I am still walking in circles at the Park Avenue Armory. I am so certain that this experience will never leave my mind. From what I saw, heard and experienced first hand, those layers and layers of red and white quilts were breathtaking and mesmerizing for every single soul that walked in there....
I wish all of you could have seen this.
Imagine a three tiered round cake, hollow from inside and you could walk within the cake!
Now imagine the size of bed quilts that were formed into that cake like circle.. Quilts that looked like inlayed stone work on the white marble. Lighting was so perfect, it made each and every quilt a show stopper. Since they were all Red and White, none of them were competing against any other quilt. They hung in their own elegant and unique existence.The dark background of walls and ceiling were even more enhancing the beauty of each quilt.
I have hard time picking one out as my favorite. When I look at the pictures, I already know that I have missed seeing some of them from up close. I notice a new one every time I go through the pictures.
Layers.. that sprawled across the entire exhibition hall. No matter which side or angle I looked at, my views were of simple, bold and stunning beauty.
The center of the exhibition hall had quilts spiraling upwards into a tower.
Can you imagine the scale when you see the crowds?
There was a quiet and very respectful atmosphere throughout the hall. Quilters had brought their young grandchildren to experience the quilts. Young mothers were there with their babies in strollers. I have never seen so many men at any other quilt show.
The silence which only comes from disbelief was all around me. As I entered the exhibit, I could not believe what I was experiencing. In loss of words, I hurried to get my camera out of my bag..trying to hold back the emotions I was feeling. I am sure you have experienced beauty that moves you from within and heard music that brings tears to your eyes. In that moment I knew that this was my once in a life time experience.
It has been two days since I went to the exhibit.
I still close my eyes just to revisit this enchanting experience!
I wish you could have been there. If you were there, you know what I mean.
My sincere thanks to Mrs. Joanna S. Rose. Her passion and love for these quilts have allowed me the experience of a life time!
I wish all of you could have seen this.
Imagine a three tiered round cake, hollow from inside and you could walk within the cake!
Now imagine the size of bed quilts that were formed into that cake like circle.. Quilts that looked like inlayed stone work on the white marble. Lighting was so perfect, it made each and every quilt a show stopper. Since they were all Red and White, none of them were competing against any other quilt. They hung in their own elegant and unique existence.The dark background of walls and ceiling were even more enhancing the beauty of each quilt.
I have hard time picking one out as my favorite. When I look at the pictures, I already know that I have missed seeing some of them from up close. I notice a new one every time I go through the pictures.
Layers.. that sprawled across the entire exhibition hall. No matter which side or angle I looked at, my views were of simple, bold and stunning beauty.
The center of the exhibition hall had quilts spiraling upwards into a tower.
Can you imagine the scale when you see the crowds?
There was a quiet and very respectful atmosphere throughout the hall. Quilters had brought their young grandchildren to experience the quilts. Young mothers were there with their babies in strollers. I have never seen so many men at any other quilt show.
The silence which only comes from disbelief was all around me. As I entered the exhibit, I could not believe what I was experiencing. In loss of words, I hurried to get my camera out of my bag..trying to hold back the emotions I was feeling. I am sure you have experienced beauty that moves you from within and heard music that brings tears to your eyes. In that moment I knew that this was my once in a life time experience.
It has been two days since I went to the exhibit.
I still close my eyes just to revisit this enchanting experience!
I wish you could have been there. If you were there, you know what I mean.
My sincere thanks to Mrs. Joanna S. Rose. Her passion and love for these quilts have allowed me the experience of a life time!
I have read a few blog posts about this exhibition now but yours has really made me feel sad that I cannot attend this one.
ReplyDeleteWho do we contact to see if they can put this on in the U.K.?
Truly awesome! How lucky you were to be able to experience this display of red and white quilts (I do so love the red and white).
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for loading so many beautiful photos for us.
Jacky xox
You came to NYC.... !!
ReplyDeleteIt was a truly great show... glad you got to experience it! Did you pick a favorite?
I have seen some of the quilts on other blogs, but I have yet to read words that created the depth of the emotions you felt as you experienced them as I just did with this post. Thank you, I felt them now..through you...and I am amazed! Oh, if the 'collector' and I know she hated that word, could only know he reverent joy she passed on to others with her archival of these beautiful treasures! And kudos to the artists who created the display...wow!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for giving us another window into the show! Great photos and report.
