Tokyo Bound

Marin Hanson, Curator of Exhibitions, will be headed to Tokyo, Japan, the first week of April to attend the opening reception for the Japan Handicraft Instructors' Association's "Quilt Japan" exhibition. This is Japan's oldest and most prestigious quilt competition, and it's held every other year. In 2009, we hosted the exhibition at Quilt House.

While in Tokyo, Marin will also meet with Japanese quiltmakers, including Eiko Okano, whose Time for Supper is currently on view in Expanding the Collection: Recent Acquisitions...

Eiko Okano, Time for Supper, made in Tokyo, Japan, dated 2007, 64 x 64 in.
IQSCM 2012.038.0003.

And Shizuko Kuroha, whose Sea of Japan in Winter was featured in Quilts in Common: Around the Globe & Across the Centuries.

Shizuko Kuroha, The Sea of Japan in Winter, made in Tokyo, Japan, dated 1983, 79 x 78 in.
Ardis and Robert James Collection IQSCM 1997.007.1091.

Be sure to check back the first week of April for updates from Marin while she is in Japan.

And the Oscar Goes to...

With the Academy Awards on Sunday, we wanted to get in the spirit of the Oscars here on the IQSCM blog. So we dove into our Collections database to take a look at what quilts we could find to properly celebrate the year's best in movies.

Unfortunately we couldn't find many quilts in our collections that scream "American Hustle," "Gravity" or any of the other Best Picture nominations. And as beautiful as our quilts are, we were hard-pressed to find one we could see any of the Best Actor or Actress nominations wearing down the red carpet. Still, we hope you will enjoy taking a look at some other start-studded pieces we found suitable to mark the occasion.

First up, a tribute to Hollywood with a pattern named... Hollywood from our Mountain Mist Collection.

Hollywood, maker unknown, 85 x 73 inches. IQSCM 2012.015.0042.

What would an Academy Awards show be without the fashion on the red carpet? This piece by Jean Ray Laury takes a look at fashion design.

"Fitting Garment" by Jean Ray Laury, dated 1997,
22 x 18 inches. IQSCM 2010.014.0009.

Not to forget the men in their tuxedos, here's a Bow Tie pattern quilt from the Ardis and Robert James Collection:

Bow Tie by Ervin Hochstetler, probably made in LaGrange County,
Indiana, dated 1947, 82 x 71 inches. IQSCM 1997.007.0129.

The first Academy Awards were held in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Though the hotel was named after President Theodore Roosevelt, we selected a Roosevelt Rose named in honor of his distant cousin President Franklin Roosevelt.

Roosevelt Rose, maker unknown, probably made in Missouri,
circa 1934, 82 x 67 inches. IQSCM 2005.048.0001.

We'll finish this Oscars quilt tribute with a California Star quilt from the Linda and Dr. John Carlson Collection to celebrate the stars gathering in California this weekend.

California Star, maker unknown, possibly made in Pennsylvania,
circa 1890-1910, 79 x 73 inches. IQSCM 2004.016.0024.

Public Lecture - "The Importance of Being Ernest" by Jonathan Gregory

Earlier this month, Assistant Curator of Exhibitions Jonathan Gregory gave a public lecture about Ernest Haight. Ernest was a Nebraska farmer, trained engineer, father, husband, son and legendary quiltmaker.

Ernest generated quite a buzz in his day - and not simply because he was a man making quilts. His techniques innovative techniques and bold - and often surprising quilts - drew plenty of attention.

Jonathan, who curated our exhibition “The Engineer Who Could: Ernest Haight’s Half Century of Quiltmaking,” drew from extensive study of Haight’s quilts, correspondence and diaries for the talk. Thanks to generous support from Humanities Nebraska, we're able to share that lecture with you here.

You can also learn more about Ernest's life, family, innovations, style and legacy by watching this series of videos:

You can learn more about Ernest by viewing the online exhibition on our website. 

Roses are Red...

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day! Instead of writing a poem or sending all of you chocolates, we thought we'd send you some flowers. Quilt flowers.

Enjoy taking a look at a few of the quilts from our collection that prominently feature flowers in their designs. You can search for more on your own by visiting our website and selecting "Search the Collections."

Pots of Flowers, maker unknown, possibly made in Holmes County,
Ohio, circa 1915-1935, 85 x 72 inches. IQSCM 1997.007.0558.

The Pots of Flowers pattern from the Ardis and Robert James Collection is an Amish quilt that is based on a kit that was widely circulated from the 1920s to1950s. It is rare, because Amish quiltmakers seldom used applique.

Rose Bower made by Rose Modjeska, probably made in
Downer's Grove, Ill., circa 1935, 85 x 72 inches. IQSCM 1997.007.0638.

From the Ardis and Robert James Collection, this quilt's pattern appeared in the Chicago Tribune in 1935. Rose Pagers Modjeska was born and raised in Chicago. According to her grandson, Rose and her sisters would occasionally move the dining room furniture to set up a large quilt frame to work. He recognized this quilt as one she made with the help of her sisters.

Prairie Rose, maker unknown, possibly made in Indiana,
circa 1935, 92 x 90 inches. IQSCM 1997.007.0820.

Prairie Rose, from the Ardis and Robert James Collection, is also known as "California Rose." It appeared in "The Patchwork Book: The Women's World Service Library," from Manning Publishing Co. This quilt features exceptional feather quilting, which unfortunately isn't visible in this photo.

Whole cloth, maker unknown, probably made in Marseille, France,
circa 1830-1850, 60 x 54 inches. IQSCM 2005.018.0009.

