\nIn 2011, thirty years since its founding, The Kentucky Quilt Project, Inc.<\/a>, has created another “first” – a nine-part documentary series titled Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics<\/em>. The series takes a fresh look at quilts and spreads the word about their unique position at the center of a startlingly broad grid of topics, ranging from women’s studies to the contemporary art market.<\/p>\n
![\"YouTube\"](\"https:\/\/www.whyquiltsmatter.org\/staging20231003\/wp-content\/themes\/superflex\/lib\/img\/icons\/youtube.jpg\")
\u00a0Visit Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics<\/em> on our YouTube channel<\/a><\/div>\nExecutive Producer and Host for the series, Shelly Zegart<\/a><\/strong>, a co-founder of The Kentucky Quilt Project, Inc., The Alliance for American Quilts, and an expert at the forefront of quilt study for over three decades, has created the first series for television to show the world that quilts are bigger than people think. Using hundreds of examples from quilt makers past and present, Zegart introduces viewers to a group of enlightened academics, savvy dealers, and passionate quilt makers who share their personal stories, experiences and opinions.<\/p>\n
Written by Ann E. Berman<\/strong>, author and former art world journalist, and produced by Doug Jefferson<\/strong>, founder of Focal Point Productions<\/a>, Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics<\/em> was independently produced and funded.<\/p>\n
Shelly Zegart<\/h3>\nShelly Zegart, executive producer and host,<\/strong> was a founding director of The Kentucky Quilt Project, Inc. (1981), the first state documentation project \u2014 a model used around the world, and The Alliance for American Quilts (1993). She curates exhibitions, lectures and writes on all aspects of quilt history and aesthetics. Exhibition projects include Mosaic Textiles: In Search of the Hexagon<\/em>, Rouen, France (2003) and antique quilt exhibitions curated for the Great International Quilt Festival in Tokyo (2005, 2007, 2008). Her book, American Quilt Collections: Antique Quilt Masterpieces <\/em>was published by Nihon Vogue in Tokyo (1998). Her article “Myth and Methodology: Shelly Zegart Unpicks African American Quilt Scholarship” was published in Selvedge Magazine<\/em>, London, England, (2008). She bought and sold fine quilts for more than 30 years, building many significant public and private collections. A member of Appraisers Association of America, Zegart appraises public and private quilt collections. Her personal collection was acquired and exhibited by The Art Institute of Chicago (2002). For the past two and a half years Zegart has been working on producing the documentary series, Why Quilts Matter: History, Art and Politics.<\/em> Zegart holds a B.A. in education from the University of Michigan.<\/p>\n
Ann E. Berman<\/h3>\nAnn E. Berman<\/strong> is an author and retired art world journalist. After earning an M.A. in American material culture and museum curatorship from the University of Pennsylvania, she became a paintings specialist at Christie\u2019s in New York, and a member of the American Society of Appraisers. Since then, she has written for many periodicals including Architectural Digest, Forbes, Martha Stewart Living, Town & Country,<\/em> and the Leisure and Arts page of the Wall Street Journal<\/em>. She was also a longtime contributing editor at Art & Auction<\/em> and a contributing writer at Traditional Home<\/em>. Her book credits include the catalogue raisonnee for the artist Reynolds Beal (1989), Living with Quilts<\/em> for Phyllis George (1998), Buying and Wearing Classic Vintage Clothes<\/em> with Tiffany Dubin (2000) and Good Things from Tag Sales and Flea Markets<\/em> for Martha Stewart (2002). Berman has appeared on Conseulo Mack Wealth Track on PBS and contributed numerous interviews to HGTV On the Radio. She is currently president of the Mandell and Madeleine Berman Foundation and a board member of the Jewish Home Lifecare System and the Smithsonian Archives of American Art.<\/p>\n
Doug Jefferson<\/h3>\nDoug Jefferson<\/strong> is the founder of Focal Point Productions<\/a>.\u00a0 For more than 20 years, Focal Point has been a full service film, video and multimedia company striving to make their clients\/partners successful through outstanding and innovative communication in all audio and video media.\u00a0 Besides being an owner and overseeing all the creative material that his company produces, Doug is also a director and editor.\u00a0 He has produced videos for Grammy-winning artists as well as TV programming for MTV Networks and CMT (Country Music Television).\u00a0 His company also specializes in healthcare, producing marketing, training and awareness pieces for hospitals and healthcare networks all over the country.<\/p>\n
\nSeries Team<\/h3>\nExecutive Producer<\/strong>
\nThe Kentucky Quilt Project, Inc.
