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| To see more of the quilt, close up, go to This and That Worth Looking at and scroll down. |
Local residents will only have until the end of the month to catch a glimpse of a quilt by an award-winning quilter on display at the Oakville Museum.
Threads of Africa, designed and co-ordinated by Renske Helmuth, is a 96-inch by 96-inch quilt that is made up of individual blocks put together by members of the Waterloo County Quilters Guild.
The blocks of the quilt use a variety of fabrics, beads and buttons brought back from Africa by Helmuth.
Renske... incorporates colours, fabrics and designs in her work that reflect the wider world of textile art,” said Carolyn Cross, Curator of Collections/Museum for the Town of Oakville.
“The inspiration for the quilt arose when Renske returned from a trip to Africa and wanted to capture some of her memories in a quilt. The idea of a group project arose when Renske realized that many quilters at her guild had connections with Africa as well.”
The blocks showcase diverse styles of textile and fibre arts, using various techniques, such as piecing, appliqué, embroidery and other embellishment methods.
“The joining together of the individual blocks reflects the time-honored collaborative approach to quilting,” said Cross.
The quilt is on loan from Len’s Mills Stores Collection, which purchased the quilt at auction.
“Len’s Mills Stores... has been an advocate for the quilting community for many years and avidly collects quilts to support charities,” added Cross.
Resident Bev Andersen had the chance to see the artwork and contacted the Oakville Beaver.
“I had the opportunity to feast my eyes on one of the most outstanding quilts I have had the opportunity to see in a long, long time,” said Andersen, who submitted a photo of the quilt to the Beaver.
“The quilt is stunning and the story behind it is fabulous.”
I was fortunate to take a class with Renske way back when with the Oakville Quilters Guild. We learned how to do landscapes. This was mine and I framed it in a frame that used to hang in our house in Lachine. I then gave it to my Mother for Christmas. It's now on the wall of our bedroom. Always a story behind a quilt.
