The entry to the Owatonna Arts Center, inside the former Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children, later renamed the Owatonna State School. The City of Owatonna now owns the site, today called West Hills with the OAC located at 435 Garden View Lane.
HE EXPRESSED IT so well, the quilter’s husband waiting outside the Owatonna Arts Center Sunday afternoon for invited guests to arrive from Rochester.
A quilted work of art bursts with color.
Quilting, he surmised, has evolved from a homemaker’s craft to a recognized form of art.
The quilter’s husband and the quilter view the extensive collection of quilts.
He’s so right.
If you appreciate art and quilts, you will want to see “Quilts in Bloom”
“Quilts in Bloom,” featuring around 80 quilts stitched by members of the local Piecemakers Quilt Guild, blossoms in the nooks and crannies of gallery space in an exhibit that runs from now until April 27.
Baskets of blossoms and more.
This show simply blooms with creativity:
A close-up of the traditional Dresden Plate pattern in the foreground with a second quilt in the background.
A contrast of modern geometrical to the traditional Sunbonnet Girls.
This block from the 1930s Sunbonnet Sue pattern features quilting and embroidery.
I really like this pairing of wood sculpture with quilt art. The earthy tones in each complement one another.
For $1, you can buy a chance to win “Stars in My Garden.”
A block in a teapot themed quilt.
During the opening reception, musicians performed in the venue space, where several quilts are displayed.
Whimsical art.
A Faribault quilter and his wife tour the exhibit on opening day.
Floral design at its quilting best.
Quilt art lines a hallway.
From the playful to geometric, abstract, traditional, whimsical and more, you’ll discover an array of eye-pleasing colors and patterns here.
Artist Lois Doyle created “Mountain Laurel,” a quilt she started 25 years ago. She has several quilts in the show. Laurie Spindler machine quilted this quilt. Even with arthritic hands, Lois still quilts. Remarkable.
The talent of these quilters impresses me. Truly, they deserve the title of artists.
This sign posted at the quilt show says it all.
FYI: This marks the 10th annual Piecemakers Quilt Guild show, which is held every three years. You can tour “Quilts in Bloom” during gallery hours, from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday – Sunday. A $3 donation is suggested. Click here for more information.
BONUS PHOTO:
While at the show, stop to appreciate this beautiful space connecting the Owatonna Arts Center to the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum. I’d suggest allowing time to tour the museum and nearby cottage. Check hours before coming as they may differ from gallery hours.
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Wow – those are some fancy quilts. It amazes me the time that goes into creating these works of art. I especially like the whimsical art one. It reminds me of the random swatches my grandma would stitch together for me when I was a wee lad. Her quilts contained lots of random patterns. They were also not as colorful or as whimsical; she used more muted tones like brown, orange and green…or should I say avocado.
She was probably making a crazy quilt when you talk about random patterns. A great way to use left-over swatches of fabric, but difficult to piece together, I would think.
My paternal grandma was a quilter, too. She made quilts for all 40-plus grandchildren upon their high school graduations. When I visited her, we would go into her back spare bedroom and sift through the layers of quilt tops stashed atop the bed. And when it was quilting time, the quilting frame would fill her living room. I have many sweet memories of my grandma and her quilts.
Seems you do, too.
Those stained glass windows are breathtaking, as is Lois’ quilt (and all the others). I agree, the pairing of the wood figure with the quilt is perfect. The “whimsical” quilt, I believe, is a pattern by Sandi Irish. She lives in Eagan and has stayed at my place when she came for a trunk show/event in Spring Grove last Oct. You “nailed it” with this post!!!!!!!!!
I knew you would enjoy this post, Doreen, quilter friend of mine. Readers, you ought to hop over to Doreen’s Treadle Music blog and check out her incredible quilting. Here’s the link:
http://treadlemusic.wordpress.com/
Thank you so much for sending your friends my way!!!!! I’m thrilled to have them stop by!!!!!! Hugs…………….
You are most welcome.
Amazing works of art and a must-see, in person.
Absolutely amazing is right. And absolutely, this is a can’t miss, must-see exhibit of incredible art.
This is officially on my bucket list!!! Mr. Diamond agrees it would be a fun trip so Owatana here we come—in a couple of weeks. 🙂 Lovely lovely lovely. There is something about a quilt,, isn’t there? Love them. But the best ones are ones done by Doreen! 🙂 Thanks, Audrey!
