Textile Talks: Chinese Quilts Today

Join the International Quilt Museum's Curator of International Collections Marin Hanson for a special Textile Talk on quiltmaking in China! Hanson will discuss the current IQM exhibition “Chinese Quilts Today,” which showcases the ways in which quiltmaking is a thriving, growing, and changing art form in modern China. For centuries, Chinese artisans have employed quilting, piecing and appliqué to create and embellish textiles. In the past, sewing was generally a practical affair (though often beautiful) and used to produce useful objects like clothing and bedding. Recently, however, Chinese artists, hobbyists, and university professors have started to make American-style quilts as a form of artistic and personal expression. While the techniques and formats resemble contemporary quilts made all over the world, Chinese quiltmakers infuse their work with distinctly Chinese design elements and cultural references.