ReplyDeleteWow.... that is amzing.... wish I could have been there. Thanks for the opportunity to see it here!
ReplyDeleteIt truly is a stunning display. I wish I could go see it. I'll have to download the ipad app so I can see each quilt. I wondered though about the height of the display keeping one from seeing enough detail.
ReplyDeleteHow eloquent you are!
ReplyDeleteWow! Your post gives me chills. I so wish I could've gone. I think this would be a great travelling exhibit. If it ever makes it to the east coast, I'm there!
ReplyDeleteI can't stop thinking about it either! Very much a once in a lifetime thing!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, I was so moved when I walked in. It made me feel so small and so blessed to be in the presence of all the hands that passed over these quilts. I believe this was a once in a lifetime experience and that we have witnessed the most amazing exhibit in the world of quilters.
ReplyDeleteSujata, you have a beautiful gift that you share with us all when you write about your feelings...the pictures of this show are amazing, like nothing I've ever seen! But your words brought me into the room, even though I wasn't there. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds and looks amazing. At first I only focused on the up close quilts and then realised there were layers and layers behind.
ReplyDeleteI got goose bumps reading this post. You are truly lucky to have been able to experience such an amazing show. Mrs Rose says she hope the show can travel, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will come to Australia.
ReplyDeleteSigh, I really love your photos. Some of the quilts have an amazing postive, negative effect being in two colours. It depends if you look at the red or look at the white, they're the ones I love. I really hope the quilts will travel around the globe.
ReplyDeleteI feel so fortunate to be one that was able to see it in person. It truly was a lifetime experience.
ReplyDeleteWhat a show. Thanks for sharing it with those of us who could not be there!
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing quilts...I love the first one you showed..
ReplyDeleteIf only they would come down to Australia..
Julia ♥
I can't stop thinking about it either. I KNOW exactly what you mean...it was an experience of a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been able to sew all week, I keep looking at pictures from the show! Love yours, you captured quilts I did not , yeah! it was just hard to look at the quilts and take pictures...
just did a binding that I had to do ...my mind just keeps thinking about the quilts ...this week will be different I will work on my first red and white quilt!
you know there will be many in my future!
Kathie
It was the most powerful and lovely quilt show I've ever seen! I feel so fortunate to have been there. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
ReplyDeleteTruly a once in a lifetime experience! Your pics are amazing.
ReplyDeletegreat photos! I can not believe how many different angles and combinations of quilts there was. It was a once in a lifetime for sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experience with those of us who couldn't go. Wonderful photos and a great post!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing you pictures and your words in describing this fabulous event. It must have been incredible.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful photos. I admire quilters. For women, the art of needlecraft is one that women’s desires for beauty can be poured during stitching one by one, into the needle, thread, and cloth.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your follower.
I look forward your next post.
Green Tomato, Redrose.
Your photos really make me upset that I missed this exhibit! It looks like it was awesome! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletewow. so wish I could have been there too. so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteYour descriptive words about the quilt exhibtion really give us an understanding of the experience one had when viewing this exhibition.
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriends & I, here in Australia, are very disappointed that the show was not scheduled for a later time, as we are travelling to the US in 2 weeks and we would have made every effort to attend if the show had been on.
Sujata, thanks a bunch for these beautiful pictures and for sharing your experience. Reading your post, it felt as though I was there with you taking it all in. I'm so happy that you got to see these in person.
ReplyDeleteI felt like I was walking through the show with you while I read your post. It was something that I will never forget. One of the most impactful moments for me, truly amazing and magical. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and photos.
ReplyDeleteIt was unbelievable and I am enjoying what others have to say and how they felt in the environment of the quilts.......I felt like I was floating in red and white quilts!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are terrific.
Happy sewing
Wow. What a wonderful post about a wonderful show. I have never been to New York and when I saw the ad in Selvedge magazine, I thought that maybe we might get there. I really wanted to. I must say, that your post makes me feel as if I did. Wonderful photos and words about how you felt. Thank you very much for putting this post together. It helps. I hope that there will be a catalogue of the exhibit so that I can go over it slowly at home.
ReplyDelete