Infinite Ivory and Blue on Exhibit February 6 - April 16, 2020
Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts Features Exquisite Blue and White Works
Cedarburg, Wis. – Infinite Ivory and Blue presents stunning examples of blue and white works from the museum’s collection. Quilts, woven coverlets, lace, Ikats, and wearables envelope the viewer in a world of blue and white. Unveiling significant works from the museum’s vault, the exhibition features one of the oldest quilts in the collection alongside a stunning array of indigo-dyed quilts and coverlets from the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.
Illuminating stories of several significant collections donated to the museum, the exhibition reveals important aspects of the museum’s collecting history. Among these stories include the Joe and Mary Koval Collection, a stunning display of twenty-seven historic quilts, which the Kovals discovered over the course of four decades; the James Taylor Family Coverlets, a selection of thirty-five woven coverlets that demonstrate a range of weaving techniques from overshot to double weave in a variety of colors and patterns; and the Lois Markus Lace Collection, an incredible grouping of antique bobbin and needlepoint lace along with an assortment of tatting, applique, and embroidered laces collected by Markus on her journeys throughout Europe.
Installation view of Infinite Ivory and Blue, 2020.
In addition there are works that explore deep personal histories, including a wedding dress, made by one of the museum’s founding mothers, Marion Wolfe, who constructed her dress out of parachute silk her husband took home with him after serving in World War II. While other works serve to confound and delight: an exquisite Whitework quilt from around the 1830s was donated to the museum by Family Sharing Resale Shop, after an unknown individual dropped it off with a note indicating the quilt came from Canada, but with no further details.
Infinite Ivory and Blue will be on view at WMQFA from February 6 through April 26, 2020. WMQFA will host a lunch-and-learn exploration of indigo, titled “Beautiful Blues: The Story of Indigo,” with historian Carol Butzke on April 3, 2020, from 10:30 to noon (lunch immediately following). Additionally, the exhibition corresponds with the WMQFA’s Winter Quilt Show at the Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center in West Bend on Saturday, February 29, 2020. This exhibition is supported by a grant from the Wisconsin Arts Board.
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 organization. For more information go to www.wiquiltmuseum.com.