\nShelly Zegart<\/p>\n
Producer<\/strong>
\nDoug Jefferson<\/p>\n
Contributing Producer<\/strong>
\nStephen Kertis<\/p>\n
Host<\/strong>
\nShelly Zegart<\/p>\n
Editor<\/strong>
\nDoug Jefferson<\/p>\n
Contributing Editor<\/strong>
\nStephen Kertis<\/p>\n
Writer<\/strong>
\nAnn E.Berman<\/p>\n
Camera<\/strong>
\nAlan Miller<\/p>\n
Additional Camera<\/strong>
\nDrew Osborn
\nShawn Jenkins<\/p>\n
Production Coordinator<\/strong>
\nTori Thompson<\/p>\n
Production Assistant<\/strong>
\nEric Stemen<\/p>\n
Makeup Artists<\/strong>
\nJoanne Wolf
\nKim McDonough<\/p>\n
Legal Advisor<\/strong>
\nKyle Citrynell<\/p>\n
Logo Design<\/strong>
\nEmily Ahlvin
\nEmilyadesigns<\/p>\n
DVD Package Design<\/strong>
\nKathleen Lang Design<\/p>\n
Post Production Facility<\/strong>
\nFocal Point Productions<\/p>\n
Image Management<\/strong>
\nLisa Veigl Swikert<\/p>\n
Image Research Assistant<\/strong>
\nHeather Fox<\/p>\n
Website and Technical Assistance<\/strong>
\nEkaterina Balaban
\nWeb Design Labs, LLC<\/p>\n
Consultant<\/strong>
\nKaren S. Musgrave<\/p>\n
Administrative Support<\/strong>
\nKathleen M. Lang
\nMary Ellen Furlong<\/p>\n
Presenting Station<\/strong>
\nKentucky Educational Television<\/p>\n
Advisors<\/strong>
\nDr. Linda Elisabeth La Pinta
\nDr. Carol Ely
\nDr. Marcie Cohen Ferris
\nCraig Cornwell
\nDr. William Ferris
\nDr. James Grubola
\nKay Grubola
\nDr. Bernard Herman
\nGill Holland
\nMichelle Jones
\nRod Lich
\nSusan Parrett
\nKenny Zegart<\/p>\n
Music Licensing<\/strong>
\nFirstCom Music<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n\n
\n“The time for this series is now. For too long Grandma’s hope chest and Sunbonnet Sue have dominated quilt discussions. In ‘Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics’<\/em> history and heritage count, but so does cutting-edge art.”
\n– Linda Elisabeth La Pinta,
\n<\/span>Kentucky Author & Quilt Historian<\/span>
\n<\/p><\/blockquote><\/p>\n
\u2192\u00a0Read more of what people are saying about the Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics<\/em> documentary series<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhy Quilts Matter:
\nHistory, Art & Politics<\/em>
\nA Series of Firsts<\/p>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to air on PBS TV stations that reveals the centrality of quilts to American culture by taking the viewer on a journey with a host of collectors, artists, quilt makers, scholars, and dealers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series that goes beyond the “how to” and the history of quilts to capture the interest of a broad audience, and change preconceived notions about quilts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to delve into quilts from an array of fresh perspectives including history, art, politics, women\u2019s empowerment, and their surprising links to corporate America<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to take the viewer behind the scenes for an insider\u2019s look at quilts in the museum world as well as in the marketplace<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to analyze the size, breadth, and meaning of the hidden ‘quilt culture’ in America and why it is often called the largest mass movement most people don\u2019t know about<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to present a vast number of arresting and memorable images of quilts from such an expansive range of time periods and traditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series that provides the viewer with an exclusive set of Image Resource Guides, an encyclopedic online downloadable reference repository housing information about each and every image seen in all the episodes. The Image Resource Guides are available for download at no cost from the Resources<\/a> section of this website<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Ann