Album Quilt Pattern

“Pieces of History”: Quilts as History, Folk Art & More at Montclair ...

Hand pieced and sewn quilts burst onto the art scene in a big way at the legendary 1971 Whitney Museum of Art exhibit “Abstract Design in American Quilts.” No one has ever thought about historic quilts as merely functional household bedding ever since. Earlier American quilts are rightly viewed as wondrous expressions of American folk art, and since the mid 20 century quilts have been made and presented as fine art as well. In fact, the Newark Museum has an exhibit opening this September titled just that: “Patchwork, from Folk Art to Fine Art.”

That upcoming exhibit nearby is even more reason to see the Montclair Historical Society’s marvelous current exhibit “Piece of History: Our Collection of Quilts” which runs through July 15 in town. Organized by Administrative Director Jane Mitchell Eliasof, herself a quilter, with the assistance of the Speertown Quilters and Studio Montclair, Inc, the show displays 22 of the society’s collection of quilts as quilts were meant to be seen—on beds and cradles. Others are draped on period chairs, settles and, in the instances of two of my favorites, hanging over the second floor hallway railing.

First a word, if you have never been to the Federal Revival style landmark Israel Crane House, the question “why not?” presents itself. Built in 1796 on Glen Ridge Road, it was a mansion of its time. Long the headquarters of the YWCA, the house faced demolition until rescued and moved to its present location in 1965:  ”It’s a five minute drive, but moving the house took five hours,” Museum Coordinator Meghan Chapuran said.

Chapurin was my and the jazz musician/museum buddy/ husband’s gracious and knowledgeable tour guide about all things Israel Crane history and quilt on a recent visit. Crane was a wily business man with mills and a  general store on the private Newark Pompton Turnpike, which he built and operated. “If you wanted to buy goods, you had to pay Crane a toll just to get to his store,” Chapuran said.

Furnished with period pieces through the generosity of friends of the not for profit Montclair Historical Society, the mansion is an outstanding historic site. With this rare opportunity to view both the quilts and the house, make plans to go now.

The quilts encompass traditional quilt designs such as the lovely “Ohio Rose” hanging over the railing of the back stairs and a variation of the popular log cabin pattern, “Courtyard Steps,” in the back parlor: “In most log cabin quilts, the center block is solid red, standing for the chimney of the cabin” Chapuran said. "Here, there are red, central X’s signify the chimney.

Country Threads: Quilt roll call and a recipe

I continue on with my version of the quilt. 8 blocks now completed and last night I prepped another block, so I have three blocks “on the go”. Hopefully, I’ll get the basket with berries completed for next weekend, but I am all berried out at the moment and there are only 43 of them, so what am I going to be like after 120 grapes for the centre block I wonder? I first saw this quilt hanging in the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington DC back in November 2008. It was Thanksgiving Day and having been let down by the promise of seeing three quilts over at the Museum of American Art which transpired to be full sized photographs of the quilts displayed, on rollers – I was not best pleased... I had resolved to add the quilt to my one day list, so was delighted when I discovered that Margaret had decided to produce the patterns. They are relatively simple blocks at only 11” square, so will be an ideal project for my daily train commute. I’ve prepped the first four blocks, except I am not happy with my background fabric, so stitching may have to wait until after the Festival of Quilts in early August.

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