Brooklyn Museum QUILT show!

"Workt by Hand:" Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts

March 15-September 15, 2013

“Workt by Hand”: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts showcases approximately thirty-five American and European quilt masterpieces from the Brooklyn Museum’s collection. Spanning two centuries of quilt making, the exhibition features examples of the most iconic quilt designs and techniques, including the "Barn Raising" style, the "Garden Basket" style, "Double Wedding Band" designs, the "Rose of Sharon" pattern, and the Amish "Sunshine and Shadow" style, as well as a variety of album quilts.

"Workt by Hand" considers how issues common to the handmade nature of quilting, such as authorship and collectivity, have affected the interpretation and reception of quilts. By showing the quilts both vertically—as they are now frequently shown in museums and galleries—and horizontally, as though on the beds for which they were originally designed, the exhibit explores how the historical designation of quilts as crafts shifted in the 20th century toward an appreciation of quilts as works of abstract art.

Group tours of "Workt by Hand" are available Wednesdays and Fridays through Sundays from 11 AM to 4:30 PM, and Thursdays from 11 AM to 8 PM. Reserve your tour here, orvisit our website for more information.

“Workt by Hand”: Hidden Labor and Historical Quilts is organized by Catherine Morris, Curator of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art, Brooklyn Museum.

This exhibition is made possible by the Elizabeth A. Sackler Foundation.