On February 20, 2016, our new exhibit, Purposeful Stitches: Community Quilts, will open in the Schroeder Gallery. Quilts often have a purpose beyond warmth and bedding. The exhibit will explore “quilts with a purpose” from our collection.
One unique quilt featured in the exhibit is a ‘Story Quilt.”
The Story Quilt is described in The Quilt Encyclopedia Illustrated by Carter Houck as a quilt “that tells a story or depicts a portion of one’s life.” Story quilts have been an important part of quilting history. Early story quilts provided a way for those who could not read to ‘tell a story.’ Perhaps some of the best known story quilts were done by Harriet Powers.
Harriet Powers, 1901
Born in 1837 as a slave, she could neither read not write but in the late 1800s she created two dramatic and powerful story quilts . . . that impacted the world of women and quilting.”
Bible Quilt, 1886. Created by Harriet Powers.
The Great Clean Up!
Our story quilt was created in 1992 by the 3rd Grade class at Cooper Elementary in Newton, Ks. Displayed as a wall hanging, the quilt is tied with a pieced border. The main image is painted on the fabric.
Story Quilt, painted, 1992. Made by the Cooper School 3rd Grade Class, Mrs. Fell, Mrs. Selzer, Mrs. Voth, Mrs Weaver, teachers.
The story is written on fabric around the main image and is entitled, “The Great Clean Up” and tells the story of how the group of children cleaned up a nearby park and renamed it “Jayhawk Park.”
Detail, Story Quilt, 1992.
Those who participated in creating the quilt are listed on the front.
List of students that worked on the story quilt.
The back includes hand prints of each participant with their name.
Story Quilt back.
Our exhibit, Purposeful Stitches: Community Quilts will open Sat., February 20, 2016 in the Schroeder Gallery.
Sources:
- Meeske, Susan. “Quilt Me A Story,” at http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/professional-development/childlit/books/MEESKE.pdf.