Coverlet (Detail of Bluebird) c. 1941

Adolph Opstad stitched this Coverlet (Detail of Bluebird) with fabric and thread and a whole lotta love. You can tell he knew his way around a needle and thread, look at the different textures and tones he’s coaxed from them. I can imagine him happily plotting the scene. A bluebird and butterfly meet, a nest tucked among foliage, all framed with shades of tan and blue. It’s amazing how thread can become line, texture, even light. He's built up layers of embroidery like layers of paint, each stitch building towards the final image. It reminds me a little of the Gee’s Bend quilters, they are the best at color! These are all folks working outside the so-called mainstream, finding their own visual language, and doing something amazing with it. You can just feel the joy and care that went into every stitch.