New Quilt Exhibit To Open This Week
This spring and summer will bring three very different and exciting exhibits to the Texas Quilt Museum, celebrating the work of two extremely talented individuals and the prizewinning efforts of others!
On display from May 12 to Sept. 18, 2022 will be Ricky Tims: A Rhapsody of Quilts, Timna Tarr’s Noble Menagerie, and Quilt Festival Prizewinners 2021.
In Gallery III, Ricky Tims: A Rhapsody of Quilts presents 11 pieces highly regarded as excellent examples of contemporary quilt art with traditional appeal. Tims is also a renowned musician, and many of his quilts have musical references. As he was working on Bohemian Rhapsody using hand-dyed fabrics, the composition developed with a very Eastern European flare. The rhythmic movement and harmonious shapes in this quilt encouraged the artist to design and make an entire series of Rhapsody Quilts, which resulted in his book of the same title.
The exhibition also includes his “Lifelines III: Can Something Come from Nothing?” awarded first place category prize at an International Quilt Association judged show. Museum Curator, Dr. Sandra Sider, comments, “If you have missed seeing the amazing quilts by Ricky Tims at Houston, this is your chance to see an astonishing collection!” A special Museum-produced monograph will also be available for purchase. Gallery II will showcase 12 works in Timna Tarr’s Noble Menagerie. Tarr, who resides in Massachusetts, comes from a long line of quilters but did not begin quilting until after studying art history in college.
Her own work is chiefly about color, in relatively smallformat compositions. What keeps her engaged is watching how her projects change and transform with the addition of each color and texture. Timna Tarr’s Noble Menagerie began as a way for Tarr to explore making quasi-realistic fabric portraits of farm animals. Moving through the series, she realized that the images highlight the dignity and individual personalities in each animal, reflected in her highly original titles. The construction process starts with a blown-up photograph and ends with her piecing together the eye. Finally, Gallery I will present Festival Prizewinners 2021, featuring 11 stunning quilts from makers who won prizes in the inaugural Quilt Festival Judged Show in a variety of categories and styles.
Showcasing exquisite hand and machine stitching, the designs include abstract, pictorial, and geometric compositions. This juxtaposition of art quilts with contemporary traditional styles celebrates the exciting gamut of quiltmaking today.
The Texas Quilt Museum is located at 140 W. Colorado St., La Grange, Texas 78945. Hours are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.