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The Norton Museum of Art Showcases The Art of Quilting
Elements From the Front Range Contemporary Quilters &
Art of the Needle: Masterpiece Quilts from the Shelburne
Museum
West Palm Beach, FL – The Norton Museum of Art will present two
fascinating and highly contrasting special exhibitions on the art
form of quilting this summer. Elements from the Front Range
Contemporary Quilters is a survey of some of the most innovative
quilt work being created today and Art of the Needle: Masterpiece
Quilts from the Shelburne Museum features 40 of the finest
examples of nineteenth-century textile art drawn from the Shelburne
Museum's world-renowned permanent collection of American quilts.
Quilts provide an avenue for all of us to understand and appreciate
the fiber arts. From memories of our own treasured "blankies" to the
lovingly made nineteenth-century courtship quilts, there is a
resonance. "These women are artists who take the everyday and make
it unique and extraordinary" said Christina Orr-Cahall, Director of
the Norton Museum of Art.
Elements from the Front Range Contemporary Quilters on view
May 13 – August 13, 2006 is a survey of some of the most innovative
quilt work being created today. The Front Range Contemporary
Quilters, established in 1988, is one of the oldest art quilt guilds
in the United States with members in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico,
and Kansas.
Inspired by the themes and atmosphere of the west, these artists
explore the natural world from a wide array of perspectives. Their
quilts allude to earth, air, fire, and water as well as to
environmental degradation, seasonal change, day and night. Robert
Shaw, author of The Art Quilt, has selected forty
contemporary and innovative quilts for this exhibition. The
creativity of these contemporary quilters incorporates the
accessible and familiar with the new and edgy, using a medium that
has become for many artists, a strong avenue for contemporary
expression.
Art of the Needle: Masterpiece Quilts from the Shelburne Museum,
on view June 17–September 10, 2006 features 40 of the finest
examples of nineteenth-century textile art, and one very rare
eighteenth-century quilt, drawn from the Shelburne Museum's
world-renowned permanent collection of American quilts. The
Shelburne was the first museum to exhibit quilts as works of art and
artifacts, in 1952. The quilts in this special exhibition are
grouped into seven categories or design themes: album, Amish,
appliqué, chintz appliqué, crazy patchwork, pieced, and whole cloth.
Each category highlights a particular quilting method or design
style.
Taken together they embody an extraordinary range of artistic
impulses - from the exacting precision of stitching in whole cloth
quilts to the exhilarating color and chaos of crazy quilts. Art of
the Needle will resonate with history enthusiasts appreciating
quilts as records of a time and a place, and art lovers who will be
impressed with the quilts' often dramatic visual qualities and
technical achievements.
"The Shelburne Museum is pleased to share this distinguished
grouping of our finest quilts with the Norton Museum of Art. The
quality of their composition and execution will capture the
imagination of visitors of all ages and provide a glimpse into our
encyclopedic textile collections." said Jean Burks, Acting Curator
in Charge.
Art of the Needle: Masterpiece Quilts from the Shelburne Museum has
been organized by the Shelburne Museum, Vermont. Local funding is
provided by the R.H. Norton Trust and the State of Florida,
Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts
Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Media support
provided by The Palm Beach Post.
Elements from the Front Range Contemporary Quilters is presented by ExhibitsUSA, the national exhibition-touring program of Mid-America
Arts Alliance, a non-profit organization supported by public
agencies and private contributors. This exhibition is being funded
in part by the R.H. Norton Trust and the State of Florida,
Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts
Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Media support
provided by The Palm Beach Post.
Exhibition Admission:
Elements from the Front Range Contemporary Quilters, May 13–August
13, 2006
Adults $10
Visitors age 13-21 $4
Children 12 and under Free
Art of the Needle: Masterpiece Quilts from the Shelburne Museum,
June 17–September 10, 2006
Adults $10
Visitors age 13-21 $4
Children 12 and under Free
Exhibition Hours:
Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. (Closed
Mondays from May through October and on major holidays.)
Visitor Information:
For general information, please call (561) 832-5196.
Exhibition Group Tours:
Groups of 10 or more can enjoy a discounted admission price of $9, a
one-hour docent led tour, and a specially priced summer group lunch
menu at Café 1451 at the Norton. Group Tours are led by a museum
docent and must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. To
reserve your adult group tour, please contact the Sales Manager at
(561) 832-5196, ext. 1135.
