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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2024 • VOL. 54, NO. 19
New Exhibition At The Smithsonian American Art Museum Examines Traditional And Innovative Designs By Amish Women Quilters
Presentation Features Recent Gift From Collectors Faith And Stephen Brown A new exhibition at the of Amish quilts,” Umberger Smithsonian American Art said. “These objects traveled Museum explores the creative into the art world in the late practice of Amish quilters in 20th century, but the Amish the United States. “Pattern and women who made them never Paradox: The Quilts of Amish intended them to be seen as Women” looks beyond quilting artworks. Audiences and collecas a utilitarian practice. It reveals tors responded to the striking historical quilting among the color combinations and invenAmish as an aesthetic endeavor tive abstract patterns, but the that walked a line between Amish were uneasy with the cultural and individual expresidea of having made and possion. The quilts paradoxisessing museum-worthy, valucally twin the plain with the able artworks and began divestspectacular, tradition with innoing of these quilts. Seen here, vation, and a dismissal of perhanging on the gallery walls sonal pride with objects often like paintings, they prompt us seen as extraordinary artworks. to consider the subjectivity of The exhibition is curwords like ‘artist’ and art’ and rently on view through Sept. 2 consider how cultural perspecat the Smithsonian American tive can transform one’s underArt Museum’s main building in standing of an object.” Washington, D.C. It is organized Although vintage quilts by Leslie Umberger, curator of remain among the most recogfolk and self-taught art, and nized manifestations of Amish Virginia Mecklenburg, senior culture, they represent the hiscurator, with support from Anne torical, localized trends of only Hyland, curatorial assistant. a finite period from a living and Janneken Smucker, cultural changing culture. The exhibihistorian and professor of histion celebrates the quilts, the tory at West Chester University women who made them, the in West Chester, Pa., is the pricollectors who preserved and mary author of the exhibition donated them, and considers catalog and contributed to the the unique role of Amish quilts exhibition. She is a fifth-generin American art today, roughly ation Mennonite quilt maker of a century after those in this Amish Mennonite heritage. collection were made. The exhibition celebrates The accompanying catalog, a major gift announced in 2021 published by the Smithsonian of Amish quilts to the museum By an unidentified Maker, this “Crazy Star” quilt dates ca. 1920, from Arthur, Ill., American Art Museum in assoby Faith and Stephen Brown. cotton and wool, 74-by-63.5 inches (detail view shown), from the collection of Faith ciation with D Giles Limited, They began collecting quilts in and Stephen Brown, and is a promised gift to the Smithsonian American Art Museum. is written by Smucker with an 1977, four years after encounintroduction by Umberger. It will tering Amish quilts for the first time be available for purchase ($34.95) in the Margaret and Terry Stent of “worldly” society. No specific at the Smithsonian American Art the museum store and online. Director. “Their generous gift guidelines governed quilt patterns Museum’s Renwick Gallery in the “Pattern and Paradox: The reaffirms SAAM’s long-standing or colors, so Amish women exhibition “American Pieced Quilts.” Quilts of Amish Women” is orgacommitment to equity in represenexplored uncharted territory, pushThe 50 quilts featured in “Pattern nized by the Smithsonian American tation for art and artists and brings ing cultural limitations by innovatand Paradox” include 39 from the Art Museum. Generous support has sharply into focus the complexity ing within a community that values museum’s collection and 11 prombeen provided by Faith and Stephen and importance of exhibiting diverse adherence to rules. Styles, patterns ised gifts. Around 100 additional Brown, Billings and John Cay, Barcultures in the museum setting.” and color preferences eventuquilts from the Browns’ exemplary bara Coffey Endowment and the EllsIn the late 19th century, Amish ally varied and distinguished the collection are promised to the worth Kelly Foundation. This exhibiwomen adopted an art form already various settlements, but it was the museum as a bequest. tion received federal support from established within the larger local quilters who drove and set the “Faith and Stephen Brown the Smithsonian American WomAmerican culture and made it disstandards. assembled this extraordinary colen’s History Initiative Pool, administinctly their own, developing comToday, Amish quilts preslection with care and devotion over tered by the Smithsonian American munity and familial preferences ent a particular quandary for art some four decades after a revelatory Women’s History Museum, and from with women sharing work, skills museums and audiences. By the visit to the Renwick Gallery. It comthe Smithsonian Collections Care and patterns. The quilts in “Pattern mid-20th century, Amish quilts were prises the largest and most widely Initiative, administered by the and Paradox” were made between increasingly being shown in representative group of Amish quilts National Collections Program. 1880 and 1950 in communities museums. ever to be acquired by a major art For further information, visit united by faith, values of confor“Pattern and Paradox’ invites museum,” said Stephanie Stebich, www.americanart.si.edu. mity and humility and a rejection viewers to consider the dual identity
Embassy Sells Art Deco Pastel By Tamara De Lempicka (1898-1980) For $86,800 By Karl Pass Based in Kinzers, Pa., Embassy Auctions International sold an Art Deco pastel watercolor for $86,800 during its recent antiques auction held April 4. The work depicting two figures was done by Tamara Continued on page 8
The Art Deco pastel watercolor realized $86,800. The work was done by Polish artist Tamara De Lempicka (1898-1980).
An Introduction To Barry Hogan’s Collection Pook & Pook To Hold Sale On May 17 Welcome to a journey exploring Barry Hogan’s legacy. His name is known across Lancaster County for his real estate development and his passion for antiques. Now his collection will take center stage at the Friday, May 17, Pook & Pook sale. Hogan’s journey into the world of antiques began in the early Continued on page 5
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . .
starting on page 3
SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . .
on page 4
EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR on page 6 AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . on page 8 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . . . . on page 8
FEATURE ARTICLE: Old Morgantown Glass Collectors Show on June 1 And 2 - Page 10
CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . on page 11