Velvet Pieced Quilt c. 1938

Cora Parker made this Velvet Pieced Quilt, a watercolor painting, sometime in the 20th century. This quilt feels super tactile, doesn't it? The shapes interlock like puzzle pieces and the colors are jewel-toned, which gives the whole work a sense of warmth. Look at the way the paint is applied, the textures. The color palette is like aged velvet. There is a lovely tension between the flatness of the watercolor, and the softness of the subject matter. See the way Parker renders each hexagon with subtle gradations of color, suggesting the nap of the fabric? It’s almost like she's inviting us to reach out and touch it. The details draw me in, each hexagon becoming a little world in itself. This approach to process, with its emphasis on materiality and the handmade, reminds me of the work of Ree Morton. And just as Morton explored the boundaries between painting and sculpture, Parker blurs the line between art and craft. This quilt is a beautiful reminder that art can be found in the most unexpected places.