Montclair Art Exhibit Will Show Off Emotional Power Of Quilting

MONTCLAIR, NJ — An exhibit in Montclair aims to show off the artistic power – and emotional impact – of quilting.

Starting on Thursday, Sept. 5, “Inspired by Quilts” will kick off at Studio Montclair Gallery, 127 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. It runs until Oct. 19.

An opening reception for the exhibit will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6.

The exhibit – which was inspired by the Montclair History Center’s collection of 19th and early 20th century quilts – is being held in partnership with the center under the umbrella of Studio Montclair’s Virginia S. Block Community Partnership Exhibition Program.

According to a news release from organizers:

“The exhibit features artwork inspired by the antique quilt collection at the Montclair History Center. It encompasses not only quilts but also sculpture, photography, collage, works on paper and canvas, computer-generated works, encaustic art, and ceramic relief. All of the works—many of which are non-objective—embody a physical or emotional reference to the quilt collection.”

Studio Montclair stated:

“To create these works of art, participating artists were influenced by such elements as shape, color, the creative process through which the quilts were designed and assembled, the materials with which they were made, a written description of the quilt and its history, or even consideration of the woman who created it and her place in society.”

According to curator, Virginia S. Block:

“Asking one to garner inspiration from an antique quilt may seem like the result would be predetermined and obvious at first thought, especially due to the nature of quilting itself. However, each artist in this exhibit seems to have been ignited by a unique spark of originality. That being said, quilting was used as a springboard to a much more free interpretation within each artist’s process.”

Additional curators include Jane Mitchell Eliasof and Yvette Lucas. Participating artists include Lisa Basile, Diane Cherr, Maryann Didriksen, Circe Dunnell, Sarah Fader, Susan Fidlon, Harriet Finck, Yolanda Fundora, Emily Gilman Beezley, Madeline Giotta, Rachael Grochowski, Michelle Harpster, Linda Hess Conklin, Rachel Kanter, Gina Kingsley, Claude Larson, Sharon Libes, Maria Lupo, Patricia Malarcher, Betsy Meyer-Donadio, Tara Mhella, Pamela Moore, Leslie Nobler, Courtney Novak, Mary Alice Orito, Alfonse Pagano, Susan Paladino, Kate Perri, Jean-Paul Picard, Norman Rosenblum, Ela Shah, Peter Tilgner, Susan van Inwegen, Louise Wheeler and Audrey Yankielun.

The exhibit is sponsored by a grant from the NJ Community Foundation.

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