Bellevue Arts Museum: Bold Expressions

Bold Expressions: African American Quilts from the Collection of Corrine Riley

June 14 - October 7, 2012

"… it's this free-feeling aesthetic that makes the show so exciting and relevant to those practicing or appreciating any and all avenues of traditional craft, re- or up-cycling, art history, and industrial or garment design." -- Laura Cassidy, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

"Be amazed at the levels of artistry…" -- Nancy Worssam, The Seattle Times

This exhibition showcases more than fifty quilts made throughout the American South between 1910 and the 1970s. Stunning color combinations and distinctively free patterns epitomize an artistic vision that is unique to the American folk art tradition. African American quilts, made entirely by women, are celebrated for their bold improvisation and modern take on traditional quilting patterns. Many of the quilts are made from materials that were readily available to the makers, including flour sacks, old blue jeans and work clothes. This early form of recycling and reuse was a necessity that became the foundation for unique expression. The exhibition also explores a variety of construction techniques and quilting.

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Controlled Crazy Quilt
Indiana, 1970s
Polyster
100 x 78 in.
Collection of Corrine Riley

Photo: Anthony Scoggins

Bold Expressions exhibition at Bellevue Arts Museum

Organized by Mingei International Museum, San Diego, California and curated by Christine Knoke. Made possible in part by the City of Bellevue Arts Program.