With the cold of winter already upon us, the Rahr-West Art Museum has returned to the warmth and comfort of a decades-long partnership: The Ladies of the Lake Quilts exhibit. Quilts are among the most popular fiber arts and are exhibited in museums nationwide. The Rahr-West Art Museum is showcasing an array of objects from this local quilter group.
Quilting is among many traditional hobbies that enjoyed rebirth during the pandemic. Quilters both experienced and novice explored how stories can be told through these fiber creations. Quilts can be objects of affection, created to preserve personal and meaningful memories. They can also function as a homemade gift associated with warmth, comfort and safety. The latter is often the case with quilts passed along to younger generations, especially newborns. Many families retain a beloved generational quilt, which ties children to parents and grandparents and beyond through the years.
Throughout history, quilt-making functioned as a unifying act. The quilting circle was once a popular American activity, having a local and neighborhood basis. In the 21st century, the “circle” has expanded to national and even international levels with fabric exchanges and trades across the country, as some of these quilts embody. In the Ladies of the Lake exhibit, one may find traditional quilt designs, as well as contemporary shared designs from throughout the country. In fact, the exhibited quilting group gets its name from a famous design, “Lady of the Lake,” which dates to the 1820s. This design, composed from triangular patchwork block, is said to have been named after a poem by Scotsman Sir Walter Scott, published in 1810.
The Ladies of the Lake Quilters and the Rahr-West Art Museum have enjoyed a partnership that dates to 1989, the first year the quilter group exhibited at the museum. Their periodic exhibits have been enjoyed by the Manitowoc community. This year’s selection of quilted objects, numbering over fifty, includes many that were completed during the pandemic, reinforcing the idea that in our present circumstances traditional artisanship has been rejuvenated. The Ladies of the Lake Quilts exhibit is up now through January 30 in the museum’s Ruth West Gallery. The Rahr-West Art Museum is a City of Manitowoc Facility and is open to the public Tuesdays through Fridays 10:00am to 4:00pm and Saturdays through Sundays 11:00am to 4:00pm. Admission is free. Details are available at www.rahrwestartmuseum.org