Masters: Art Quilts, Vol. 2: Major Works by Leading Artists by Ray Hemachandra

Masters: Art Quilts, Vol. 2: Major Works by Leading Artists Reviews

• 
  JayeL

  Another 39 quiltmakers have been included in this volume of
  Masters:Art Quilts Vol.2, which makes me happy for a number of reasons. First, I think the first volume was successful. Second, there may be more volumes to come. Third, Lark may be setting a trend of inspiration and essay type quilt books. Fourth, more eye candy for me. ;-)
  
  I wrote a review of the
  
  I noticed a lot of neutrals throughout the book. I expect that in an art quilt book because of a lot of the fabrics are hand-dyed and a lot of artists use nature imagery.
  
  Nelda Warkentin's work looks like fractured ice crystals. Her piece, Tropical Dream (pg.140) is spare compared to other works and it contrasts with other dense complicated work. It gives the reader the opportunity to meditate on the wide variety of art quilt imagery.
  
  Reiko Naganuma's quilts are bright and cheerful. They are a contrast to many of the other quilts, but they still fit in. Her quilts also appear to have visible texture (pg.169, 171).
  
  I was very pleased to see Rise Nagin show up in this book. Her quilt, Target: On the Beach (pg.221), has been on my mind lately. I remember seeing it in the early 1990s and, lately, I was wondering if she had moved on to a different medium. Her older work has an ethereal quality while her new work has more color and layers. Seeing Nagin's work again makes me wish for more biographical information in this book.
  
  In looking through this book, with its wide variety of quilts, I found that many art quilts are messy. It occurred to me that messy quilts may be a turn off for some people and made me wonder if art quilts could be made neatly. Warkentin's piece, Tropical Dream (pg.140) is fairly neat, which further led me to wonder what role the neatness/messiness of the quilt plays in the quilt's story?
  
  My favorite piece is probably Letters lost by Margery Goodall (pg.293). I am surprised at the name, but that makes me like it all the more. This quilt has rectangles laid down in vertical rows. The rectangles are sewn with one straight line through each column of rectangles. The colors are very light as well. Not one color, but very pale with hints of brighter colors. I like the texture of the fabric that is not completely sewn down.
  
  I also like the paper doll feeling of Rachel Brumer's quilt Triplets (pg. 320).
  
  There is a lot of piecing in this book and many of the artists used commercial fabric. there are a lot of faces depicted in this book. The editors have not highlighted one technique or image. There is a wide variety of work and artists, so that all quiltmakers could enjoy this book. This book should definitely be on your 'to purchase' list.
• 
  Renee

  This second volume quilt photography book showcases 40 art quilters from around the world. Artist commentary is sprinkled throughout with color images. Martha Sielman is the curator of this book and the first one in the series: Masters: Art Quilters, Volume 1. Since she is the executive director to the world's largest art-quilt organization, Studio Art Quilt Associates, her knowledge of quilting techniques and styles helps bring to life each artist through the selection of photos and the biography of each quilt artist at the beginning of each chapter.
  
  All the art quilters and presenters in the book use either typical quilting materials or use materials that push the boundaries of typical needle arts, and sometimes a combination of the two. Traditional elements like appliqué, hand dying, and hand quilting mix with other materials not typically found in traditional quilting like metallic fabrics and threads, acrylic paints, cyanotype photographs, and matchbook covers. The quilt fabrics include cotton, antique linen, rayon, silk, and velvet. Some quilts are monochromatic while others feature striking color contrasts.
  
  Many of the quilts create a story or present a message. All the quilters invite the viewer to take time and discover what it is, much like a painting, such as viewing a crime scene in “Hunted” by Bente Vold Klausen, or catching a glimpse of theater-goers in “Theatre” by Izabella Baykova. Typical square or rectangle overall shapes are turned upside down in some art quilts: Patricia Malarcher created a diamond and rectangle Mylar masterpiece, and Alice Beasley with her portrait of a man in “Cubano”.
  
  The book contains photographs of quilts from 40 different artists. Each 'chapter' is dedicated to one artist with 10 pages of photographs of the artist's quilts, quotes from the artist with insights from different quilts, along with what each quilt was made of and when it was constructed. Sielman writes a brief introduction to the artists with analysis on their work, like techniques they use and why their work is significant in the art-quilt world.
  
  Viewing the stunning color photographs of the quilts leads the reader to acknowledge that quilt-making is more than producing a bed covering. The quilters use different materials to construct the pieces, which are sometimes free-form put together rather than typical quilt blocks that most people are familiar with. These quilts inspire quilters new the art form to delve into their creative side when approaching their sewing projects.
  
  Disclosure: This book was provided by the publisher and this review was published on my crafts blog.
• 
  Lisa

  I've had this book for a couple of months now and have spent hours pouring over the beautiful quilts. They are all so inspiring. I want to be a fly on the wall of each quilter and see how they create such beauty - no not a fly because a fly can't ask questions, I'd rather be standing over their shoulder watching and then be like a 3 year old and ask as many questions as I could get away with: "Why did you chose that color scheme? Why that process? Why not this process? What kind of paint do you use? What kind of fabric/batting/thread do you prefer? Do you keep a journal? Do you have a plan when you create?" Thankfully a number of these questions are answered in the brief commentary on each artist which does help to satisfy some of my curiosity. I think I will be opening this book again and again when I feel the need for inspiration, or just want something beautiful to enjoy.
• 
  Diane

  Beautiful!!
• 
  Sharon Robinson

  So far, love it. I never get enough of good quality art quilt photos.
• 
  Kay

  These are some of the most beautiful quilts I have ever seen. Each page is a feast for the eyes. I am taking my time a savoring each page.
• 
  Linda

  Truly a feast for the eyes. If you have even a passing interest in quilts this pictorial will satisfy and enlighten you further. Highly recommend this volume for you library.
• 
  Jo

  A large volume profiling artist's backgrounds, inspirations and working styles along with beautiful photos of their work.