Following right on the heels of a successful Iowa Quilt Festival, the Iowa Quilt Museum in Winterset brings you another great collection of outstanding fiber artistry. The Threads of Life: Portraits and Pets Woven in Fabric exhibit opened Tuesday, June 18, and runs through September 15. Thirty-six fiber artists from across the US and India—including internationally known, award-winning artists as well as local creatives—have united to bring you 48 fiber art pieces.
Artists create images of things they love and see in everyday life. There is nothing more endearing than capturing the look of a child fascinated by something, the quirky antics of our pets, a tender touch of love, or a somber, sincere look of determination. The artists in this exhibit have woven threads of life into phenomenal pieces that are sure to astound you. And the artists’ stories are just as captivating and entertaining as the quilts themselves.
The exhibit includes fiber art, embroidery work, and wearable art, as well as two unique pieces created specifically for this exhibit. There are pieces that will touch your soul, and others that will make you giggle. Some will inspire you to take your own art to a new level, and others will encourage beginners to take the first step. Truly, this exhibit has something for everyone in the family.
The list of talented artists participating reads like a who’s who of the quilting world. A few (in alphabetic order) are:
(You may even recognize some of these names from Quiltfolk! See below for Threads of Life participants who have previously been featured in our pages.)
As the exhibit curator, I was thrilled, not only to see the collection, but to be a part of the behind-the-museum-scenes process to arrange and hang the pieces. A whole team of volunteers, accustomed to the deliberate process of carefully handling the quilts, worked like a well-oiled machine. It was a joy to see the exhibit come together.
You simply do not want to miss this stunning collection! And while you are there, enjoy the other things that Winterset has to offer. My favorite stops include the covered Bridges of Madison County, the quilt shop (of course) and other cute stores and eateries around the town square, the John Wayne birthplace and museum, and the nearby winery.
For more details on the exhibit, visit the Museum website: https://www.iowaquiltmuseum.org/
Diane L. Murtha is an award-winning quilter, fiber artist, author, and international lecturer and instructor. Quilting for over 30 years, she gravitated to art quilts and discovered she loves challenges. Her quilts and articles are included in books, 30 + magazines, and multiple juried exhibits and international shows. Diane published her first book, Artful Insights in Fiber: Quilted Bits of Wit & Wisdom in March 2023. She currently resides in Iowa. Learn more at www.dianeLmurtha.com, or follow her on Instagram @dianelmurtha.
