Join us on Saturday, March 6 for the opening reception for Kinder Komforts, an exhibition of Amish crib quilts. An exhibition of Amish quilting unlike any other, curated by Bettina Havig, Kinder Komforts shows a new facet of the tradition to explore. Made for hard wear, these antique quilts, though crafted with exquisite workmanship and traditional Amish color palettes, are much more free in their style and composition than full-scale works from Mennonite communities, since they were not intended to be heirlooms. Indeed, part of the significance of the exhibition is the rarity of these quilts, most of which were demolished with use. Collected largely by Sara Miller, herself a member of the Old Order Amish community for much of her life, these quilts cast a new light on Amish quilting, offering the unexpected with charm and warmth.

The reception will be at 1pm and will feature a lecture by Bettina Havig "The Amish Lifestyle & Their Quilts," followed by light refreshments.

Support for this exhibition is provided in part by Eastcoast Quilters' Alliance/A Quilters' Gathering.

Join us on Saturday, April 17 at 1 pm for a lecture by noted quilt designer and historian Gerald Roy. Mr. Roy shared some insights on Amish color with us as a preview of his lecture:

"The understanding and appreciation of Amish quilts is not always immediate. Sometimes it is necessary to change stereotypical prejudices formed through past experience. As children we are taught that 'dark and dull is evil or depressing' so we believe it. The good cowboy always has a white hat, the bad black. We are told that certain colors “go together” and others don’t, so we believe it. Pink and orange don’t go together so 'go up and change.'

The color of Amish quilts is the result of a culture different than ours; a culture that observes different traditions, habits, and observances; a practical and simple culture.

Practical in terms of clothing and attire means choosing fabrics that don’t show dirt but conform to religious requirements; plain and simple.

The Color of Amish Quilts reflects the fabrics accepted by that culture. A variety of cultural differences occur from one community to the other. As these differences occur some are reflected by slight variations evident in their clothing and therefore their quilts.

Appreciating Amish Quilts is first; opening your minds to a different aesthetic and second letting go of traditional rules of color.

There is no right or wrong, good or bad, just what works and what doesn’t.

Come and see for yourself. "