“A Season of Colors.” Courtesy Galveston Historical Foundation
Christmas themes, Texas coastal scenes and views of gardens and forests are all part of the 16th Annual Island Quilters Guild quilt show now at the Galveston Historical Foundation’s U.S. Custom House. But time is running out – the show ends January 4th.
Some of the more striking and unusual quilts on display include a hand-quilted dragon embellished with gold cord, sequins and beads, and the show’s poster quilt, “A Season of Color,” using the “One-Block Wonder” technique to blend brilliant reds and teals.
Entering the exhibition. Photo by Jenny Chiovaro
“Dragon.” Photo by Jenny Chiovaro
“’A Season of Color’ is very bright with colors and made by stacking fabric,” explains show curator Jenny Chiovaro, also a quilter. “When it’s cut, you have six triangles cut from fabric that is stacked. They have the same print and look exactly the same.”
“The triangles are placed to form a kaleidoscope by putting 50 or 60 of those together,” adds Chiovaro. “The colors kind of flow within the quilt.”
Another interesting addition to this year’s show is a long blue quilt hanging over the fireplace in the exhibition hall. “It has marine feel to it because the colors are different shades of blue,” says Chiovaro.
Photo by Jenny Chiovaro
While most of the quilts are machine-quilted, some are hand-appliquéd and hand-quilted including a pair of such artworks entitled “Lady in a Halloween Bonnet” and “Lady in a Thanksgiving Bonnet.” The quilts are embellished with beads.
The Island Quilters Guild often donates quilts to charities. This Christmas, quilts for dolls will be given away to the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program. “We’re donating 30 or 40 quilts to the Angel Tree program, where toys are given to children who probably wouldn’t get one otherwise,” says Chiovaro. The set of little quilts will be provided so that Christmas dolls will be wrapped in their own little quilts.
The guild’s next show will open January 11th and run through April 5th, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Galveston during the Civil War.
So what kind of effort goes into making a quilt? “In general, most people outside the quilting community don’t realize how much work goes into a quilt,” explains Chiovaro. “I work on several quilts at a time. It could take two or three years to finish one quilt.”
Photo by Jenny Chiovaro
Photo by Jenny Chiovaro
“When you come to an exhibit, stand in front of a quilt and start to count the number of pieces,” she says. “You may not finish.”
“It doesn’t matter how long it takes,” she adds. “What’s important is enjoying yourself along the way.”
The 16thannual show runs through January 4, 2013 at Galveston Historical Foundation’s U.S. Custom House, 2nd floor, 502 20th Street. The collection can be viewed Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., but is closed Christmas Day and eve, and New Year’s Day and eve as well. Admittance is free.
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