Field Trip Recommendation: Circular Abstractions at the Muskegon Museum of Art

My husband and went on a short get-away to the Grand Rapids area in Michigan early in September. While driving along the highway one day, we noticed a billboard advertising a quilt show at the Muskegon Museum of Art.  I got out my phone and Googled it to find out more information.  I excitedly told my husband about the show and he said that we should go see it on the last day of our vacation. This card shows the information about the show:

 

 

It was a cool and rainy Saturday when we arrived at the Museum of Art.  We found a parking spot very close to the entrance of the museum and headed down the stairs to the gift shop to purchase our tickets.  The lady behind the counter told us that it was "Super Saturday" and admission to the museum was free!  Once a month, they have a free entrance day to encourage people to come in and see the art. It was our lucky day! 

As we entered the hall where the quilts were displayed, my jaw dropped to the floor!  We took our time walking around to see all of the quilts, first taking a long view and then getting up close and personal with each quilt to examine the piecing and quilting in each quilt as well as reading the artists' statements. 

Each of the 51 quilts on display were about 80" by 80" and all were based on 4 bull's eyes, reminiscent of the New York Beauty pattern.  Forty-one artists from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA took several months to make the quilts. The quilts were curated by Nancy Crow.

 The colours were bright and bold.  It was fun and interesting to see how each quilt artist interpreted the theme. Some of the quilts were displayed on the wall and others were suspended from the ceiling so that we could see the back of the quilt as well as the front.

We actually went around the room twice, making sure that we had taken a good look at every quilt.

While we were looking at the quilts, a mom with three young children came in to see the exhibit. "Look at all the beautiful blankets!", she exclaimed.  I smiled to myself when she said this...  She then asked each of her children to pick their favourite "blanket"--the one they would want on their bed at home.  They toured the room, somewhat more quickly than my husband and I were, exclaiming their delight and discussing the reasons why they liked each "blanket".  The youngest, a boy about 5 years old, picked his favourite out fairly fast.  He liked the red one on the white background with the black centre in the picture above.  He told his mom he liked it the best because "It just sucks you in, Mom!"   I had to agree with him!  It actually reminded me of a geode...

The exhibit is on display until November 6th, 2016 at the Muskegon Museum of Art. I recommend that you run, not walk, to go and see these quilts!  I think they will "suck you in" too.