Applique Quilt 1935 - 1942

This “Applique Quilt” was crafted by Alois E. Ulrich sometime in the past, and you can tell it’s been made with love and care. Look at the way Ulrich lets the fabric breathe, choosing a limited palette of red, yellow and grey. Those muted colours sing! Ulrich’s stitchwork, so evident around the edges of the shapes, makes the piece feel handmade, which of course it is, but I mean you can really feel the process. Take a closer look at how the shapes have been applied to the background. The petals of each motif are clearly defined by neat lines of colour, creating a soft-edged effect. And the way the fabric bunches ever so slightly around the seams gives the quilt a tactile quality that’s so inviting. It's as if Ulrich is saying, "Come closer, touch me, feel the love!" I'm reminded of Rosie Lee Tompkins's work, with its inventive repurposing of materials and a keen eye for colour. With quilts like this, it makes you see that art doesn’t have to be about grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s about the quiet act of making something beautiful and useful, one stitch at a time.