Episode 6: How Quilts have been Viewed and Collected

Introduction

Quilts in Museum Collections: An Uphill Battle
Why Museums Collect What They Collect
If You Show Them They Will Come
From Maker to Museum: One Quilt’s Journey
The Passion of Private Collecting- Why Quilts?

It’s now been nearly a century since quilts were first collected and exhibited and they’ve come a long way, baby. In this episode of Why Quilts Matter: History, Art & Politics, we trace their slow incursion into museum collections, watching as they finally make the leap from tester bed to gallery wall. The episode charts institutional attitudes toward quilts as objects, rationales for their selection, and the public response to their exhibition (hint: it’s very good). To make it all clear, we trace the path of one exemplary quilt from maker to museum. Finally, we explore the lure of quilts for a private collector…who’s got to have them, and why.

Featuring appearances by Shelly Zegart, William R. Ferris, John Begley, Maxwell L. Anderson, Bernie Herman, Christa C. Mayer Thurman, Niloo Paydar, Gerald Roy, Kay Polson Grubola, John M. Walsh III, Matt Arnett, Pat Garthoeffner, Janine Janniere, Judy Marie Laval Morton, Marcie Cohen Ferris, Carolyn L. Mazloomi, James Grubola and Douglas Dawson.

Episode Resources:

Image Resource Guide | Image Gallery | Biographies

Watch Episode Introduction: