Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Pilgrim/Roy Quilts at the MFA

"Quilts and Color: The Pilgrim/Roy Collection" is on display through July 27th at the MFA in Boston!  I have been up to see them two times already and will probably go again! I have never been disappointed in an exhibit of Pilgrim/Roy quilts, usually at quilt shows but this one is a real treat.  These quilts have strong color and are dynamic in design.  This first one is a child's comforter that is tied, from about 1910.  I love this quilt! I think it looks pretty modern, along with a lot of the other ones on display.
 This quilt is from 1880-1900 and if was hanging in a quilt show today I don't think anyone would think it wasn't recently made!  Even the colors, especially the use of the solid gray background fabric looks modern to me!


This hexagon beauty from about 1860 is a work of art! 

Here's a Wild Goose Chase, dated about 1880.  I like the "different" colors and color combinations that were used for a lot of the quilts in the display.  Kind of quirky!

Thousand Pyramids, just as popular today as it was in 1930!



This log cabin is so graphic is gets a big "WOW" from me!!  And look at the border color choices!  Absolutely fearless!!  I love looking at quilts and thinking about what the quilter was thinking when making some of the choices.  


This is a perfect example of what was going on with her choices.  Look at the use of dark and light fabrics in this Log Cabin!  Look at the change towards the center to make the dark plus.  What was that all about?  First I thought it was just darker one for effect in the center, but it is not in the center! Did she think it was the center and missed, or was there another reason for it?  It is from Rebexy Gray, Lincoln, Illinois, 1870's so maybe it is the error to make it not perfect, but who knows?


This was another intriguing quilt.  Yellow Baskets made in the 1920's - 1930's.  It is a little iridescent.  Depending on where you are standing, some of the background fabric changes color.  In this photo you can see some blocks looking like they are gray in color.  Standing straight in front of it in the Museum you don't notice the different color background fabrics.
When you stand to either side the light is different and you can see a lot more mixed up background colors.  There's no rhyme or reason to where the "gray" fabric is placed.  Random.  Did the quilter know or was it an accident?  Either way it's really cool.

There's a lot more quilts to see so make sure you get up to see them!  Especially in the Museum!  I don't think they have had a quilt display since Gee's Bend Quilts and it's nice to see.  I wish they had quilts on display more often!