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13th Annual Heritage Valley Festival of Quilts at Santa Paula California Oil Museum
By Anonymous — Monday, October 3rd, 2011
Quilts Made By Men
“Men Quilting! Quilts Made by Men” is the theme for the 13th Annual Heritage Valley Festival of Quilts to be on display from October 16, 2011 through February 5, 2012 at the California Oil Museum, 1001 E. Main Street, in historic downtown Santa Paula. The exhibit will showcase the talents of male quilters from Los Angeles, Ventura County and as far north as Morro Bay, California. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on Sunday, October 16 from 1-3 PM. Light refreshments will be served. A short gallery talk by guest curator Linda Wilkinson will be held at 1:30. The California Oil Museum is open from 10 AM to 4 PM, Wednesday through Sunday. Admission: $4 Adults, $3 Seniors, $1 Students (6-17), Free for Members & under 5. This year the quilts on display are proof that designing and making quilts is not an accomplishment solely of women. Men were quilting professionally in England more than 200 years ago. Quilts constructed by English soldiers were prominently displayed during the 19th and early 20th centuries. In America there have undoubtedly been men who have quilted, but who gained no more recognition than did most of the anonymous women quilters through the years. With the resurgence of the quilt’s popularity since the 1970s, there has been greater notice of men who quilt. Partly because of the art quilt movement, where quilts are displayed on walls instead of hidden in bedrooms; partly because of the tools of the trade, long arm quilting machines, computer guided stitch controls, etc.; and partly because of the internet connecting people of like interests; quilting by men is becoming a small yet significant part of the quilting world. Don Beld is from Los Angeles and is the founder of the Home of the Brave Quilt Project. He works almost exclusively with 19th Century reproduction fabrics. He is recognized as one of the nation’s experts on quilts made for Civil War soldiers. His quilt in this exhibit is a mosaic floor design adapted from St. Mark’s Duomo in Venice, Italy. Rob Appell, owner of The Cotton Ball quilt shop in Morro Bay, will have three of his quilts in the exhibit, showcasing his varied interests in surfing, design, science, and protecting endangered species. Ric Kajikawa, of Los Osos, will also have three quilts in the exhibit. As a retired math teacher, he has sought challenges in drafting and the use of color in his work. Paul Brauckmann of Newbury Park was inspired to make his quilt “FRAZZLED” by his wife. He decided to take a quilting class taught by Carol Frye at the Cotton and Chocolate Quilt Company and anticipates designing and crafting more in the future. Scott Godwin from Ventura has enjoyed entering quilts in the Ventura County Fair and two of his fair theme quilts will be on display. Woody McWaters of Ventura has two of his quilts on display, a Christmas wall hanging and an optical illusion challenge with the title “Entwined”. Roget Nguyen of Ventura has exhibited his art quilts at the Museum of Ventura County. A number of his innovative pieces will be on display. Jerry Petersen, co-owner of Cotton and Chocolate Quilt Company, will have his first quilt on exhibit. The basket weave pattern of “The Ties That Bind” reminds him of family interconnections. Kai Rogers is an eight year old who has just pieced his first quilt. It’s great to have his participation in this exhibit. Who: Men Quilting! Quilts Made By Men Contact: Linda Wilkinson, guest curator, at 525-2774 for more information. The Museum may be contacted at: California Oil Museum |