Alright then, let me know when you and Mr. Diamond are in Owatonna. Perhaps Randy and I can meet you at the Rose Street Pizzeria, above Blast Softserve. We have been told their pizza is fantastic.
Remember, the quilt show runs only until April 27 (closed on April 20). Be sure to allow time to also view the orphanage museum.
We are thinking of Saturday the 26th right now as part of my birthday weekend. 🙂 Will get back to you when we decide for sure but YES let’s meet!!!! That would be a blast!!!
Alright, I will pencil in on my calendar. Maybe a late afternoon meet up at the Pizzeria, or earlier. I’m sure Randy will be working until at least noon.
You are quite clever. It would be a blast. Yes, it would, especially with your birthday to celebrate.
It’s a tentative date. What shall I wear??? 🙂
Laughing…but I’d say it depends upon the weather. Penciled in, not inked in.
Good plan. Pencil is always good. I am sure it will be sunny and lovely that day. How could it not be?
Just like today. First load of laundry on the line and plans to do yard work this afternoon.
Hope to get out later today to pressure wash the deck if we can work it in around phone calls! 🙂
These are incredible. Incredible! Sometimes I think it takes patience and dedication to be a writer, but to be a quilter? They have my admiration, to be sure. Thanks for highlighting this show, Audrey!
You are welcome, Emily.
We each have our passions. Ours are words. Theirs are fabric and thread.
I am amazed by good quilters. It requires patience, skill, and artistic flair. Beautiful. The Stars in My Garden quilt is just stunning.
So many stunning quilts here. I’d sure like to win the Stars quilt.
WOW…. I was awestruck at the artistic work in these quilts, so many amazing designs. I love that “Stars in my Garden”, someone will be a very lucky winner!
Maybe that winner will be me…
i would be so happy for you!!!
When she was in her 70’s my now-departed quilting mother insured the contents of a closet in her apartment for $250,000 because she had over 200 quilts and quilted hangings stored there. We once owned a house which had a an appraised value about equal to the 38 quilts we owned from her.
This is impressive, that your mother would have quilted this much. I did a double take on the value, thinking you must have typed too many zeroes. But, no, you haven’t. Whatever happened to all of her quilts and quilted hangings? What a treasure.
She sewed special ones for all 7 of her grandchildren. She gave many away to brothers and sisters, a few to chosen nieces and nephews, we have many, daughter, who also quilts, has a few, one of my nieces has a few, my brother and his children had some, which he at our last meeting with him said he was going to burn, and my sister has many, as she deserves for taking care of our mother for so many years at the end.
My jaw actually dropped when I read that your brother plans to burn some of your mother’s quilts. I hope he changes his mind.
It’s good that those family members who appreciate quilts also have them.
I’m sure he did it years ago.
Ah, OK. So sad…
My brother is paranoid schizophrenic
OK, more understandable then, I suppose.
AMAZING Artistry – Love the Pops of Color and the Different Patterns!!! Thanks so much for sharing – Happy Hump Day:)
Yes, pretty amazing.
Those are really beautiful; thank you for including so many photos! One of my best friends makes art quilts and I’m lucky to have two of them.
Oh, paring down the number of photos was a challenge. I have many more. Lucky you to have two art quilts.
Owatonna is a great town. There is so much there to see. I shot the outside of that building, but never made it inside. Those quilts are wonderful.
Owatonna does seem to have a lot going for it. You really need to return to Owatnna and explore. Be sure to visit National Farmers Bank, Louis Sullivan’s “jewel box” with spectacular design and stained glass windows.
Audrey, what an amazing photo essay! Your work is stunning. We in the Owatonna Piecemakers quilt group are delighted that you enjoyed our recent show. We have been blessed to be able to share our quilts in the amazing space at the Owatonna Art Center over the past thirty years.
The core members of our quilt group began as students learning to quilt together in community education classes in the early 1980s. Today our quilters celebrate three decades of fellowship and creativity. Thank you for sharing our art with a larger audience.
You are welcome, Karen. And thank you and all of the other quilters for sharing your quilt art with all of us. I am incredibly impressed by your talent.