: A group of works from the small but extremely important
collection of American quilts of the Dallas Museum of Art is the
focus of "Through the Needle's Eye: American Quilts from the
Permanent Collection of the Dallas Museum of Art."
Organized by Kevin W. Tucker, the museum's recently appointed
curator of decorative arts and design, the exhibition includes a
variety of quilts created between the 1820s and 1945. The
exhibition will be on view in the Textile Gallery, January
11-June 27.
"Through the Needle's Eye" is part of "Quilt Mania," a citywide
collaboration among 11 Dallas-area cultural institutions
exhibiting a wide variety of quilts and hosting quilt-related
events. To learn more about "Quilt Mania," visit quiltmania.org,
or call 214-979-6476.
Works in the exhibition range from an appliqué quilt made in
Lancaster County, Penn., between 1850 and 1865 to The Fannie B.
Shaw Prosperity Quilts, "Prosperity Is Just Around the Corner,"
made in Van Alstyne, Texas, between 1930 and 1932. The appliqué
quilt is part of the extraordinary group of textiles known as the
Landes Dowry, which came to the Dallas Museum of Art as part of
The Faith P. and Charles L. Bybee Collection.
The Landes Dowry, largely the work of three sisters who never
married, is one of the largest and most complete groups of dowry
textiles known to survive from the Nineteenth Century. The quilt,
which was stored in a chest and never used, retains its bright
colors and strong visual impact.
"Prosperity Is Just Around the Corner," made by Fannie B. Shaw
between 1930 and 1932, was inspired by the radio talks of
President Herbert Hoover, whose upbeat message assured the
country that good times were "just around the corner." The last
block of the quilt shows Uncle Sam arriving with "farm relief,
legal beer and aid."
Other quilts in the exhibition include designs with traditional
motifs such as the "Sunburst" or "Mariner's Compass" pattern; a
"Barn Raising" design, a variation on the "Log Cabin" quilt; and
a variety of patriotic quilts - some with eagles and another,
made between 1860 and 1865, displaying the word "Union." An
extraordinary version of a "Postage Stamp" quilt is remarkable
for the dedication and expertise of the quilter, Mrs B.W. Riley
of Farson, Iowa. The quilt is distinguished by its use of 69,649
pieces of fabric and nearly 3,694 yards of thread.
The Dallas Museum of Art is downtown between St Paul and Harwood
streets, just south of Woodall Rodgers Freeway. Hours are Tuesday
through Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm; and Thursday, 11 am to 9 pm.
For information, www.dallas museumofart.org or
214-922-1200.
