Modern Quilt Guild. - Modern Quilts: Designs of the New Century

PUBLISHER: Amy Marson CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Gailen Runge EDITOR: Liz Aneloski COVER/BOOK DESIGNER: April Mostek PRODUCTION COORDINATOR: Zinnia Heinzmann PRODUCTION EDITOR: Alice Mace Nakanishi PHOTO ASSISTANT: Mai Yong Vang PHOTOGRAPHY by Diane Pedersen of C&T Publishing, Inc., unless otherwise noted COVER QUILT: Detail of Go North, page 176 Published by Stash Books, an imprint of C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549 Dedication To members of The Modern Quilt Guild Acknowledgments Thank you first to The Modern Quilt Guild (MQG) members and the modern quilt community. The quilts in this book reflect the vibrancy and vitality of the modern quilters who make up a dynamic community that has become a growing and thriving movement. Modern quilters are giving, talented, and incredibly passionate about the art of quiltmaking. Together, the community has created something that somehow adds up to more than the sum of its parts. This book reflects the diversity and passion of this community, and the inspiration it provides comes directly from modern quilters and their talents.

Thank-yous need to be given to so many additional people. To those early Los Angeles members who showed up to the very first MQG meeting in 2009. You showed all modern quilters that we could build our community in person, as well as online. To our first boardLatifah, Elizabeth H., Jacquie, and Alissa. Without your steadfast vision the guild would not be where we are today. To our other board members past and presentAmy, Heather, Susanne, Kathy, Andrew, Carole, Shannon, Andres, Jules, Jill, Christen, and Cherylwho have provided leadership through all our successes and challenges.

And to all our volunteers, who over the years have dedicated so much time to building our guild from just a few people to an organization of thousands. There have been many unsung heroes who have given countless hours of their time. Thanks to our staff, past and present, the people who work hard every day, managing all the details and moving us forwardAlissa, Heather, Jen, Elizabeth D., Riane, Molly, Amanda, Natalie, and Janice. Finally, thanks to our familiesChris, Charley, Gavin, Gabe, Lucas, and Kevinfor all their love and support. The MQG would also like to thank Liz, Roxane, Alice, Zinnia, April, Diane, Mai, and Amy from C&T for their help throughout the process of creating this book. INTRODUCTION Modern quilts mean different things to different people.

Modern quilts are utilitarian. They are art. They tell stories. They are graphic, improvisational, or minimalist. They break the rules. They make a statement.

No matter the design aesthetic, modern quilts are creative expressions made with needle and thread, fabric, and time. Modern quilters respect the rich tradition of quilts throughout history, and we recognize that we are makers in a lineage that stretches back centuries. Modern quilting is the result of years of work and countless makers and influencers who came before us. In this book, youll see the work of modern quilters, past and present, and learn the story of where weve been, where we are, and see a glimpse into where were going. We are all makers; we are all storytellers; and we are all part of a community making our mark at this moment in quilt history. We hope you enjoy this book and glean some inspiration from the more than 200 quilts within.

From quilt empires like the Amish and the quilts of Gees Bend, to the emergence of the word modern in quilting, well discuss influencers and milestones in the twentieth century and today that have paved the way for all of us. About The Modern Quilt Guild The Modern Quilt Guild is a community of over 12,000 quilters across six continents and 39 countries. The Modern Quilt Guilds mission is to support and encourage the growth and development of modern quilting through art, education, and community.All the quilts in the gallery section of this book were made by MQG members, past and present. EIDOS
Designed by Agatha June, pieced by Elizabeth Dackson, quilted by Gina Pina, 2016, 68 78 Photo by Scott David Gordon Photography EARLY INFLUENCERS OF MODERN QUILTING: BEFORE 1998 Modern quilting has existed in many forms for much of the twentieth century and quilters began stepping out of the box (and block) long before the modern quilting movement of the 2000s. When modern quilting came into its own, these outliers were the leaders who inspired modern quilters to discover their voices and make their own unique work. Amish quilts are one of the primary influences on modern quilting. The use of large-scale piecing, solid fabrics, and bright bold colors are all traits that are frequently found in the quilts coming out of the modern quilting movement.

The simple, clean design and graphic nature of their work lead to an aesthetic that speaks to todays modern quilter. AMISH QUILT
Maker unknown, c. 18901910, 84 71 Photo courtesy of International Quilt Study Center & Museum, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2003.003.0013 AMISH RECTANGULAR STRING
Gwen Marston, 1999, 51 66 COLORS OF PROVENCE
Jean Wells Keenan, 2008, 38 62 Art quilting, an influential movement that began in the 1960s, laid the groundwork for modern quilters to embrace designs outside the boundaries of traditional quilts. Quilters such as Nancy Crow and Gwen Marston, whose work features improvisational piecing and solid fabrics, have consistently sewn beautiful original designs that have impacted the work of modern quilters. As a whole, art quilters made huge changes in the quilting world, and set the stage for the modern quilting movement to happen. CONSTRUCTIONS #84: NO!
Nancy Crow, 2007, 75 70 Photo by J.

Kevin Fitzsimons, courtesy of Nancy Crow SEASONS QUILT
Nancy Whittington, 1978, 112 112 Photo by and courtesy of Nancy Whittington LACRIMOSAGLORIAE
Carol Anne Grotrian, 1988, 65 62 Photo by and courtesy of Carol Anne Grotrian TAKOAGE
Yvonne Porcella, 1980, 82 71 Photo courtesy of Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC/Art Resource, New York WORD PLAY
Jill Ault, 1998, 51 60 Photo by and courtesy of Jill Ault Another influential quilter was Yoshiko Jinzenji, a Japanese quiltmaker whose voice is so original that it has had a large impact on modern quilting. Her use of creative piecing and expansive white negative space all lead to an aesthetic all her own. The quilts of Gees Bend, made by a small community of African American quilters in rural Alabama, have inspired modern quilters since they were first seen in 2002 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas. They also approached quilting with an improvisational method and used large areas of bold, solid fabrics to create quilts that stand out and have a look all their own.