An Ecology of Quilts: The Natural History of American Textiles

The exhibition brings together approximately 30 examples, spanning the 18th to 20th centuries, from the Museum's rich collection of more than 600 quilts and presents them from an ecological perspective, tracing patterns of relationships between the environment and traditional quilting practices. The exhibition examines the ecological and social consequences of agricultural production, industrial manufacture, and international distribution networks, all of which allowed quiltmaking to flourish as a quintessential American art form.