February 6- March 7: The Sum of Many Parts: Quiltmakers in Contemporary America

The techniques of piecing, patching, and appliquéing fabrics have been known to exist for centuries in different cultures around the world. Yet, quiltmaking is considered by many to be the quintessential American folk art. Now visitors to the Jones-Carter Gallery’s new exhibition, The Sum of Many Parts: Quiltmakers in Contemporary America, opening Friday, February 6, will see fourteen quilts in varying styles by contemporary artists from across the United States.  The exhibition will run from February 6 to March 7, 2015.
 
Quilts are a wellspring of both individual and collective narratives, joining us to past generations and fostering within us deep bonds of community. The exhibition highlights a range of quilting styles and techniques while providing audiences an opportunity to connect with American culture through a shared love of textile arts. The artists from 14 states boast diverse backgrounds and paths that led them to quilting. Some began working in this art form in their youths, learning the craft from home and within the community. Others featured in the exhibition are academically trained artists who chose textiles as their medium. Traditional quilters often use time-honored patterns that they personalize through fabric selection and stitching patterns. Contemporary quilters drawn from this foundation while developing new techniques and creating innovative designs.
 
The works in The Sum of Many Parts: Quiltmakers in Contemporary America were part of a larger exhibition that toured China in 2012–2013. The exhibition is toured by ExhibitsUSA, a national program of Mid-America Arts Alliance, and curated by Teresa Hollingsworth and Katy Molone of South Arts, Atlanta, Georgia. ExhibitsUSA sends more than 25 exhibitions on tour to more than 100 small- and mid-sized communities every year. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Mid-America is the oldest nonprofit regional arts organization in the United States. More information is available at www.maaa.org and www.eusa.org.
 
The Jones-Carter Gallery is open Tuesday through Friday from 10AM to 6PM and Saturday from 11AM to 5PM.  Admission is FREE.  Large groups are encouraged to call ahead.  On February 6, the gallery will be open from 10AM to 8PM.  The opening reception for the exhibition will be Friday, February 6 from 6PM to 8PM inside the Jones-Carter Gallery.  Field trips will be offered to students from pre-school to middle school.  Please call the gallery at 843-374-1505 for additional information.

Opening reception from 6pm-8pm on Friday, February 6