In the last month I've been to the original Hancock Fabrics, in Paducah, KY, and spent the night in one of the very first Howard Johnson's, in Asheville, NC. Dear Lord, I ought to be at least 70.
Surprisingly not, though. Not the point.
The Point?
Spent the day with DB (Darling Bride) and a couple of friends, trying not to get run over by overzealous quilters with sharp needles at the American Quilter's Society Annual Show in Paducah, KY. The trip was a birthday present for DB. (Holy crap, you wouldn't believe how old she is. Oh wait... so'm I. Forget I said anything.)
There were, as always, some beautiful quilts on display. Hundreds after hundreds of them. A huge ballroom full. Another huge conference room full. But the most powerful stuff on display was on the far side of the convention center, in an out of the way display area. Quilts made for and dedicated to the fight against Alzheimer's.
Quilt's like this:
Losing My Mind A Piece At A Time
37 1/2" x 58"
by Jannett Caldwell
Avondale, PA
First, this display should have been front and center, not off in a side room three football field's walk away. I kid you not, there were elderly women in every chair in every hallway, resting from the journey. Half of 'em were asleep.
Second, These quilts are everything this American art form can be: art, history, social commentary, family memories ... did I mention Art, (big A)?
You can learn more here.
Want to own a piece of art that actually IS trying to change the world? Go here.
2 comments:
That quilt is so disturbing. But that's why it's soooo great. It's really more descriptive than words, you know?
And I've said it before and I'll say it again - DB has a great husband.
As I've said before, the pictures don't do it justice...and the pictures are startling.
A member of my family is afflicted with Alzheimer's and it is a terrible thing to watch.
The images on that quilt are amazingly descriptive.
Quilts have always told stories, wish they could always be happy ones.
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