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"Beyond the Bed: The American Quilt Evolution," New at the Katonah Museum of Art

More than 30 quilt masterpieces reflect the voice of each quilter, fusing art and history

Celebrating the American Quilt as art – “Beyond the Bed: The American Quilt Evolution”  opens at The Katonah Museum of Art, located at 134 Jay Street (Route 22) in Katonah, NY on February 24 and will run through  June 16.  This innovative exhibition traces the dynamic evolution of the North American quilt – in form, fashion, and function – from the beginning of the 19th century to the present day. 

“Each quilt tells a unique story fusing history and art,” said Nancy Wallach, director of curatorial affairs, Katonah Museum of Art.  “It gives a voice to the individual quilter; the colors and textures, and the style of each quilt truly reflects our history and the times in which it was created.”

She added, “This is the first exhibition in the New York area (and one of the first anywhere) to provide an overview of the field, and to define the changing meaning of the “quilt” over time; the majority of quilt exhibitions focus more narrowly on a specific cultural or regional tradition (e.g. Amish or Gee’s Bend), a designated time period (e.g. Civil War), or an individual quiltmaker.”  

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Over thirty quilt masterpieces are installed according to their originally intended function as bed coverings, articles of clothing, furniture accessories, wall decoration, and three-dimensional sculpture.

On view are exceptional pieces by Amish, Pennsylvania German, African American, Native American, and Hawaiian quilt makers, as well as some of the finest works by contemporary artists, including Nancy Crow, Joan Lintault, Paula Nadelstern, Velda Newman, George Siciliano, and Fraser Smith. Six of the quilts in the exhibition are among “The Twentieth Century’s Best 100 American Quilts,” selected in 1999 by a panel of experts from four national quilt organization.

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In the Project Gallery

Quilt Lab

Explore, experiment, and create your own quilt block in the KMA Quilt Lab. Visitors are invited to make Log Cabin blocks to contribute to community quilts, which will be donated to babies born to women in the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility and families living at My Sister’s Place, a Westchester County shelter for battered women. Participants will also learn about the AIDS Names Quilt and to how to design a digital quilt on the computer.

In the Foyer

Tiny Quilts
Six-inch-square quilts, created by members of the Northern Star Quilters’ Guild, are for sale at $75 each. Proceeds shared by the KMA and the artists.

General Information

The Katonah Museum of Art is located at 134 Jay Street (Route 22) in Katonah, NY. For information call 914-232-9555 or visit http://www.katonahmuseum.org

Museum Hours Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm, Closed Monday.

Admission: $10 general, $5 for seniors and students; members and children under 12 free. Free Docent-Led Guided Tours

Tuesday through Saturday, 2:30 pm. Tours are free with admission to the Museum

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