Jean Mitchell Quilts Spencer Museum

Virginia Jean Cox Mitchell, 

Rode to Phila. detail,

1987-1988

Here are detail photos of a patchwork piece by Jean Mitchell, being shown this spring in Personal Geometry, a two-artist exhibit in Lawrence, Kansas.

Rode to Phila., 88" x 97-1/2"

Jean Mitchell was inspired by the bi-centennial anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution to stitch this quilt honoring Philadelphia. Below the vase is a parade float pulled by a tiger celebrating the signing at the time.

Independence Hall in Philadelphia

She also honors painters Edward Hicks, John James

Audubon, leader Daniel Shays...

...And calico printer John Hewson.

The Hewson Vase above is filled with

flowers representing the 13 colonies.

Yankee Doodle (John Hewson?) with a feather in his cap,

riding a tiger and pulling the float.

Native American and William Penn

on the float.

The quilt, like several of her other pieces, is pieced, appliqued

and embroidered. This one is unquilted and bound.

Jean's incredible quilts are on exhibit at the Helen F. Spencer

Museum at the University of Kansas until

May 18. 

Sunrise, Sunset 

is an accessory to the Rode to Phila. quilt,

a pillow cover?

"It commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution and a story of Benjamin Franklin weeping when he signed it. At the time he was looking at a painted design on the back of George Washington's chair that depicted the sun; he wondered whether the sun was rising or setting."

See more about the exhibit here:

http://www.spencerart.ku.edu/exhibitions/