Small Quilts: Big Stories Opens at Cahoon Museum
The Cahoon Museum of American announces the opening of a new exhibition, Small Quilts: Big Stories, on June 5, 2024. The exhibition presents a selection of 30 small quilts that encompass nearly 200 years of quilt-making in America.
Most of the historic quilts on view are from the collection of the show’s curator, Julie Silber, one of the world’s most respected American quilt experts. These include a variety of small 19th-century crib and doll quilts by unidentified quilt makers, as well as works by notable artists including a patchwork quilt top by Anna Williams, considered to be one of the country’s most significant 20th-century fiber artists. Many styles of quilts are represented, including crazy quilts, complex piecework, and applique.
The exhibition also includes examples of small quilts by contemporary quilt makers selected by Silber for the exhibition. These include Kate Adams, who creates miniature quilts using historic fabrics, and well-known quilters Kyra Hicks, Zak Foster, and Alice Beasley.
By presenting quilt makers known and unknown, the exhibition touches on the contexts in which quilts are made and shows how quilts are cultural “windows,” that carry messages across time. Quilts hold their own particular stories connected to the people who made them and as a group document American culture.
The Cahoon Museum is hosting two additional quilt exhibitions opening in June: Joe Cunningham: Quilts for These Times presenting ten new quilts by the artist, and Joe Cunningham: The Quilted Cahoon, a large quilt made of recycled sails that will cover the Museum building.
Upcoming Quilt Programs:
June 18 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Artist in Action: Joe Cunningham
June 19 @ 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
Artist in Action: Joe Cunningham
June 20 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Member Preview of Small Quilts, Big Stories and Quilts for These Times
June 20 @ 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm
Artist in Action: Joe Cunningham
June 20 @ 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Quilt Sharing: Discussion with Joe Cunningham and Julie Silber
June 21 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Perspectives on Quilting with Joe Cunningham and Julie Silber
June 21 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Artist Talk: Joe Cunningham
June 22 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Summer Open House, Artist Reception, and Brush Off Kick Off at the Cahoon Museum
July 3 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Gallery Talk – Quilts for These Times