E. Berman<\/strong> is an author and retired art world journalist. After earning an M.A. in American material culture and museum curatorship from the University of Pennsylvania, she became a paintings specialist at Christie\u2019s in New York, and a member of the American Society of Appraisers. Since then, she has written for many periodicals including Architectural Digest, Forbes, Martha Stewart Living, Town & Country,<\/em> and the Leisure and Arts page of the Wall Street Journal<\/em>. She was also a longtime contributing editor at Art & Auction<\/em> and a contributing writer at Traditional Home<\/em>. Her book credits include the catalogue raisonnee for the artist Reynolds Beal (1989), Living with Quilts<\/em> for Phyllis George (1998), Buying and Wearing Classic Vintage Clothes<\/em> with Tiffany Dubin (2000) and Good Things from Tag Sales and Flea Markets<\/em> for Martha Stewart (2002). Berman has appeared on Conseulo Mack Wealth Track on PBS and contributed numerous interviews to HGTV On the Radio. She is currently president of the Mandell and Madeleine Berman Foundation and a board member of the Jewish Home Lifecare System and the Smithsonian Archives of American Art.<\/p>\n
Doug Jefferson<\/h3>\nDoug Jefferson<\/strong> is the founder of Focal Point Productions<\/a>.\u00a0 For more than 20 years, Focal Point has been a full service film, video and multimedia company striving to make their clients\/partners successful through outstanding and innovative communication in all audio and video media.\u00a0 Besides being an owner and overseeing all the creative material that his company produces, Doug is also a director and editor.\u00a0 He has produced videos for Grammy-winning artists as well as TV programming for MTV Networks and CMT (Country Music Television).\u00a0 His company also specializes in healthcare, producing marketing, training and awareness pieces for hospitals and healthcare networks all over the country.<\/p>\n
\nSeries Team<\/h3>\nExecutive Producer<\/strong>
\nThe Kentucky Quilt Project, Inc.
\nShelly Zegart<\/p>\n
Producer<\/strong>
\nDoug Jefferson<\/p>\n
Contributing Producer<\/strong>
\nStephen Kertis<\/p>\n
Host<\/strong>
\nShelly Zegart<\/p>\n
Editor<\/strong>
\nDoug Jefferson<\/p>\n
Contributing Editor<\/strong>
\nStephen Kertis<\/p>\n
Writer<\/strong>
\nAnn E.Berman<\/p>\n
Camera<\/strong>
\nAlan Miller<\/p>\n
Additional Camera<\/strong>
\nDrew Osborn
\nShawn Jenkins<\/p>\n
Production Coordinator<\/strong>
\nTori Thompson<\/p>\n
Production Assistant<\/strong>
\nEric Stemen<\/p>\n
Makeup Artists<\/strong>
\nJoanne Wolf
\nKim McDonough<\/p>\n
Legal Advisor<\/strong>
\nKyle Citrynell<\/p>\n
Logo Design<\/strong>
\nEmily Ahlvin
\nEmilyadesigns<\/p>\n
DVD Package Design<\/strong>
\nKathleen Lang Design<\/p>\n
Post Production Facility<\/strong>
\nFocal Point Productions<\/p>\n
Image Management<\/strong>
\nLisa Veigl Swikert<\/p>\n
Image Research Assistant<\/strong>
\nHeather Fox<\/p>\n
Website and Technical Assistance<\/strong>
\nEkaterina Balaban
\nWeb Design Labs, LLC<\/p>\n
Consultant<\/strong>
\nKaren S. Musgrave<\/p>\n
Administrative Support<\/strong>
\nKathleen M. Lang
\nMary Ellen Furlong<\/p>\n
Presenting Station<\/strong>
\nKentucky Educational Television<\/p>\n
Advisors<\/strong>
\nDr. Linda Elisabeth La Pinta
\nDr. Carol Ely
\nDr. Marcie Cohen Ferris
\nCraig Cornwell
\nDr. William Ferris
\nDr. James Grubola
\nKay Grubola
\nDr. Bernard Herman
\nGill Holland
\nMichelle Jones
\nRod Lich
\nSusan Parrett
\nKenny Zegart<\/p>\n
Music Licensing<\/strong>
\nFirstCom Music<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n\n
\n“The time for this series is now. For too long Grandma’s hope chest and Sunbonnet Sue have dominated quilt discussions. In ‘Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics’<\/em> history and heritage count, but so does cutting-edge art.”
