Last night was the opening of three exhibits at the Visions Art Museum and also the grand "reveal" of the sign on the newly named "The Del Thomas Gallery". It is what museums do when you donate a large amount of money!! It was also the "First Friday" night when all the museums, galleries, studios, etc., are open to the public to show them to what they have on offer. There were lots of people at the Liberty Station complex and more than 750 people came through VAM, so most of the time it was packed. I was pleased and honored that friends came from north Orange County and south Orange County and San Diego county to help me celebrate. Thanks to each of you. It was lovely! And I was thrilled that Nancy Morgan who made the quilt "Night Bloom", which was on the exhibit card and the poster, flew in with her husband from Maine for the weekend. How great for them that we are having such fabulous weather.
Here is the wall with the forty twelve-inch square quilts. They were purchased from individual artists, from SAQA online auction, the Alliance for American Quilts Auction, and some were gifts from artists. They are only 40 of the 59 of this size, and of the 200 quilts in the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection. There is a sign on the end wall with a diagram of the quilts showing the title and artist. In addition there is a gallery guide that lists each quilt with the artist, where they live and a few lines that I wrote about why they are part of the Collection. Photo by Karen Rips.
Beth Smith, Director of Visions Art Museum, presented me with a bouquet when she introduced me and announced the "reveal" of the gallery sign. I didn't take a picture - duh! This picture from Nancy Ota.
I did put lipstick on, but forgot to powder my nose or straighten my scarf. I love the wings sticking out from behind my hat! Photo by Karen Rips.
I hope you will be able to visit the Museum sometime before April 22nd to see the three current exhibits: the twelve inch quilts from TCQC; "Art & Science", the very nice exhibit from SAQA; and the wonderful humorous challenge quilts from members of Canyon Quilters Guild showing their interpretation of Beatles songs.
