Autographed Quilt c. 1940

This drawing of an "Autographed Quilt," was made by Margaret Linsley, who lived a long life, from 1855 to 1995. I can see the red cross structure, almost like a flag, separating four squares. What strikes me is how each block is so individual, like a little world. I love thinking about the handiwork, and how these types of art objects come into being slowly, meditatively. Imagine Linsley collecting fabrics over time, each with its own story, maybe scraps from old clothes or curtains, and then carefully cutting and piecing them together. I can imagine Linsley thinking about how these fabrics relate to each other, creating a harmony, a conversation between the patterns and textures. It’s a great example of how art can be found in the everyday, in the things we live with and use. Much like a painter uses colour, Linsley arranges the fabrics in ways that speak to memory, and the passage of time. Like all great artists, she shows us how art can be a form of storytelling.