\n– Linda Elisabeth La Pinta,
\n<\/span>Kentucky Author & Quilt Historian<\/span>
\n<\/p><\/blockquote><\/p>\n
\u2192\u00a0Read more of what people are saying about the Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics<\/em> documentary series<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhy Quilts Matter:
\nHistory, Art & Politics<\/em>
\nA Series of Firsts<\/p>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to air on PBS TV stations that reveals the centrality of quilts to American culture by taking the viewer on a journey with a host of collectors, artists, quilt makers, scholars, and dealers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series that goes beyond the “how to” and the history of quilts to capture the interest of a broad audience, and change preconceived notions about quilts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to delve into quilts from an array of fresh perspectives including history, art, politics, women\u2019s empowerment, and their surprising links to corporate America<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to take the viewer behind the scenes for an insider\u2019s look at quilts in the museum world as well as in the marketplace<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to analyze the size, breadth, and meaning of the hidden ‘quilt culture’ in America and why it is often called the largest mass movement most people don\u2019t know about<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to present a vast number of arresting and memorable images of quilts from such an expansive range of time periods and traditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series that provides the viewer with an exclusive set of Image Resource Guides, an encyclopedic online downloadable reference repository housing information about each and every image seen in all the episodes. The Image Resource Guides are available for download at no cost from the Resources<\/a> section of this website<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Series Team<\/h3>\nExecutive Producer<\/strong>
\nThe Kentucky Quilt Project, Inc.
\nShelly Zegart<\/p>\n
Producer<\/strong>
\nDoug Jefferson<\/p>\n
Contributing Producer<\/strong>
\nStephen Kertis<\/p>\n
Host<\/strong>
\nShelly Zegart<\/p>\n
Editor<\/strong>
\nDoug Jefferson<\/p>\n
Contributing Editor<\/strong>
\nStephen Kertis<\/p>\n
Writer<\/strong>
\nAnn E.Berman<\/p>\n
Camera<\/strong>
\nAlan Miller<\/p>\n
Additional Camera<\/strong>
\nDrew Osborn
\nShawn Jenkins<\/p>\n
Production Coordinator<\/strong>
\nTori Thompson<\/p>\n
Production Assistant<\/strong>
\nEric Stemen<\/p>\n
Makeup Artists<\/strong>
\nJoanne Wolf
\nKim McDonough<\/p>\n
Legal Advisor<\/strong>
\nKyle Citrynell<\/p>\n
Logo Design<\/strong>
\nEmily Ahlvin
\nEmilyadesigns<\/p>\n
DVD Package Design<\/strong>
\nKathleen Lang Design<\/p>\n
Post Production Facility<\/strong>
\nFocal Point Productions<\/p>\n
Image Management<\/strong>
\nLisa Veigl Swikert<\/p>\n
Image Research Assistant<\/strong>
\nHeather Fox<\/p>\n
Website and Technical Assistance<\/strong>
\nEkaterina Balaban
\nWeb Design Labs, LLC<\/p>\n
Consultant<\/strong>
\nKaren S. Musgrave<\/p>\n
Administrative Support<\/strong>
\nKathleen M. Lang
\nMary Ellen Furlong<\/p>\n
Presenting Station<\/strong>
\nKentucky Educational Television<\/p>\n
Advisors<\/strong>
\nDr. Linda Elisabeth La Pinta
\nDr. Carol Ely
\nDr. Marcie Cohen Ferris
\nCraig Cornwell
\nDr. William Ferris
\nDr. James Grubola
\nKay Grubola
\nDr. Bernard Herman
\nGill Holland
\nMichelle Jones
\nRod Lich
\nSusan Parrett
\nKenny Zegart<\/p>\n
Music Licensing<\/strong>
\nFirstCom Music<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n\n
\n“The time for this series is now. For too long Grandma’s hope chest and Sunbonnet Sue have dominated quilt discussions. In ‘Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics’<\/em> history and heritage count, but so does cutting-edge art.”
