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WINTER 2010 NEWSLETTER

Quilt Center Team Travels to India

Passport. Check. Camera. Check. Comfortable shoes. Check. And off they went!

Lifetimes of dreams, years of planning, and the welcoming arms of international colleagues carried the intrepid IQSC team of Patricia Crews, Carolyn Ducey, and Marin Hanson through two unforgettable weeks in the textile-rich lands of India late last fall. Literal stacks of exquisite quilted, dyed, and woven fabrics waited amid the exotic mix of ancient and modern culture and geography of the Indian cities and countryside they visited.

From October 21 through November 4 the museum's Director and Curators of Collections and Exhibitions furthered their research on quiltmaking traditions of South Asia. Several representative pieces were acquired for the upcoming IQSC exhibition "South Asian Seams: Quilts from India, Pakistan & Bangladesh," opening May 15, 2010.

Geeta Kandelwal, resident of Mumbai and IQSC Advisory Board member from 2003 to 2008, and Patrick Finn, IQSC Research Fellow working in India, helped plan and guide this "trip of a lifetime". Geeta , who served two terms on the IQSC International Advisory Board, recently endowed the Geeta Khandelwal International Quilt Study Center Research Award specifically to support international research concerning quilts and quiltmaking traditions.

The IQSC team visited collectors and dealers in New Delhi, Jaipur, Bhuj, Ahmedabad and Mumbai. In each city our travelers met with members of established families that had collected textiles of India for 30 to 50 years. These individuals shared knowledge gained through generations of textile collecting and trade. The personal collections rivaled examples shown in museums. Information, photo documentation, and textiles acquired on this trip will immeasurably enrich the "South Asian Seams" exhibition.

Here are a few personal notes from the IQSC travelers:

Patricia Crews: "Like textile lovers the world over, I have long dreamed of traveling to India. This fall my dream came true. At long last I had the opportunity to see firsthand some of India's master dyers, weavers and embroiderers extraordinaire. I have anecdotes and images to share with my students and with visitors in our upcoming exhibitions."

Carolyn Ducey: "I'd always believed that you need to see 'the real thing' to truly appreciate a piece of art - this trip made me realize the importance of seeing the 'real' origin of the artists and their work. We were surrounded by the vibrant colors, the floral and geometric motifs and the everyday objects that make up the designs of the Indian pieces we've acquired for the IQSC collection. Every day gave me a better understanding of the people, the culture, and the art work '- I don't think I could have gained that without the experience of the busy streets, the market stalls, the historic architecture, and the wonderful spirit of the Indian people. And, in our meetings with collectors who have built their collections over decades, I learned that the love of cloth and the various ways it can be manipulated, is a passion that is felt by people from around the world!"

Marin Hanson: "Ever since I was a child, I have been interested in exploring the world beyond my Midwestern American roots. I have interest in India on many levels: not just in its amazing textiles, which certainly drew me first, but in its larger, extraordinarily rich culture, from ragas and qawwali (classical and devotional music), to Mughal architecture and Bollywood movies. Our trip to India, therefore, was extremely personally gratifying.
But even more satisfying were the professional rewards I gained. Being able to place the Indian quilts in our collection into cultural context was invaluable, especially with our upcoming exhibition. Seeing Rabari families traveling down the road with all their worldly goods hauled by camels behind them was eye-opening; now I can mentally place the camel bags and trappings we purchased in a specific context -- in other words, I am now better able to communicate to our visitors the important role rallis play in these nomads' lives."

Look for more about this trip during the exhibition "South Asian Seams: Quilts from India, Pakistan, & Bangladesh" opening May 15.


Mark Your Calendar!

These are great times to bring friends who are not members. Show them YOUR museum! Two Special "First Fridays": Admission is FREE between 5-7 PM. Show them YOUR museum! Friday, February 5: This month, to complement the exhibition "Four-Part Harmony: The Linda Carlson Four-Block Quilt Collection", music provided by the Lincoln Continentals Barbershop Quartet group from 5:30 - 6:30 pm.
Friday, March 5: Carolyn Ducey's 5:30 PM lecture and the reception following are sponsored
by the Lincoln Quilters Guild.

