Tuesday 7 July 2015

The Quilt Museum

A couple of weeks ago DH and I ventured up to York to visit the Quilt Museum which will sadly be closing later this year.  Their last major exhibition is Ancestral Gifts and is running until 5 September.  The patron of the Quilters Guild, Kaffe Fassett, selected 15 quilts from The Quilters’ Guild Collection dating from 1780 to 1949, and created 15 new pieces in response to them.  The exhibition space at the museum had been renovated over the winter closure and looked wonderful.  Kaffe Fassett had encouraged the Guild to have the walls painted grey instead of white and this tone really set off the quilts.


I've always loved this beautiful space even though it may not have been ideal for its purpose as an exhibition space.  

This beautiful quilt below received a bright and modern re-interpretation.






The Elderton Log Cabin quilt inspired the colourful quilt below it.


  



Side by side below, a bed quilt and Kaffe's version on the wall above it.  


As well as the quilts Kaffe had provided some of his beautiful embroidered clothing:




 I am so in awe of the stitching on this jacket.  I can recognise some of the vintage fabrics that underlie the stitching.  Wonderful!


You may recognise the photographer who saw a creative opportunity in the design wall and fabric squares.

There is still time to visit this interesting exhibition and if you've never visited the Quilt Museum now is almost your last chance.  It is a beautiful building and I will be sorry not to be able to visit it in the future.  There will be one more exhibition after the Kaffe finishes and the museum closes for good on 31 October.  It sits in beautiful grounds nestled below a section of city walls, with a stylish restaurant on the same site and an art gallery too.


3 comments:

Gina said...

Sad to say I have never visited this museum and unlikely to now given my schedule for the next few months. A shame that it is going. This looks like an interesting exhibition.

Maggi said...

Sadly I've never visited either although I went several times to their previous home at Dean Clough. I must take a look to see what the final exhibition is going to be as Kaffe Fassett doesn't appeal to me at all.

Heather said...

So sad when a much loved museum has to close. Kaffe Fassett is so brave with his use of colour and has created some glorious pieces. A lovely exhibition to have visited.