\n– Linda Elisabeth La Pinta,
\n<\/span>Kentucky Author & Quilt Historian<\/span>
\n<\/p><\/blockquote><\/p>\n
\u2192\u00a0Read more of what people are saying about the Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics<\/em> documentary series<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhy Quilts Matter:
\nHistory, Art & Politics<\/em>
\nA Series of Firsts<\/p>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to air on PBS TV stations that reveals the centrality of quilts to American culture by taking the viewer on a journey with a host of collectors, artists, quilt makers, scholars, and dealers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series that goes beyond the “how to” and the history of quilts to capture the interest of a broad audience, and change preconceived notions about quilts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to delve into quilts from an array of fresh perspectives including history, art, politics, women\u2019s empowerment, and their surprising links to corporate America<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to take the viewer behind the scenes for an insider\u2019s look at quilts in the museum world as well as in the marketplace<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to analyze the size, breadth, and meaning of the hidden ‘quilt culture’ in America and why it is often called the largest mass movement most people don\u2019t know about<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series to present a vast number of arresting and memorable images of quilts from such an expansive range of time periods and traditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- The First<\/strong> documentary series that provides the viewer with an exclusive set of Image Resource Guides, an encyclopedic online downloadable reference repository housing information about each and every image seen in all the episodes. The Image Resource Guides are available for download at no cost from the Resources<\/a> section of this website<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nThe Kentucky Quilt Project, Inc.
\nShelly Zegart<\/p>\n
\nDoug Jefferson<\/p>\n
\nStephen Kertis<\/p>\n
\nShelly Zegart<\/p>\n
\nDoug Jefferson<\/p>\n
\nStephen Kertis<\/p>\n
\nAnn E.Berman<\/p>\n
\nAlan Miller<\/p>\n
\nDrew Osborn
\nShawn Jenkins<\/p>\n
\nTori Thompson<\/p>\n
\nEric Stemen<\/p>\n
\nJoanne Wolf
\nKim McDonough<\/p>\n
\nKyle Citrynell<\/p>\n
\nEmily Ahlvin
\nEmilyadesigns<\/p>\n
\nKathleen Lang Design<\/p>\n
\nFocal Point Productions<\/p>\n
\nLisa Veigl Swikert<\/p>\n
\nHeather Fox<\/p>\n
\nEkaterina Balaban
\nWeb Design Labs, LLC<\/p>\n
\nKaren S. Musgrave<\/p>\n
\nKathleen M. Lang
\nMary Ellen Furlong<\/p>\n
\nKentucky Educational Television<\/p>\n
\nDr. Linda Elisabeth La Pinta
\nDr. Carol Ely
\nDr. Marcie Cohen Ferris
\nCraig Cornwell
\nDr. William Ferris
\nDr. James Grubola
\nKay Grubola
\nDr. Bernard Herman
\nGill Holland
\nMichelle Jones
\nRod Lich
\nSusan Parrett
\nKenny Zegart<\/p>\n
\nFirstCom Music<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n“The time for this series is now. For too long Grandma’s hope chest and Sunbonnet Sue have dominated quilt discussions. In ‘Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics’<\/em> history and heritage count, but so does cutting-edge art.”
\n– Linda Elisabeth La Pinta,
\n<\/span>Kentucky Author & Quilt Historian<\/span>
\n<\/p><\/blockquote><\/p>\n\u2192\u00a0Read more of what people are saying about the Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics<\/em> documentary series<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhy Quilts Matter:
\nHistory, Art & Politics<\/em>
\nA Series of Firsts<\/p>\n\n
- The First<\/strong> documentary series to air on PBS TV stations that reveals the centrality of quilts to American culture by taking the viewer on a journey with a host of collectors, artists, quilt makers, scholars, and dealers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n
- The First<\/strong> documentary series that goes beyond the “how to” and the history of quilts to capture the interest of a broad audience, and change preconceived notions about quilts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n
- The First<\/strong> documentary series to delve into quilts from an array of fresh perspectives including history, art, politics, women\u2019s empowerment, and their surprising links to corporate America<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n
- The First<\/strong> documentary series to take the viewer behind the scenes for an insider\u2019s look at quilts in the museum world as well as in the marketplace<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n
- The First<\/strong> documentary series to analyze the size, breadth, and meaning of the hidden ‘quilt culture’ in America and why it is often called the largest mass movement most people don\u2019t know about<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n
- The First<\/strong> documentary series to present a vast number of arresting and memorable images of quilts from such an expansive range of time periods and traditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n
- The First<\/strong> documentary series that provides the viewer with an exclusive set of Image Resource Guides, an encyclopedic online downloadable reference repository housing information about each and every image seen in all the episodes. The Image Resource Guides are available for download at no cost from the Resources<\/a> section of this website<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.whyquiltsmatter.org\/img\/WQM_DVD_100x125.jpg\")
<\/a>About Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics<\/em>