From the Kathryn Wilson Berenson Collection, this Provençal wedding quilt was made circa 1825-1840 in the broderie de Marseille technique. The small floral nosegays include lilies, tulips, roses and marguerites or daisies. Fruit forms, symbolizing prosperity and fertility, include grapes, cherries, pears and pomegranates. The border holds garlands of leaves and flowers, with each corner marked with a kashmir cones formed with puffed center and outlined in corded puffs and rosemary sprays. It comes from the same atelier as a wedding quilt in our Byron and Sara Rhodes Dillow Collection.

Wreath of Roses, maker unknown, possibly made in Indiana,
circa 1930, 60 x 84 inches. IQSCM 2006.043.0042.

Wreath of Roses, from the Ardis and Robert James Collection, is a 1930s Marie Webster kit purchased from her Practical Patchwork Co. It features six repeated floral ring motifs with eight segmented roses each and an art deco scallop border.

As an added bonus, here's a Valentine-themed paper quilt you can print out and color:

We'd love to see your finished product. Snap a photo and post it on our Facebook page or send us a tweet on Twitter.

Quilt of the Month: February 2014 - Star Puzzle

This month, we wanted to showcase one of the masterpieces from the Robert and Helen Cargo Collection.

"Star Puzzle" by Nora Ezell is a variation on a Blazing Star pattern.

"Nora Ezell (1917-2007) made many versions of this pattern, which she called "Star Puzzle," starting in the 1970s and into the 1990s.  Among the best known late twentieth-century southern African American quilters, Ezell's work has been in numerous exhibitions; she won an Alabama Folk Heritage award in 1990 and an NEA National Heritage Fellowship in 1992."

- World Quilts, "The American Story"

The International Quilt Study Center & Museum is fortunate to have seven other pieces made by Ezell in our collection. They include...

Cathedral Windows, variation
Made in Eutaw, Greene County, Alabma
Dated 1985
90 x 70 inches
IQSCM 2000.004.0026

"Everybody Quilt"
Made in Eutaw, Greene County, Alabama
Dated 1985
97 x 90 inches
IQSCM 2000.004.0031

"Gambler's Dream"
Made in Eutaw, Greene County, Alabama
Dated 1995
101 x 71 inches
IQSCM 2000.004.0025

And more. If you would like to see more of the Nora Ezell quilts in our collection go to "Search the Collections" and type "Ezell" under "Quiltmaker."

If you would like to receive Quilt of the Month, subscribe here.

Similar Posts:

• Quilt of the Month: January 2014 - The Reconciliation Quilt

See Lincoln: Picture to Win Contest

We're excited to be partnering up with the Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau and other local museums for the "See Lincoln: Picture to Win Contest."

Here's how the contest works:

1. Snap a photo at the place specified by the attraction.  
2. Go to the attraction's Facebook page and "like them". 
3. Upload your photo on the attraction's Facebook page.

Every following Monday one winner will be announced.

We will be the featured museum next week, Jan. 28-Feb. 2. We're asking visitors to snap a photo in our new exhibition, "Expanding the Collection: Recent Acquisitions." Once you take the picture, post it on our Facebook page and you're entered to win. The grand prize winner will receive a year-long family membership to the museum. You can read details about our memberships here.

To give you a photo op ideas for your own visit to the gallery, we snapped photos of a few of our team members:

Jonathan Gregory, assistant curator of exhibitions,
with "Time for Supper" by Eiko Okano.
IQSCM 2012.038.0003

Carolyn Ducey, curator of collections, with
"Cellular Structure VIII (Oval Shift)" by Sue Benner.
IQSCM 2013.047.0001

Alice Kinsler, interim executive director,
with "Event Horizon" by Joy Saville.
IQSCM 2011.005.0001

Jonathan and Carolyn with a Child's Cap,
made in Kutch, Gujarat, India.
IQSCM: 2009.052.0001

See - it'll be easy and fun. We're excited to check out the photos you come up with.

View the other museums participating in "See Lincoln: Picture to Win Contest."

FOR KIDS - The Engineer Who Could

Nebraska Quiltmaker Ernest B. Haight is known for his prolific career -- making more than 300 quilts in his lifetime. As a trained engineer, he is also famous for his precise and efficient piecing and quilting processes.

You can see his skill displayed in this quilt, which is now on display in "The Engineer Who Could: Ernest Haight's Half Century of Quiltmaking."

Interlocking Triangles, machine pieced and quilted by Ernest B. Haight, dated 1984,
90" x 74", IQSCM 2001.005.0001, Nebraska State Quilt Guild Collection.

If you take a closer look at the quilt, you'll also see a variety of colorful, patterned fabrics.

Look even closer:

Examining the fabrics and shapes used in Ernest's quilts can be a fun way to engage children who are viewing this and other exhibitions. We encourage our youngest visitors to tell us what they find while looking at quilts:

• What shapes do you see? Triangles! Squares!

• What colors do you see? Yellow! Blue! Green! Pink!

• What patterns do you see on the fabrics? Flowers! Checkers! Spots!

For this exhibition, we have an "I Spy" worksheet available for children to use while looking at Ernest's Untitled (Tumbling Blocks). Made in 1968, the fabrics feature everything from polka dots to trains.

Once children find all of the hidden pictures in the quilt, they can return the worksheet to our Welcome Desk and earn a sticker to take home with them.

As a farmer, Ernest was also fond of wearing overalls. We created this coloring sheet to give children an opportunity to design their own pair of overalls fit for a quilter and engineer.

You can download a copy of the coloring page here.

If you and your family visit IQSCM in person, be sure to ask for a Quilt Explorer bag at the front desk. Each bag contains worksheets, books and other activities for our youngest visitors to use during their museum experience.

For more information about Ernest Haight - The Engineer Who Could -- visit the online exhibition and watch this video series.