Quilts for an Exhibit

Today, I hit the road and go to Philomath, Oregon, home of the Benton County Historical Museum. The museum hosts a big quilt show every other year as part of Quilt County, a county-wide display of quilts. In 2011, The Benton County Museum will host a show of my New York Beauty quilts, and the space can accommodate about 18 full sized quilts.

Since my last visit to the museum, this group of quilts has grown to include 26 examples. I have 25 of them, the other I won on eBay just this week. The show will be a unique glimpse at quilt history as seen in variations on one pattern, known primarily as New York Beauty. 

Funny story about how the show came to be. I was an unlikely looking member of the Columbia Willamette Quilt Study Group when the group visited the museum in March. We were there to view quilts from the Susan Cockrell Collection, an educational collection conceived by an east coast collector who, philanthropically, wanted to spread culture throughout the west. 

I was one of the last people to arrive, and was wearing my usual jeans and a vintage looking Ford T-shirt, probably wearing flip-flops. At the door, we were greeted by a very attractive lady who naturally asked me if I was part of the group. I get that all the time. I'm usually the only guy in the group, I'm 6'4" 225 lbs., and I'm usually dressed waaaayy down. Except for my watch. But that's another story.

We laughed, and I learned her name - Irene Zenev - Executive Director of the museum. Who was I, and why was I there, I'm sure she wondered. 

Early American Union Quilt, 1796-1895. Read more about this quilt.

During the viewing of the Cockrell Collection, I'd been out of my seat, bouncing back and forth between the two tables. Gushing with semi-scholarly observations, I was tickled pink by the museum's appreciation of the quilts, even though they were not all in the best condition. Among those, the Early American Union Quilt was my favorite, hands down. The museum's position was the same as my own. These quilts must be preserved.

By the end of the day someone must have mentioned something to Irene about me having a collection of quilts. I guess they said good things. Irene pulled me aside. She wanted to know - and it was OK if I said no - but she wanted to know if I would be willing to show my quilts at the museum in 2011. I was happy, and said yes with no hesitation. 

A few months later, I visited the museum with 20 quilts from my collection. I met with Irene, Mary Gallagher, Liz Hoffman, and Mark Tolonen. We looked at all types of quilts, including some New York Beauties, and we all agreed it would be fantastic to have a show of all the New York Beauties. They've never been exhibited as a group.

My idea for the show is to take viewers on a journey through time. They will see 150 years of quilt history in a pattern, but they will also see an important dichotomy among the group. 

Condition varies greatly throughout my collection. Some quilts are in such pristine condition, you can see the pencil marks. Others are so tattered, it will be difficult to decide where to sew the hanging sleeves. I maintain a group called "Rescue Quilts" - quilts that display qualities of a masterpiece but are in poor condition. There are several New York Beauties among the rescue quilts.

So I'm bringing a small stack of quilts with me today, and will look forward to planning out my first show. I've got a lot of little questions. What information do they need? Who will make the tags? Do the quilts need sleeves for hanging? Before the show is mounted, will I be able to bring some of the quilts over to Sisters for my evening lecture during the Quilter's Affair? It's new territory for all of us. I've never had a show, and they've never had a show of a private collection maintained outside the museum.

Looks like a nice day for a drive!