Energy of a Quilt

There is something undeniably magical about the quilt. The process, origin, patterning and the cohesive quality that brings bits and pieces that function as a whole. It brings a new perspective to the phrase "fabric of our daily lives." The Nelson Gallery is featuring an exhibit on quilts, many of which originated in the 19th and 20th century. Two in particular were eye catching with their use of rhythm and patterning. One consisted of a series of narrow rectangles pieced together creating smaller squares within one another, thus producing a circular motion. The eye jumps from color to color in a clockwise motion, guided by the linear shapes of each piece. The colors range from bold and striking, to subdued and neutral. Most of the patterns were small and detailed, giving the quilt a more ornamental feel against a geometric framework.

What is striking about quilts like those of the Nelson Gallery, is the careful precision taken in crafting each piece. I've attempted to quilt myself, and admittedly have come out unsuccessful and incredibly frustrated. It definitely takes a detail-oriented person. It is a patient methodical process, repetitious in itself, with the end result reflecting such repetition in its design.

There was something about this exhibit that reminded me of a recent Andy Warhol exhibit at the De Young Museum. I had never been much of a Warhol fan until understanding his intentions behind his work. His use of repetition was not out of lack of idea or creativity. The result of repeating something over and over and over until it ceased to hold meaning, is what helped give his work meaning. With repetition there exists a sort of emptiness, allowing the piece to mirror more of the viewer and create a meaning all its own. The rhythm of quilts create the same kind of emptiness, while simultaneously evoking the energy of its history and origin.