Frogs, birds, lighthouses — even Oprah — part of quilt show
"Let's All Spring Forward" is one of 70 quilts featured in the International Art Quilt Exhibition opening June 17 at the Brigham City Museum.
The images on the "Frame of Mind" quilt change depending on which way the piece is viewed. The creation by a Tennessee quilter is is part of the International Art Quilt Exhibition opening June 17 at the Brigham City Museum.
"Celebration of Life" is one of 70 quilts featured in the International Art Quilt Exhibition opening June 17 at the Brigham City Museum.
"Sandstorm over the White Desert" is part of the International Art Quilt Exhibition opening June 17 at the Brigham City Museum.
"Machu Picchu" is one of 70 quilts featured in the International Art Quilt Exhibition opening June 17 at the Brigham City Museum.
"Bingil Bay" is one of 70 quilts featured in the International Art Quilt Exhibition opening June 17 at the Brigham City Museum.
BRIGHAM CITY — These days, many quilt makers have taken the art of quilting to a whole new dimension.
Not only do they piece the quilts together, but many of paint on them, add interior lighting and or create three-dimensional designs.
This year, during Brigham City Museum’s International Art Quilt Invitational Exhibition, the public will have the opportunity to view approximately 70 quilts and will be able to purchase some of the artwork on display from Friday, June 17, through Aug. 31.
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“We’ve had a quilt exhibit almost every year since the museum opened in 1970. It’s been an international event for four years, counting this year. This year we will have a three-in-one national award-winning quilt on display,” said Mary Alice Hobbs, curator of the exhibition. “When the quilt is viewed from the left, you can see the face of Jackie Kennedy. From the front, you can see Oprah Winfrey and from the right, you see Mother Teresa.”
PREVIEW
• WHAT: International Art Quilt Invitational Exhibition
• WHEN: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays June 17-Aug. 31
• WHERE: Brigham City Museum, 24 N. 300 West, Brigham City
• ADMISSION: Free; 435-226-1439, www.brighamcitymuseum.org
The three-in-one quilt was made by Tennessee resident Flora Joy, who, in a press release, said the inspiration for the piece occurred while she was sitting at a traffic light and a revolving billboard caught her eye.
The award-winning quilt took Joy several years to make and it has been displayed at shows throughout the country, from Arkansas to California to Florida.
• See Flora Joy talk about her three-in-one quilt; story continues below video
“A first this year is a quilt by Tarek Fattoh of Egypt,” Hobbs said. “He belongs to the famous Tentmakers of Cairo. They are a group of men who have been producing brilliantly colored, appliqued artwork in Cairo’s marketplace since 1624. He often works 14 hours a day in his shop as it is the sole means of his livelihood.”
Hobbs also said the exhibit includes a 35-inch cloth boat manned by technicolor characters conducting a rescue operation and a gigantic, cloth teacup with interior lighting. The exhibit was designed by Susan Else of California, who often incorporates sound, light and motors in her work.
Also on display will be quilts decorated with red-eyed tree frogs from Central America, the 18th century Jade Belt Bridge in China and landmarks in Berlin. Other quilts portray several countries including Jerusalem postcards conveying peace that still seeps from its stones, New York’s 1835 Ogdensburg Harbor Lighthouse, and others showing scenes from Africa, Syria, Norway and Japan.
Award-winning artist Lea McComas of Colorado will be conducting a workshop from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 13 entitled, “Introduction to Thread Painting” at the Brigham City Senior Center, 24 N. 300 West.
“Thread painting is just like painting on a canvas, except fabric is the canvas and colored embroidery threads are the paints,” Hobbs said.
McComas’ pieces have won awards at several quilt venues and include “Bike Boys” and “Panning for Gold,” Hobbs said.