New quilt exhibition showcasing contemporary artists opens Nov. 21

Quilts of 21 contemporary artists will be on display at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's International Quilt Study Center and Museum in the new exhibition "Perspectives: Art, Craft, Design and the Studio Quilt," showing Nov. 21 through May 9 at the museum, 1523 N. 33rd St. The exhibition assembles quilts from the permanent collection of the IQSC complemented by several related works in various media owned by local collectors.

UNL scholar Michael James, internationally recognized studio quilter and chair of UNL's Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design, and fellow fiber artist and New York City-based art critic Sandra Sider curated the exhibition and wrote the accompanying catalog. Works in the exhibition are from five countries and range from abstract ("Oil Rig" by Jo Budd) to whimsically concrete ("Lake Superior Stick Bed" by Theresa Hancock Mangat).

One aspect of the exhibition focuses on the relation of today's art to the long history and nature of the quilting tradition. The exhibition challenges visitors to form their own perspectives on art, craft and design.

Programming during the exhibition includes:

* Sunday, Nov. 22, 2 p.m., gallery talk with James and Sider.
* Tuesday, Feb. 16, noon, Tuesday Talk, "Acquiring Studio Quilts for the IQSC," curator of collections Carolyn Ducey.
* Sunday, March 28, 2 p.m., public lecture, Lynn Setterington (United Kingdom studio quilter whose work is included in the exhibition), "Reflections on My Practice-Led Research in Quiltmaking."
* Tuesday, April 13, noon, Tuesday Talk "Analyze This: Design Principles and Studio Quilts" IQSC assistant director Barbara Caron.

Public guided tours are available on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. These tours are free with admission. Reserved guided tours for groups of 10 or more are available during public hours. Please schedule at least four weeks in advance by calling (402) 472-6549. A free audio guide tour is also available for this exhibition. Visit www.quiltstudy.org to enjoy podcasts and other online resources related to this exhibition.

Partial funding for this exhibition is provided by the James Foundation, Friends of Fiber Art International, and the UNL Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design.

The International Quilt Study Center and Museum was founded in 1997 and is the home of the largest publicly held quilt collection in the world. The museum opened in its new location in 2008. The privately funded, glass and brick "green" building houses more than 3,000 quilts, as well as state-of-the-art research and storage space, and custom-crafted galleries. The facility enhances the center's ability to pursue its mission to collect, preserve, study, exhibit and promote discovery of quilts and quilt making traditions from many cultures, countries and times.

The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sundays; closed Mondays and major holidays. Admission is $5 for adults (over 18); $3 for non-UNL students with ID and children; $10 for families; free for children under 5, museum members, and UNL faculty, staff and students with ID. For more information, call 472-6459 or visit www.quiltstudy.org. The International Quilt Study Center is an academic program of the Department of Textiles, Clothing and Design in the UNL College of Education and Human Sciences.