Dear Wick and Billie,
I am writing this to two of my most artistically enlightened friends ... in Alabama. O.K.... two of my most enlightened friends... period!
There are days that I just love living in NYC and yesterday was one of those days. I don't know if you read about a quilt show, INFINITE VARIETY - THREE CENTURIES OF RED AND WHITE QUILTS, that was held at the Armory that lasted only 6 days (and closed today) but took 2 days to mount. It was created and paid for by the husband to his wife as a gift to celebrate her 80th birthday. (Note to all husbands and/or significant others reading this e-mail)!!! The exhibit was not only a gift to her but a gift to the city as the admission was free! Joanna Semel Rose has been collecting quilts since the 50's and has over 1000 in her collection. This exhibit represents 650 quilts spanning 3 centuries (most nineteenth century) and all of them were in red and white. She began buying them at flea markets and they have been beautifully restored
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The show was mounted by the American Folk Art Museum and I believe there is going to be a catalogue on the exhibit. Red and white has been a classic scheme for American quilts.One reason was because of the colorfastness of Turkish red dye which tended not to fade like other colors.
The armory is 55,000 square feet and when you walked in the exhibit took your breath away. I have NEVER seen anything as impressive... in any museum. First, the fact that they were all red and white made the visual impact even more powerful when you walked in. And the imposing space!!!! If you are into quilts or not... not the point. Amazing how contemporary some of the designs looked. Op art... geometric shapes. Some were personal with writing...
some delicate... others bold. The display was both majestic and intimate... lyrical... poetry in motion. Hundred and hundred of quilts were suspended... almost frozen in midair. The display comprised primarily of 2 huge circles... you could walk in and around each one with quilts on both sides suspended at different heights and levels. Some were also on the wall etc. The juxtaposition of quilts next to each other was so well planned. The visual weight... i.e. some displaying more white vs more red or delicate next to bold... was perfect and added to the overall visceral jolt when you walked in and continued throughout the show! I am not doing it justice because the exhibit was fabulous. Everyone has been talking about it. My girlfriend volunteers at the Cooper Hewitt every Wednesday and she said that this show was the only thing people were talking about. She said that members of the staff ran out for part of the day to see it because it was closing today. If you can look it up on-line. This is one visual experience I will never forget. And everyone I have spoken to that saw it said the same thing... overwhelming and spectacular!!!!
And Saturday I am going to the Macy's flower show avec a friend. My Mother went every year religiously so I am doing it partly for her! I have only been once or twice so it will be a treat... visually and emotionally.
So kids this is the good news about the city dynamics for this week. The downside... I envy you the weather you are enjoying. They are predicting snow ONCE AGAIN. Perhaps the universe is giving us (new yorkers) these treats as a way to make up for this horrific winter. I guess at the end everything balances out.
Had to share this experience avec toi.
Much love,
XOXO
C and M
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