Artist Luke Haynes at Quilt Museum Sept. 5-6

Released on 08/26/2014, at 2:00 AM
Office of University Communications
University of Nebraska–Lincoln

WHEN: Friday, Sep. 5, 2014, through Sep. 6, 2014

WHERE: International Quilt Study Center and Museum, 1523 N. 33rd Street

Lincoln, Neb., August 26th, 2014 —
Luke Haynes (photo courtesy LukeHaynes.com)
Luke Haynes (photo courtesy LukeHaynes.com)

            Quilt artist Luke Haynes will present a unique view of quiltmaking with two appearances in September at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum, 1523 N. 33rd St. on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's East Campus.

            Haynes' work has developed a following during the past decade. His quilts incorporate familiar quilt patterns with unique portraits and images that are composed of used clothing.

            "The recycled items add an element of thoughtful dimension to his quilts," said Carolyn Ducey, curator of collections for the museum. "You can't help but wonder who wore that particular old shirt and what experiences they were going through, just as you wonder about the people actually featured in the portraits. His perspective of quilts is new and exciting and provokes great introspection."

            On Sept. 5, Haynes will present a lecture on "arc-quilt-tecture" in conjunction with the museum’s First Friday activities. In the lecture, Haynes will discuss how he has applied his experience and training as an architect to his artwork. The lecture begins at 5:30 p.m., and is free and open to the public.

            The following morning at the museum, Haynes will offer a workshop, "Log Condo: The Cabin Updated." Participants will use non-traditional methods and materials to create a new take on the traditional log cabin block. The day-long workshop begins at 9 a.m. and costs $60 per person. To register and view a list of required supplies visit http://www.quiltstudy.org.

            The lecture and workshop are held in conjunction with the exhibition "Design Dynamics of Log Cabin Quilts," which explores the various interpretations on the popular block. The exhibition is also available online at http://go.unl.edu/085s.

            "I hope people are inspired to take a chance and celebrate their own unique voice, as Haynes does," Ducey said. "There are no limits to what you can do with a quilt."

            Based in Los Angeles, Haynes studied architecture at Cooper Union in New York. His work belongs in impressive collections, including the Brooklyn Museum, the American Folk Art Museum, Newark Museum and the Headquarters of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

            "His take on classics -- whether the traditional log cabin quilt block or an Andrew Wyeth painting --opens our eyes to fresh ways of thinking about quilts," said Marin Hanson, curator of exhibitions. "I'm especially fond of his juxtaposition of formal quilt elements such as repeat patterning with fluid and representational applique depicting anything from the prosaic to the iconic."

            These programs are made possible through the support of the Robert S. and Mildred M. Baynard Charitable Trust, the Mary Ann Beavers Fund for Public Programming and Outreach and the Mark and Diann Sorenson Fund for Public Programming and Outreach. The exhibition and publications were made possible through funding from the Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment and Friends of the Center.

            The International Quilt Study Center and Museum at Quilt House is home of the world's largest publicly held quilt collection. Established in 1997, the center opened a new museum in 2008. The privately funded, environmentally sustainable museum houses more than 4,500 quilts and objects, state-of-the-art research and storage space and spacious galleries. The center's mission to collect, preserve, study, exhibit and promote discovery of quilts and quiltmaking traditions from many cultures, countries and times. For more information, go to http://www.quiltstudy.org.

            The International Quilt Study Center is an academic program of the Department of Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design in the UNL College of Education and Human Sciences.

Writer: Laura Chapman, International Quilt Study Center and Museum