Quiltcon Raleigh was fantastic. I saw so many people looking at “The Crazy One,” & it showed up in a lot of IG posts! David Owen Hastings and I kicked off the lecture series with “Twenty Modern Quilts from Around the World.” A day later, I shared a lecture on “African American Superstars: Anna Williams, Rosie Lee Tompkins, & Yvonne Wells.” The room was packed & it was so great to see so many people celebrate these quilters.
A Quiltcon Crazy One
The “Crazy One” was shown at Quiltcon 2024. It got lots of love, likes, and shares! So happy to see others celebrate all the joy and weirdness in this quilt. I made it just for fun. Free motion machine quilted. 2023. Double Wedding Ring pattern.
Three African American Superstars: Anna Williams, Rosie Lee Tompkins, & Yvonne Wells
Meet three 20th century African American superstars – Anna Williams, Rosie Lee Tompkins, and Yvonne Wells. Learn about their incredible quilt journeys over the past 70 years. Anna Williams (1927-2010) was born and raised in Louisiana, and she quietly pieced hundreds of incredible improvisational masterpieces that later influenced many contemporary artists such as Nancy Crow. Her quilts are spread across American museums such as the Brooklyn Museum and the International Quilt Museum. Rosie Lee Tompkins (1936-2006) lived in California and made over 500 quilts. Most of those were collected by Eli Leon and are now part of the Berkeley Museum of Art and Pacific Film Archive. Rosie’s quilts have been shown in major art museums – including the Whitney Museum of American Art. Yvonne Wells (b. 1939 and still actively making quilts) lives in Alabama and her story quilts are rooted in improv, but filled with colorful, poignant applique. Yvonne’s singular vision narrates stories of social injustice, as well as humorous stories and unforgettable moments in American history. The International Quilt Museum holds 24 of Yvonne’s quilts. She is also included in the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and other collections and has gallery representation in New York City.
20 Modern Quilts from Around the World
Teresa Duryea Wong and David Owen Hastings will bring their signature conversational style and deeply researched content to introduce you to the most innovative international modern quilters — artists hailing from Argentina, Guatemala, Italy, France, New Zealand, South Korea and Switzerland. Discover how these makers are leading the international modern quilting aesthetic with pioneering techniques and unique perspectives. As the labels between art quilt and modern quilt blur, these 20 stunning and truly modern quilts will inspire us and lead us into the next big thing. Learn how local nature, art, architecture, cultural traditions, and even politics inform and inspire these artists. Impeccable handwork, strong quilting skills, layers of exquisite textiles, and deeply distinct cultures are woven into each of these stunning quilts. FEATURING: Cecilia Koppmann, ARGENTINA. Priscilla Bianchi, GUATEMALA. Rachel J. Ratten, NEW ZEALAND. Lisa Call, NEW ZEALAND. 최은영 Eunyoung Choi, KOREA. 변성혜 Sunghey Byun, KOREA. 엄재영 Jaeyoung Eom, KOREA. 김지영 Jiyoung Kim, KOREA. Ramona Conconi, SWITZERLAND. Gabrielle Paquin, FRANCE. Fabia Delise, ITALY. Paola Machetta, ITALY.
TEXTILE TALK with Susan Hudson
Watch our Textile Talk – free on YouTube – for an oral history interview with Native American Quilter Susan Hudson. Susan creates beautiful story quilts about her history, her family, and her Navajo culture. Each quilt carries deeply embedded messages, and her quilts are incredible works of art. All Textile Talks are free and open to everyone.
2023 Lectures
Full list of lectures, Textile Talks, and Keynote presentations in 2023.
Jan. 12 – Heartstrings Quilters Guild. Bala Cywnwyd, PA. Topic: Native American Quilt Stories: 150 Years of Sewing and Survival.
Jan. 13 – Homemaker’s Country Quilters. Collegeville, PA. Topic: Native American Quilt Stories
Jan. 18 – North Shore Quilters Guild. Port Washington, WI. Topic: TBD
Feb. 9 – Pine Tree Quilters Guild of Muskoka. Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada. Topic: Indigenous North American Quilt Stories: 150 Years of Sewing and Survival.
Feb. 18 – The International Applique Society. Topic: Japan’s Quilt History: The Story of an American Import.
Feb. 23 – Quiltcon Atlanta. The Calling of Quilt Collectors. Lecture: Noon – 1 pm.
Feb. 25 – Quiltcon Atlanta. Indigenous American Quilt History. 6 – 7 pm.
Feb 26 – Quiltcon Atlanta. Joint lecture with David Owen Hastings. 10 Modern Masterpieces. 1:30 – 2:30 pm.
Feb. 23, 24, 25, & 26 – Quiltcon Atlanta. 9 am each day – Hosting a walking lecture and tour of Quiltcon Atlanta special exhibits.
Mar 8 – Northern Lights Quilt Guild. New Hampshire. Topic: Native American Quilt Stories: 150 Years of Sewing & Survival
Mar 15 – West Houston Quilters Guild. Houston, TX. Topic: The Calling of Quilt Collectors
April 3 – Tall Pines Quilt Guild. Huntsville, TX. Topic: Japan’s Quilt History: The Story of an American Import.
April 22 – Quilt Guild of the British Isles. Canterbury, United Kingdom. Topic: Modern Minimalism: Lessons from Art & Architecture
April 24 – Belle Pointe Quilters Guild. Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Topic: Native American Quilt Stories: 150 Years of Sewing and Survival
May 23 – Reston Quilters Unlimited. Merrifield, VA. Topic: Japan 2.0: The Next Gen Quilters.
July 11 – Blue Valley Quilters Guild. Overland Park, Kansas. Topic: The Calling of Quilt Collectors
July 18 – Mukilteo Lighthouse Quilters. Mukilteo, WA. Topic: The Calling of Quilt Collectors
Aug 19 – Lone Star Quilt Study Group. La Grange, TX (in person). Topic: Sewing & Survival: Native American Quilts from 1880 – 2022
Aug 23 – Faithful Circle Quilters. River Forest, Illinois. In Person. Topic: American Cotton: Farm to Quilt
Oct 10 – Quilters Guild of Arlington. Arlington, TX. Topic: The Calling of Quilt Collectors
Oct. 17 – Denton Quilt Guild. Denton, TX. Topic: The Calling of Quilt Collectors. In person with trunk show.
Nov. 1 – The Quilt Festival of Korea. Seoul, South Korea. Topic: Defining Modern Quilts for Today.
Nov. 14 – Riverwalk Quilters Guild. Naperville, IL. Topic: Ten Modern Masterpieces – a joint lecture with David Owen Hastings
Nov. 19 – Cambridge Modern Quilt Guild. Cambridge, MA. Native American Quilts: 150 Years of Sewing & Survival
Nov. 21 – Quilt Guild of Greater Houston. Houston, TX. Topic: Native American Quilts: 150 Years of Sewing & Survival