Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Small Wonders: Doll Quilts by Andrea Balosky


Latimer Quilt and Textile Center Presents
Small Wonders: Doll Quilts by Andrea Balosky
Feb. 6—Mar. 6, 2011
Open House—Feb. 13, 2011

Miala Leong, June, 2002, 13" x 15 1/2" 
Between 1999 and 2003, visionary quilt artist Andrea Balosky produced over 100 doll quilts. Her remarkable body of work is titled “Small Wonders,” and is part of the collection of Merrilly Ripley, an avid doll collector and founder of Adoption Advocates International. 

On the surface, these quilts are eye candy, and the candy dish is spilling over. Each quilt has a name, and there is a compelling story is behind the quilts’ names.

The body of work is like a diary, with tributes to people the artist loved and admired. “Albert” is Albert Einstein, “Desmond” is Desmond Tutu, “Rosa” is Rosa Parks, and “Nelson” is Nelson Mandela. Miala is the artist’s mother. There are friends and family, dancers, opera singers, choreographers, and humanitarians. 

Given the course of world events between 1999 and 2003, the most extraordinary aspect of “Small Wonders” is how hopeful it is. The quilts envelop the good in the world during a time of great change and much doubt.

A selection of these quilts will be exhibited at the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center in February, 2011. A full-color, 120-page catalog will be available at Latimer, and online. Latimer Quilt and Textile Center is located in Tillamook, Oregon at 2105 Wilson River Loop Road. The center is open Monday through Saturday, 10am to 4pm.

3 comments:

  1. I would love to come to the exhibition...but I can't. I will actually be on the west coast USA between Feb 13th and 22nd but I don't think I can stretch as far north as Oregon. Oh, and I really like Andrea Balosky having been introduced to her by this very blog! Well, I wish you well, I hope a gazillion people come and see her work for themselves and are totally inspired to try something different.

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  2. oh my gosh how I would love to come out and see this exhibit
    I am so thankful that their will be a book (120 pages is more like a book than a catalog! in mho!!!) I am looking forward to seeing and reading more about these quilts...
    thanks for the information!
    Kathie

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  3. That sounds like a great exhibit. Wish I could go, but I think I'll get the catalog.

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