Exhibition Programs:
Members' Opening Lecture
Friday, May 12, 3:00 p.m.
Elements from the Front Range Contemporary Quilters
Robert Shaw, author of The Art Quilt and juror of the exhibition,
will speak about contemporary quilt artists, their relationships
with tradition and the themes they explore in their work as part of
the Members' Opening Lecture.
Marden Gallery Opening
Saturday, May 20, all day
Community Fabric
Celebrate the creativity of children in the Norton Progressive
Afterschool Art Community Education program from around Palm Beach
County whose works related to this summer's quilt exhibitions.
Sunday Funday**
Sunday, May 21, 1:30 – 3:30
Quilting Bee
All ages can learn the techniques and history of this artform by
participating in a traditional quilting bee with talented artists
from South Florida.
Film
Sunday, May 21, 3:00
Faith Ringgold: The Last Story Quilt
This 28-minute film documents the life of one of America's leading
artists and the paintings on quilted canvas with frames of quilted
fabric that she creates.
First Saturday Family Studio**
Saturday, June 3, 10:30 – 12:30
Quilting Your Community
Contemporary Carol Krueger represents her life in Colorado in a
humorous quilt. Take a closer look at her Postcard from Denver
before creating your own quilt. This studio program is recommended
for children ages 4 – 12 and their parents. $5 material fee payable
at the door; call to register: (561) 832-5196, ext. 1133.
Summer Camp Tours
June 6 – August 4, Tuesdays through Fridays
Across the Country with American Quilts
Stories of the USA are stitched together in quilts from long ago and
today! Camp directors and counselors are invited to bring summer
campers to see quilts in the special exhibitions and related
American art. Students will create their own artworks during their
visit. The program can be booked at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon and 2:00
p.m., Tuesday through Friday. $3 admission charge/camper; one
chaperone/ten campers required. Call: (561) 832-5196, ext. 1113 to
reserve your tour at least two weeks before your visit.
Sunday Funday**
Sunday, June 11, 1:30 – 3:30
Mixed-media Workshop with Kianga Jinaki
Did you know that many artists today work with all sorts of
materials? Things you would never expect! Work along side local
artist Kianga Jinaki to create mixed-media art that reflects your
family and community.
First Saturday Family Studio**
Saturday, July 8, 10:30 – 12: 30
Puppet Self-Portraits
Explore other dimensions in fabric art! Work alongside artist
Karsten Geiger to create your own unique puppet self-portrait, then
perform together in the Norton Museum of Art Theatre. This studio
program is recommended for children ages 4 – 12 and their parents.
$5 material fee payable at the door; call to register: (561)
832-5196, ext. 1133.
Film
Sunday, July 16, 3:00
Hearts and Hands
This 60-minute film chronicles the lives of ordinary American women,
as well as individuals such as Harriet Tubman, through the great
events of the 19th century.
Sunday Funday**
Sunday, August 13, 1:30 – 3:30
Chinese Rank Badges
See cloth badges embroidered with marvelous animals and designs that
were worn by scholars and dignitaries in the Chinese court. Then
create your own textile art in the Reynolds Classroom.
** Family Programs are generously underwritten by The Sarah Vierck
Mettler Family Fund, The Andrea and Charles Brandon Fund for
Families and the Samuel Rosenthal Endowment for Outreach Programs
and The Picower Foundation.
Special Exhibition Tours
Elements of the Front Range Contemporary Quilts, May 13-August 13
Art of the Needle: Masterpiece Quilts from the Shelburne Museum,
June 17-September 3
To schedule adult group tours, please call: (561) 832-5196 ext. 1135
for summer camp tours, please call: (561) 832-5196 ext. 1113
for college tours, please call: (561) 832-5196 ext. 1132
Family Time in the Galleries
Activity sheets for children related to the permanent collection and
special exhibitions are available at the Visitor Services Desk.
Café 1451 at the Norton:
Lunch is served Monday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
(Closed Mondays from May through October and on major
holidays.)--drinks, wine, cheese and desserts are served until 4:00
pm. On Sunday the full menu is served from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
Admission to the Museum is not required and free parking is
available at the Museum or in the West Parking Lot located on South
Dixie Highway. For reservations for all size groups please call
(561) 366-8500 or e-mail cafe1451@lyonandlyon.com.
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