Contemporary art quilts to be on display at museum
Visitors to the museum will see some amazing works such as Nebraskan artist Michael James’ Jaali 2 (Udaipur). (Submitted)
The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum’s exhibition of contemporary art quilts, Pushing the Surface, will be open to the public on Saturday, May 29. The exhibition is a dance of color, beauty, ingenuity, and story that showcases pieces made by 22 artists with national and international recognition. Although most of the works share the basic structural characteristics of a quilt — joining at least two layers of fiber with stitching, they break from tradition in their design methods. Surfaces may be pieced and patched as one finds in a traditional quilt, but they may also be painted, dyed, laser printed, appliquéd or fused. The techniques are as varied as the subject matter, which is as varied as the effects. In the end the artists create a truly new statement that speaks to mind and spirit like all great art is meant to do.
Participating artists are from across the United States as well as from Canada and Japan. Many are internationally known, having their quilts featured in books, periodicals, and traveling exhibitions. Visitors will see some amazing works such as Nebraskan artist Michael James’ Jaali 2 (Udaipur). His piece combines the old with the new by incorporating digitally-developed and digitally-printed aspects. A piece that really “pushes the surface” is Vessel 1 made by Betty Busby, a quilt artist from New Mexico. Unlike traditional quilts, Vessel 1 stands upright. It has a mesmerizing design, and being 3-D, it really redefines what we think of when we hear the word “quilt.”
Pushing the Surface presents an array of distinct and fascinating art quilts. This is the 12th year Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum has presented this biennial exhibit sponsored by the Mary F. Taylor Family. The Ohio Arts Council also helped fund this event with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. In addition to this special exhibit, the museum’s permanent collections are displayed in four additional galleries: American Indian, Early Ohio, Progressive Ohio, and Beyond Our Borders.
The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. with extended hours starting during Memorial Day Weekend. The museum is located at 300 N. Whitewoman Street, in Historic Roscoe Village, Coshocton. A restored canal-era town sited along the former Ohio & Erie Canal, Roscoe Village offers many attractions. Costumed interpreters lead tours through the restored buildings, and numerous shops are situated within the Village.
For more information, contact JHM at 740-622-8710, email: jhmuseum@jhmuseum.org or visit www.jhmuseum.org.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
