Quilts by Elizabeth Barton in Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection 01-22-23

Here are two quilts by Elizabeth Barton that I posted in June of 2009.  She has lately been doing more painting that quilt making, but I recently saw pictures of an exhibit of both her paintings and quilts which opened today 01-22-23 at the Athens, GA, Botanical Gardens.  It will run until 03-05-23.  You can see more of her work at www.elizabethbarton.com  There are other Elizabeth quilts in TCQC, click on her name on the sidebar to see them.  

"Red Gate" Elizabeth Barton 2003 39"W x 63"L

Cotton fabrics - hand dyed, screen printed - Machine and hand pieced, appliqued & stitched.

This is one of several quilts Elizabeth has based on her pictures taken in Whitby, an old fishing village in Yorkshire, UK. She says in one of her artist's statements, "I love the signs of age on old buildings and steps - the soft signs of the wear of many feet - the way the roof lines gently curve and the houses lean together." The photo she used as inspiration was taken many years ago and she felt it haunting her - it was 30 years before she made this quilt.

I had a thick folder on Elizabeth Barton's work before I ever saw one of her quilts "in-the-fabric". I had been looking at two different quilts on her website and knew I would buy one of them. Then in 2004 San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles featured Elizabeth in one of their exhibits and both quilts were included. I drove up to see my friend Mary and we visited the museum. I knew immediately which quilt I would choose. Elizabeth felt that since I had actually seen the quilt first in San Jose that the museum should have their profit, which I thought was an amazingly generous thing to do. Since then I have purchased three more E.Barton quilts directly from her and coveted quite a few more! I also count her among my quilt making friends around the world. A very special lady.

http://ebarton.myweb.uga.edu/index.html    http://elizabethbarton.blogspot.com/

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Elizabeth Barton Quilt in TCQC 06-21-09

"The Gatehouse" Elizabeth Barton 2004 37.5"W x 24.5"L

This quilt was on Elizabeth's website and it 'spoke' to me loud and clear. The colors are so very appealing - red-orange, golden yellow, several greens and teal. And that wonderful slatted fence, which I think must be a silk screen as I have seen it in other quilts she has made.

She told me that it was a larger quilt that didn't work, so she trimmed huge strips off the sides - until it satisfied her. They also satisfied lucky me. Later, perhaps when I was in Georgia to take a class with her, she gave me one of the strips she cut off. When I show the quilt to a group I think it is educational to also show the 'discard'. We sometimes think that the entire quilt that we make must stay that way, however, I know of at least half a dozen quilt makers who have reduced the size of quilts, even after they are quilted. And in every case, I agree with the artist - a little judicious trimming has improved the quilt.

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