It has been 15 years since Ruth made this quilt. She designed it from a picture she took at the Pacific Grove, CA, "Good Old Days" event. It is a powerful illustration of Ruth's ability to use straight seam piecing to create body shapes and express personality.
"The Street Corner" Ruth B. McDowell - Massachusetts 2004 55"W x 41"L
Commercial and hand-dyed cottons, cotton batting, cotton thread.
Machine pieced and quilted.
The central figure, a cutie in a blue striped drop shoulder shirt, has attracted a half dozen young guys. A couple of the guys have turned away from the "honey'" - one on the right to see what else is going on and the one on the far left to (a) drink a coke or (b) talk on his cell phone. [Were cell phones all that common in 15 years ago?] Meanwhile cutie's friend is somewhat a wallflower standing half concealed off to the left of the frame with her blue shoulder bag held close. Notice the different body attitudes - slumped shoulders, cutie's perky hips, hands in pockets, etc. How does Ruth give all these expressions with straight seams? She is just an amazing artist and a very precise piecer. .
All of the Ruth McDowell quilts in TCQC will be shown in a three month exhibit at Visions Art Museum in San Diego, January through March 2020. Hope you can make a visit during that time.
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2 comments:
Oh my, wonderful memories of this fine quilt. I will make every effort to see you Ruth McDowell collection. Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us.
Wow that is amazing that she was able to make that with straight line sewing. So beautiful and expressive.
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