Celebrate National Quilting Day: Saturday, March 20: FREE admission all day for this
community event sponsored by the Lincoln Quilters Guild, the Bernina Sewing Studio, and
Handi-Quilter, maker of long-arm quilting machines. For updates and additional information
visit the Lincoln Quilters Guild website www.lincolnquiltersguild.org or call Lincoln Quilters Guild
President Sheila Green 402-483-0453.

The exhibition "Perspectives: Art, Craft, Design & the Studio Quilt" was named one of
the top art exhibitions of 2009 by Lincoln Journal Star critic Kent Wolgamott. Join us for these
related programs:
Tuesday, February 16, Noon, Tuesday Talk "Acquiring Studio Quilts for the IQSC", Curator
of Collections Carolyn Ducey
Sunday, March 28, 2:00 PM, Public Lecture, Lynn Setterington (UK studio quilter whose
work is included in the exhibition) "Reflections on My Practice-Led Research in Quiltmaking"
Tuesday, April 13, Noon, Tuesday Talk "Analyze This: Design Principles and
Studio Quilts" IQSC Assistant Director Barbara Caron

The second rotation of "Four-Part Harmony: The Linda Carlson Four-Block Collection"
opened on Jan. 13. Don't miss these events:
Sunday, February 21, 2:00 PM - "Meet the Curator" book signing and conversation with
Linda Carlson
Tuesday, March 16, Noon - Tuesday Talk - "Four-Block Quilts in the IQSC Collection" ,
Carolyn Ducey


IQSC Volunteers are THE BEST
Quilt Center volunteers contributed work time of 2,485 hours in 2009. They also spent 298 hours in training and 350 hours in monthly meetings, for a total of 4,133 hours. More than 70 volunteers have re-committed for 2010. For more information about the volunteer program click here.
The following volunteers were recognized as meeting their 2009 Volunteer Service Commitment:

Margrethe Ahlschwede Sheila Green Kriss Moulds
Sandra Anderson Jackie Greenfield Nan Nelson
Jean Ang Pat Hackley Phyllis Owen
Joan Brink Kay Haffey Paulette Peters
Shelly Burge Dorothy Heideman-Nelson Janet Phillips
Irene Colborn Stephanie Higgins Barbara Pike
Pat Cole Phyllis Hronik Loris Purtzer
Lynne Coleman Bonnie Kucera Becky Reisinger
Beverly Cunningham Dottie Kuester Louise Ripa
Jean Davie Judy Lane Karla Salda
Lauren Davis Joan Laughlin Rogene Silletto
Janee Dlugosh Mary Ann Leefers Be Silverman
Margaret Dougherty Doris Lewis Wendall Smith
Lori Dutcher LynDee Lombardo Bev Thurber
Judy Frederick Judy Meagher Lois Wilson
Gretchen Gabhardt Wilma Mook Dorothy Wolfe
Mary Ghormley Kathy Moore




Good News (straight from the camel's mouth!)
The International Quilts Study Center & Museum is the newest member of the North American Reciprocal Museum [NARM] Program. Contributing and Sustaining level members may now enjoy these benefits at 380 museums in the United States and Canada:

Free/member admission at all times during museum hours

The same discount on purchases made on the premises in museum shops as those offered to members of that museum.

The same discount on ticket purchases made on the premises as those offered to members of that museum.


See the list of museums participating in the NARM program by visiting http://sites.google.com/site/northamericanreciprocalmuseums/north-american-reciprocal-museum-listing
Our name will appear on the March update. Please note that some museums restrict some benefits as described at the end of the list. Contributing and Sustaining members have been mailed new membership card with a gold NARM sticker.