Victoria Findlay Wolfe: Now & Then, Playing with Purpose on Exhibit September 2–December 5, 2021
Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts presents Victoria Findlay Wolfe: Now & Then, Playing with Purpose, opening September 2 through December 5, 2021
Cedarburg, Wis. – The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts (WMQFA) is pleased to present Victoria Findlay Wolfe: Now & Then, Playing with Purpose, a stunning retrospective of quilts by Victoria Findlay Wolfe, which will run at the museum from September 2 through December 5, 2021. Take a deep look inside the evolution of one of today’s most important modern quilters, Findlay Wolfe’s exciting and diverse body of work have inspired quilters worldwide to explore color, pattern, and design.
This beautifully composed retrospective will present Wolfe’s memorable quilts and the stories behind them, from her first quilt through her most contemporary creations, induing fourteen new works made during quarantine and debuting during this exhibition.
One of the quilting innovations most synonymous with Findlay Wolfe is her experimentation with the Double Wedding Ring, a notoriously difficult pattern from the Great Depression era comprised of interlocking arcs, melons, and concave squares. Findlay Wolfe says of her work she finds it “fascinating to play within a traditional pattern.”
Among Findlay Wolfe’s new works are eight striking red dot quilts that explore seemingly endless permutations within one original design and palette. Intended to be an ongoing series, she describes the quilts’ development: “I am intrigued by the simplistic nature of the first eight works, and how they will continue to morph, deteriorate, and mesh in more elaborate or deconstructed designs.”
The relationship between Findlay Wolfe and WMQFA is longstanding, dating to 2014 when the museum hosted the artist’s first-ever solo museum exhibition. Now, we are delighted to feature this incredible quilter as she continues to innovate within and push the boundaries of the quilting medium.
This exhibition is enriched by a lavishly illustrated catalog, as well as a video recording of Findlay Wolfe’s segment on Craft in America discussing her process. Findlay Wolfe will provide a tour of the exhibition during the hybrid in- person and virtual opening event, An Evening with Victoria Findlay Wolfe, on September 2, from 6:30–7:30pm.
Generous support for Victoria Findlay Wolfe: Now & Then, Playing with Purpose is provided by Susan Graham Wernecke and Bill Wernecke Jr. 2021 Programming at WMQFA is supported by the Wisconsin Arts Board, National Endowment for the Arts, American Quilt Study Group, Hilgendorf Memorials: Rock of Ages, and Kohler Foundation Inc.
About the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts
The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts (WMQFA), located just east of historic downtown Cedarburg, Wisconsin, is dedicated to creating, preserving, and displaying cultural treasures and educating the public about the artistic, cultural, historic, and social importance of quilts and fiber arts. A primary mission is to teach people of all ages and abilities the time-honored traditions of fiber arts such as quilting, weaving, embroidery and knitting. Our 1850s farmstead setting has allowed us to combine preservation of craft with preservation of historical agriculture buildings, offering a unique setting for enjoying an afternoon, taking a class, attending a lecture, or playing in a farm setting. The WMQFA is a 501(c)3 non-profit. For more information go to www.wiquiltmuseum.com.