Modern Quilts Blog Tour Kickoff!
Posted by Deirdre Quirk on Dec 12th 2017
In conjunction with the Modern Quilt Guild, we're over the moon to announce the release of Modern Quilts: Designs of the New Century, a collectible, hardcover book that traces the history of modern quilts, explores the hallmarks of the genre, and honors the genre’s past, present, and future.
“From quilt empires like the Amish and the quilts of Gee’s Bend, to the emergence of the word ‘modern’ in quilting, [we] discuss influencers and milestones in the twentieth century and today that have paved the way for all of us,” say the compilers of Modern Quilts, Riane Menardi, Alissa Haight Carlton, and Heather Grant. Although the Modern Quilt Guild was not founded until 2009, their concise retrospective beginsby covering early influencers, the birth of modern quilting , the growth of the movement, the foundation of the MQG, and the movement of modern quilting into the mainstream—all accompanied by large, color photographs illustrating the visual development of modern quilting.
So what is a modern quilt? The compilers tackle this age-old, sometimes controversial question head on. "Modern quilts mean different things to different people. Modern quilts are utilitarian. They are art. They tell stories. They are graphic, improvisational, or minimalist. They make a statement." Modern Quilts identifies several hallmarks of modern quilting, including modern traditionalism, the use of solids, graphic color palettes, improvisation, minimalism, expansive negative space, alternate gridwork, and unusual scale. The quilts selected to illustrate each showcase the wide variety of artistic expression that is encompassed by modern quilting.
You can admire the best modern quilting has to offer in the gallery of more than 200 quilts curated by the Modern Quilt Guild. These large photographs (many of the quilts take up a full page) show every detail of the quilts, from the piecing to the quilting to the finishing touches.
You’ll also see quilts by an enormous range of artists; over 200 Modern Quilt Guild members, past and present, are featured, including such well-known names as Angela Walters, Weeks Ringle, Melissa Averinos, Leah Day, Latifah Saafir, and more. To celebrate the book's release, over 32 contributors have gathered together for an epic blog tour! You can see the full line-up below.
12/13/2017 Amber Corcoran
12/14/2017 Heidi Parkes
12/15/2017 Melissa Cory
12/16/2017 Penny Gold
12/18/2017 Shruti Dandekar
12/19/2017 Amy Friend
12/20/2017 Paige Alexander
12/21/2017 Angela Bowman
12/22/2017 Lysa Flower
12/27/2017 Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill
12/28/2017 Jacquie Gering
12/29/2017 Christa Watson
12/30/2017 Heather Black
1/2/2018 Kristin Shields
1/3/2018 Krista Hennebury
1/4/2018 Cinzia Allocca
1/5/2018 Suzanne Paquette
1/6/2018 Yvonne Fuchs
1/9/2018 Ben Darby
1/10/2018 Nicole Daksiewicz
1/11/2018 Kristi Schroeder
1/12/2018 Kathy York
1/13/2018 Marla Varner
1/15/2018 Brigette Heitland
1/16/2018 Stacey Sharman
1/17/2018 Stacey O'Malley
1/18/2018 Kim Soper
1/19/2018 Steph Skardal
1/20/2018 Cheryl Brickey
1/22/2018 Shea Henderson
1/23/2018 Katie Larson
1/24/2018 Katie Pedersen
These quilters have been deeply influenced by the rich tradition of quilts throughout history, as well as by the countless makers who set the stage for modern quilting. Today’s modern quilters are in turn influencing the next generation. Indeed, we are certain that anyone who picks up a copy of Modern Quilts: Designs of the New Century will be inspired in their own artistic pursuits, quilting or otherwise. As the compilers say, “we are all makers; we are all storytellers; and we are all part of a community making our mark at this moment in quilt history.”
Want to win your own copy of Modern Quilts? You can enter our ebook giveaway right here: a Rafflecopter giveaway.
