Museum Visit

Ramey and I had a great visit to the Birmingham Museum of Art on Thursday. We saw lots of interesting and beautiful art, including the Civil War-era quilt below. We also saw the “Barbie” room, which I have yet to understand the significance of. I was impressed, however with the mandellas made from hundreds (maybe thousands) of Barbie shoes. The title of the exhibit is “Barbie: Dreaming of a Female Future.” But I don’t get the connection between that title and a doll that isn’t even shaped like a real woman. 

After we perused the museum exhibits, we had lunch at the onsite restaurant, Oscar’s. We had a yummy chicken-mushroom soup and a tasty salad. I recommend the restaurant for anyone in the area. And the museum.


Q1Sister Ramey with the Gunboat Quilt, made by Martha Jane Dickson Hatter of Greensboro, Alabama (1815-1896)

Q2
The center and corners of the quilt were created using the techniques of Broderie Perse, trapunto, and embroidery. I suspect that the brown background fabric was once another color--perhaps green or rose. I’ve seen many older quilts that once had bright fabrics that have now faded to brown. The quilting is done with tiny stitches very close together, no more than 1/2 inch. Of course the batting of the time was probably hand-carded cotton that required close quilting to keep the raw cotton in place.The piece is called the Gunboat Quilt because it was used to raise money to purchase a gunboat to defend the Alabama coast during the Civil War.

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Just think of the scores of Barbies who went barefoot to create this. It’s the only part of the “Barbie” display that impressed me. It reminds me of the rosettes I’m making for my millefiori quilt.

Shoes-paytonturner-sarahannwaggonerI found this photo online. I didn’t think to get a shot of the entire Barbie-shoe piece. I don’t know that lady. I suppose she is supposed to represent a real-life Barbie. If so, her shape is all wrong.

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On 01/25/2020, Barbara Anne said ...

What a wonderful place to visit with Ramey and to have lunch together at Oscar's.

"Gunboat" is a lovely quilt and I wonder if Martha Jane was sad to part with it.

I agree with your bewilderment at all the fuss about Barbie and that it actually rates museum space. Go figure.

Hugs!
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