Oxymorons: Absurdly Logical Quilts

While the words “art” and “quilt” were once considered oxymorons, they are now sewn together beautifully in the latest exhibit at the Reading Public Museum. Oxymorons: Absurdly Logical Quilts! features 40 quilts created by 40 contemporary fiber artists from across the country, who have the expertise of quilting and a passion for exhibiting the normal deviations in our everyday lives. Ron Roth, Director and CEO of the Museum comments, “This exhibition features some of the most innovative work in contemporary quilt making by many of the United States leading quilters. These artisans have extended this traditional craft form into the region of art, both in design, subject matter, and diversity of fabrics and unique materials normally associated with traditional quilt making. The quilt is a traditional folk art form with an important heritage in this region of Pennsylvania and this special exhibition for the Museum’s 100th Anniversary celebrates the world class collection of Pennsylvania German Folk art at the Reading Public Museum.”

Oxymorons: Absurdly Logical Quilts! will be on exhibit in the second floor Temporary Galleries from September 26 to November 14. It is supported in part by grants from the Friends of the Reading Museum, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Regular Museum admission is $7 adults (17-60) and $5 children/students/seniors. Museum hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11am to 5pm, Wednesday 11am to 8pm and Sunday Noon to 5pm.

On Saturday, October 2, 2004 the Museum will host an opening member reception with a talk and slide show at 5:30pm in the Auditorium about the exhibit by one of the exhibit curators and artists, Dianne S. Hire. Following the talk, there will be a reception from 6pm to 8pm in the Atrium. Members and children under 4 are free, and non-member cost is $7 adults and $5 children 4-17.

The idea for oxymoron quilts was fabricated by the Renegades – Judi H. Bastion, Sally K. Field, Dianne S. Hire, Ellie Pancoe, and Nancy F. Wheelwright – a band of five contemporary quilt artists from Maine. They invited 35 other artists to join them in their endeavor of bringing abstract ideas to fabric. The method was simple - each artist chose one oxymoron – a two-word phrase of contradictory words, which they interpreted through his or her personal lives. Their only restriction was to produce a quilt that was 30 inches wide and 48 inches high. The results are extraordinary, including such conflicted themes as Extinct Life, Almost Perfect, Constant Variable, Eternal Moment, Pretty Ugly, Linear Curves, and Silent Scream, which are sure to provoke the mind and senses of anyone who sees them. The materials are also intriguing ranging from fabrics, such as cotton, nylon, and silk, to photo-transfers and paint, to unique materials, such as newspaper, paper bags, office labels, sequins, and even duct tape.

Oxymorons is sponsored by the American Quilters Society and has been displayed at such venues as the Carnegie Hall Museum, the Museum of American Quilters Society, Rock County Historical Society at Janesville, Wisconsin, the Art Center Gallery at Missouri State University and numerous others. A catalog about the exhibit, which will be available in the MUSEUM SHOP, Oxymorons: Absurdly Logical Quilts has also been published featuring images of each quilt and artist, as well as sketches and explanations behind each theme.