Quilts have a timeless quality. They represent the comfort of home, the skill and artistry of the quilter, and a connection to the significant events, people, and places of our lives.

The quilts in these two exhibitions, Navigating and Inspired Threads, span over 200 years of textile art. Each quilt acts as a landmark in a journey through time and space, war and peace, birth and death, the changes and transitions that shape our lives. Together, they fuse the events of the past with an exploration of the present. We invite you to consider the compasses, moral bearings, stars, and waypoints that you use to navigate the passages of your life as you explore these two exhibitions.

Navigating

This juried quilt exhibition features 14 art quilts created by 12 members of the Studio Art Quilt Associates, Atlantic Canada. This showcase of fine textiles and fibre art offers a unique perspective on how we explore our paths through life - whether it’s in nature, through travel, or in personal journeys.

The quilts invite viewers to embark on their own visual voyage, led by the intricate stitches and vibrant colours. Each piece becomes a compass, guiding us as the North Star guides sailors across vast oceans. These textile masterpieces celebrate the artistry of their creators, while also reminding us to navigate with intention and curiosity.

Navigating was juried by Brigitte Clavette, Head of Jewellery/ Metal Arts and instructor at the New Brunswick College of Craft & Design from 1985 to 2017. Brigitte Clavette currently teaches part-time and devotes herself to her artistic practice.

The exhibit premiered on July 1, 2024, at the Samson Gallery at the Museum of Industry, Nova Scotia and will travel through June 2026.

On view June 29 to October 20, 2024

Inspired Threads

Most of the quilts in “Inspired Threads” belong to the Nova Scotia Museum and were made in the province. Composed of a diverse collection of fragments, these examples were designed and pieced together because of different meanings and inspirations.

Many were made anonymously for beds and warmth such as Nova Scotia's earliest quilt (homespun wool, ca.1810). Others were made for learning the craft; to display artistry; to give thanks to a treasured community member; to celebrate a birth, marriage, or special event; to use up scraps of cloth; to generate income; and for healing and mindfulness.

These reasons are as true today as they were 100 years ago. Today's Nova Scotian quiltmakers continue this proud tradition of diverse inspirations, creating new and exciting examples of this beloved form of textile.

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