FabricOfANation_FAM_Photo.John-Schweikert.jpg
Photo: John Schweikert

To paraphrase writer Janet Malcolm, a quilt becomes something else entirely when it’s removed from its cozy setting and hung on a big white gallery wall. Organized by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and displayed at the Frist through Oct. 12, Fabric of a Nation points to the fact that the art form of quilts and coverlets has always exceeded expectations, from precious 17th- and 18th-century pieces of unknown provenance to abstract and political contemporary creations. The Bisa Butler quilt alone is worth all this attention. It’s such a show of originality and courage, featuring pieces that were prized back then and prized even more now.

Like what you read?


Click here to become a member of the Scene !