Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories Exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

In this episode Sherri has the pleasure to speak with Jeniffer
Swope, curator of the "Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt
Stories" exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Jennifer
shares information about the exhibition (which is currently up
and running now) as well as a publication that can be purchased
from the MFA's website. She then shares 8 different quilts that
are being featured in the exhibition and speaks on the cultural
and historical significance of each quilt. More information on
this exhibition can be found below.

Show Notes Blog Post:
https://www.aquiltinglife.com/2021/10/a-quilting-life-podcast-episode-40-show-notes.html/


Under the Tree (Quilt on the Wall): https://tidd.ly/3m4ZCBu

Plaza (Quilt on the Table): https://tidd.ly/3prRvky

Fabric of a Nation Exhibition Website (Where tickets can be
purchased):
https://www.mfa.org/exhibition/fabric-of-a-nation

Fabric of a Nation Publication:
https://www.mfa.org/publication/fabric-of-a-nation

Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories Information

Quilts and coverlets, used in North America since the 17th
century, have a unique capacity to tell stories. Their tactile
making by hand and their traditional use in the home impart
deeply personal narratives of their creators, and the many
histories they express reveal a complex record of America.
Upending expectations about quilt displays—traditionally
organized by region, form or motif—Fabric of a Nation: American
Quilt Stories is a loosely chronological presentation that is
divided into seven thematic sections and incorporates the
perspectives of artists, educators, academics and
activists.

More than 50 works on view include remarkable examples by an
under-recognized diversity of artistic hands and minds from the
17th century to today, including female and male, known and
unidentified, urban and rural makers; immigrants; and Black,
Latinx, Indigenous, Asian and LGBTQ+ Americans. Standouts include
Pictorial Quilt (1895–98), an icon of the MFA’s collection and
one of only two known surviving quilts by Harriet Powers, an
exceptional artist and storyteller born into slavery in 1837, and
the recently acquired To God and Truth (2019), a vibrantly
colorful and elaborately patterned work by contemporary artist
Bisa Butler. While celebrating the artistry and intricacy of
quilts and coverlets and the lives they document, the exhibition
also invites visitors to consider the complicated legacies
ingrained in the fabric of American life.

Visit the A Quilting Life YouTube channel for more great video
content:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmSR-jDR956ATQe30JHX87w

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