A February Visit to Quilt House
Yesterday I had a few minutes to take in a new exhibit of Japanese quilts at International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is spectacular.
Swan Song by Hiroko Nakayama
This quilt takes your breath away. Hundreds, maybe thousands of pieced arcs, many just a few threads wide.
And if those points aren’t enough, the feathers floating around the exterior edges are all embroidered by hand, ever so delicately.
This quilt makes such an overall impact, and yet the details knock your socks off too! All in black and cream. Just goes to show you don’t need a rainbow to make a statement.
Red and Black by Yuko Eguchi
Just above is another quilt I admired. Talk about tradition with a twist! There’s so much to hold your attention here—you just want to keep looking. That’s my definition of a successful quilt.
Lake Surface by Kazue Takao
This quilt held my attention for a long while, too. The photos don’t begin to do it justice. I love everything about it, especially its assymetry. It had such rhythm, I wanted to dance. I might have.
Lake Surface, detail
I think that’s one thing the Japanese quilters have over many Americans: They’re not afraid to invest years in one project. There doesn’t seem to be any of this frantic “make a quilt in a weekend” business.
Lake Surface, detail
The next quilt was difficult to photograph because it was displayed flat, on a table-like display surface.
Japanese Rhythm — Flower Ceiling by Sakiyo Yoshida
There is unbelievable energy in this quilt. I swear it gives off vibrations as you walk past.
Japanese Rhythm — Flower Ceiling, detail
Another viewer wrote about this exhibit when it hung at New England Quilt Museum last year. She took great photos, so take a peek!
If you haven’t been to International Quilt Study Center and Museum, make plans to go. It’s well worth the trip to Lincoln, Nebraska.
Tags: exhibits, International Quilt Study Center and Museum, IQSCM, Japan, Japanese quilts, quilt museum