The first offsite exhibition during the Museum's Balboa Park location major renovation, this exhibition of 50 American quilts from Mingei's permanent collection was be on view at CECUT (Centro Cultural Tijuana).
Dating from roughly 1850 to the mid-twentieth century, these vibrant bed covers were hand- and machine-stitched in many parts of the United States, from California and Texas in the West, to Illinois and Ohio in the Midwest, and Pennsylvania, Virginia and Louisiana on the east coast.
Curated by Mingei International Museum’s Deputy Director and Chief Curator, Christine Knoke Hietbrink, this exhibition features a variety of geometric and colorful patterns including Schoolhouse, Shoo Fly, Rocky Road to Kansas and Log Cabin variations, in addition to embroidered and appliqued examples. Quilts made from deconstructed feed, flour and sugar sacks, popular from the 1930s to 1950s will be displayed, along with whimsical children’s quilts embroidered with nursery rhyme characters. A majority of these quilts were donated by Mingei member and San Diego-based quilt collector Pat Nickols, in addition to quilts donated by Corrine Riley, Annie Metzger, Ricco/Maresca Gallery and one purchased by Mingei.