenirs opened in January and closes on Sunday.  Plans to meet a friend

downtown ultimately fell through. I still wanted to see the show so I went today, by myself.  The weather was sunny, the temperature crisp -- perfect for the one-mile walk from the station.

It was a small exhibit -- all of the quilts are part of the AIC permanent collection and understandably it's a small part. (There was no explanation of why AIC decided to feature these.)

Enjoy!

  Bertha Stenge was a renowned quiltmaker. This is "Quilt Show." The miniature quilts and the teeny border blocks -- plus the hand-quilting -- are stunning!

Another one of Bertha's quilts was on display. This is "American Holidays," made after WWII. (Among the holidays, in the border: VE Day and VJ Day.)

I think that Vic would like this one! The center is a printed handkerchief of the Philadelphia exposition.


Note the scrappy patches in the pinwheels.

Another handkerchief center. These gents are Garfield and Harrison.

Album Quilt, c 1854, by Sarah Ann Wilson (a slave).

Friendship Quilt made for Ella Maria Deacon, 1824.  (This would be a wonderful sampler to reproduce (like Dear Jane or Nearly Insane).)





Some of the blocks would be tough to make.

The Circuit Rider Quilt, made for Rev. G. C. Warvel in 1862.

Four quilts by Dr. Jeannette Throckmorton, M.D.
are in the AIC collection. This state birds and flowers was the one on display. I'm pretty sure the designs were stamped transfers.  The embroidery and quilting are exquisite.  (There was no explanation of why an Iowa doctor's quilts were acquired by AIC.)

Boxer John Sullivan is the subject of a crazy quilt.

 Another crazy quilt features animals.

Since the quilt is so obviously directional why is the top border oriented
upside down?

Aren't these bonnet ladies charming?