The Quarantine Quilt on Exhibit August 7 - November 15, 2020
Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts Exhibits the Astounding Results of its Quarantine Quilt Collaborative Art Project
Cedarburg, Wis. – The Quarantine Quilt exhibition (August 7–November 15, 2020) at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts (WMQFA) presents the awe-inspiring results of the collaborative art project, The Quarantine Quilt, launched by WMQFA in March 2020 to encourage individuals to keep creating while staying safely at home.
Quarantine Quilt, 1 of 27. Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts, 2020.
This open call invited participants from throughout the world to submit a 12 x 12-inch quilt block documenting their individual and collective experiences during quarantine. The response to the museum’s request was astounding. To date over 400 people have submitted blocks (some more than one!), representing states from throughout the U.S. and countries as far away as the Netherlands and Israel. Incorporated into an astonishing 27 quilts and counting, the totality of the blocks will be displayed at the museum during the run of the exhibition.
Each block tells the story of family, friends, love, community, inward and outward thoughts, new hobbies and seasoned expertise, issues of social justice, and a range of emotions and shared experiences all through the medium of fiber. The quilt blocks demonstrate an enormous range of techniques: embroidery, collage, felt, weaving, and rug hooking are just a few of the processes on view.
Beginning in June a group of dedicated WMQFA volunteers started sewing these blocks into quilts. After months of creation and submissions, the exhibition will celebrate the ingenuity, personal narratives, and communal reflections the artists and the quilts impart.
The Quarantine Quilt will be on view at WMQFA from August 7 through November 15, 2020. The museum is currently open to the public Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00am to 4:00pm, and Sunday, noon to 4:00pm, and by appointment. A virtual tour of the exhibition will be livestreamed on Friday, August 7, from noon to 1:00pm CST, on the museum’s Facebook page and via Zoom. This exhibition is made possible by the generous support of Ellie and Julian De Lia.
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.