You know how you when you “discover” something new, and then you see it everywhere around you?
Well … I have known about quilts all my life, and I even have one friend obsessed with the art. But, I had no idea anyone cared enough for there to be a quilt museum. Silly me.
After a quick Memorial Day trip to Nashville, I was headed back west to Missouri when I saw signs every few miles for the National Quilt Museum. At first, I chuckled. Soon — being quite the t-shirt collector — I thought that would be quite the obscure t-shirt. “I must have it.”
So, I slowed the Triumph Thunderbird down to around the speed limit and pulled over in Paducah, Ky., where I had already stopped on the way east to Music City a couple of days earlier. This time I toured the town. Quaint, awesome, Americana! The historical downtown is picture perfect with little shops and depots and cafes and storefronts and cobble stone. They say it is a case study on recruiting artists, boutiques and new businesses. A few hundred feet to the east/northeast of downtown is The Ohio River, its banks decorated with mural-bearing retaining walls, a walkway, and Civil War historical markers.
However, on the holiday, EVERYTHING was closed. Having been rained on in Nashville, I pulled my boots off, and left them on the bike to dry. I flip flopped over to the Free Spirit Biker Church but it was closed too.
The quilt thing was still in the back of my mind, when some dude on a scooter pulled up to talk about my wet boots and new bike. He assured me he had a real motorcycle too, and suggested several scenic rides in the area. Guess where his wife volunteers.
He told me the quilt museum was probably closed for Memorial Day, “but you never know.” Shortly after, I road over to the huge front lawn of the museum, to snap a few shots of the Lewis/Clark/Sacagawea statues, when I noticed cars gathering.
Yes. I was gonna get my quirky t-shirt. Then I thought about how one of my friends could perhaps get some vicarious vibe from a quick visit … and it sucked me in. Hmmm … could I patch together a decent blog?
To answer your first question … yes, the National Quilt Museum has Wi-Fi, but it is password protected. So, I pulled out my old social engineering skills and I “wrestled” the password out of one of the volunteers:) I think I had her when I said, “No, I am not eligible for the senior citizen discount.” And she was graciousness to secure a media pass for me.
Oh … about the “seeing quilts everywhere thing” … You may recall just a few blogs back, I was snooping around Springfield, Mo., looking for signs of its most famous citizens, the old country rock/blue grass guys The Ozark Mountain Daredevils … when one of their inner circle showed me a CD … Well, if you know anything about the The OMDs, you know one of their most famous records was self-titled, but referred to as “The Quilt Album” because of the artwork. That quilt occurrence was PM — pre-museum. After the visit, I have spotted quilt patterns on every barn in rural Missouri, as I bike the backroads. I have seen dozens of quilting supply commercials on TV. And yes, the night of the quilt tour, Antique Roadshow came up in a random channel surf … featuring quilts. They’re everywhere.
Once inside, a staff member took me through the museum’s collection and also showed me the traveling exhibit on display. Ha … I think everyone was a little apprehensive at first. I wonder how many lone-wolf motorcyclists stop to view the quilts.
Because I had no plans to tour or interview anyone originally, I had no list of quilting questions in my pocket, so I had to shoot from the hip with Judy. It didn’t take long to run through my quilt B.S. … or “material” I should say … recollections of a one-act play with a deed to a farm hidden in an old woman’s quilt (Judy was unfamiliar) … I didn’t even bring up the Daredevils … and then there was Sunbonnet Sue. In the history of quilting, there was one pattern I knew. My mom had a quilt with the abstract little gardener, when I was a boy.
(I couldn’t remember the name of Sunbonnet Sue, so I fired off an e-mail to the new head of the PingWi-Fi quilt committee … and she did not disappoint … I digress.)
Naturally, Sunbonnet Sue was like Judy’s all-time least favorite quilting artwork. Dang Judy … no beat down required … I was trying.
But on the upside, it is always to talk with anyone who is so passionate about their chosen field.
In the immortal words of the late Frank Zappa, “She carried on without a comma …”
No doubt, Judy could talk quilting “until the cows come home.” She really made it interesting, and now I know there is quite a controversy in the quilting world … totally hand quilted crafts vs. quilters with sewing machines. Great analogy. Judy pointed out an elaborate quilt that was created on a sewing machine. “To do that — to twist and turn the fabric — its very much like drawing a circle on an Etch-a-Sketch.
I could see the Etch-a-Sketch comparison. But all the quilts were so colorful … and geometric and symmetric. I couldn’t help but compare the shapes and colors to peering inside a kaleidoscope or doodling with colored pens and an old school Spirograph.
Who could look at one of these masterpieces and not appreciated the time, dedication and attention to detail required? And to think, I have been warming myself with a simple ESPN throw.
Before the invention of the “throw” blanket for snuggling up to ESPN, I probably used a quilt at some point in time. But, no way would anyone soil one of these treasure. These were art for the wall, not the torso.
My favorite? Well there is no way I could resist a modern, colorful quilt featuring various songs and images from The Beatles’ legend … “Octopus’s Garden,” “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds,” “Norwegian Wood” and many more songs were illustrated in thread. The quilt even had the images of old, tiny 45 r.p.m. single discs, featuring the logos of the three Beatles labels. Can you name them?
On the other hand, a very traditional pattern was featured in one wing — The Carolina Lilly. They were my new traditional favorites. From all over the world, there were abstract designs to rival Picasso; disjointed designs to emphasize color and texture more than precision; even a modern quilt with burned pages from books attached, rather than traditional patterns. So cool and interesting. So pleasantly surprised.
Judy and The Triple C
Judy’s favorite? She tried to remain neutral, since she helps to represent all of the works on display. But, no question about it, a quilt featuring bold, colorful images from the Triple Crown got her most throttled … the strong, sinewy colors creating the beautiful form of Alydar (a famous horse that finished second to Affirmed throughout a Triple Crown), the bright red roses (Kentucky Derby), yellow blackeyed Susans (The Preakness) and white carnations (Belmont Stakes). The needle work looking as lifelike as cut flowers in a vase. Even a history book sewn into the design. And so timely … with California Chrome blanketing the news for its 2/3 success.
As for the Wi-Fi, I fired off a few tweets, shot and posted a selfie featuring a quilted WWII flying ace photo bombing behind my head, and of course did the obligatory check in on Facebook. Great Wi-Fi … whether or not it is intended for public consumption, I am sure I don’t know.
The National Quilt Museum — every bit as interesting and fascination as any museum filled with painted masterpieces … great Wi-Fi … enthusiastic, knowledgeable staff and great statues out front … OH … cool quilt-pattern t-shirt too – 6 pings.
Know what I sayin?
