QUILTS & FABRIC: PAST & PRESENT


Saturday, March 8, 2014

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/

3 comments:

  1. That is a beautiful quilt, love the appliqués. We have a small show next month, but I don't think there will be any antique quilts, just a local show.

    Debbie

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  2. Wow! Wish I could see this exhibit. Thanks for the photos.

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  3. Glorious quilts! Surely do wish we lived closer to Kansas. What a legacy.

    Thanks for sharing with us
    JulieinTN

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