Crazy Quilt c. 1940

This 'Crazy Quilt', was made by Barnes, who lived between 1855 and 1995. Imagine Barnes carefully layering these colorful shapes, each one held together with these vibrant embroidered stitches. I wonder what it was like for Barnes to bring together these different colors and textures. Barnes would’ve considered the tension between each shape and line. The surface is smooth and the colors blend, but the composition feels so energetic. It’s the way that Barnes contrasted the different fabrics, each with its own feel and weight. I’m particularly drawn to the stars bursting from the center of the quilt. The way Barnes put this together reminds me of a collage – each element is considered on its own, but also in conversation with the others. In art, like in life, we are always piecing together fragments, making sense of chaos, and creating something beautiful and new.