Art Opening – Improvisational Quilts

Improvisational Compositions: Not Our Grandmothers’ Quilts

Featuring works by Esther Derby and Mary Mathews

All quilts involve design.

Design is  the intentional use of color and value, shape and line, figure and ground, repetition and balance to create a composition.

Many traditional and modern quilters start their composition from a pattern. The pattern determines many—sometimes all, of these elements before a single piece of fabric is cut or a single block sewn. The final composition is set before the work begins.

The quilts in this exhibit take a different approach. Rather than prescribe all the elements, these quilts all started from a set of constraints. Within those constraints, the quilter chose how to apply other elements of design to arrive at a final composition. The process of designing involves trying a visual idea, discarding it, and trying another. This happens spontaneously, but also with intention, in response to constraints and existing elements. The goal is both balance and tension.

In 2018 and 2019 Mary Mathews and Esther Derby studied with renowned quilt artist Nancy Crow. In her teaching, Nancy uses prompts to systematically explore the elements of design. Both Mary and Esther have found the idea of prompts a useful way to continue exploring visual language and creating quilts.

You’ll notice that some of the quilts in this exhibit bear a resemblance. That’s because they were based on the same design prompt: Use a simple motif and reversals, with one flat color and one glowing color. Other quilts emerged from different prompts. The artist may be more or less constrained given the prompt. In either case, the  artist applies principle of design within those constraints. Through repeated use of the same prompt, the artist’s voice develops.

As you look at the quilts in this exhibit, see if you can deduce the design prompts behind the quilt.

Enjoy complementary hors d’oeuvres during the art opening!

This show will be on display at the Dovetail Cafe from February 7th through April 2nd, 2020.