Past Exhibits

Threads of Meaning

Ann Kowaleski

Ann Kowaleski has been making art quilts since 1983, when she won a prize in a literary quilt show at Jocundry’s in East Lansing, Michigan. Since then, she has been making art quilts based on figurative expression and narrative, while including personal symbolism, remembrance, and imagination. Through her work, she explores and celebrates the human aspects that connect us in everyday life.

The history of quilting is rooted in community, familial bonds, and domestic tradition, often passing knowledge and skills down through the maternal line. Growing up, Kowaleski learned to appreciate traditional quilts while watching her grandmother, a schoolteacher, piece award-winning quilts. Although her mother did not sew, she nurtured Ann’s creative practice by purchasing her a Singer sewing machine at the age of 7, making sure she had fabric through a monthly mailing. Naturally, Kowaleski associates sewing with love and family, and it is because of her personal history that she chose fabric and thread as her medium.  According to Kowaleski, “this medium and these works recognize multiple layers of being and are a celebration of women in life in ways that express their individuality, beauty, strength, and vulnerability going beyond simple perception.”

While Kowaleski incorporates traditional quilting techniques, she often challenges herself to use what she has on hand, which may include horsehair, buttons, found objects, braiding, lace, and doilies. These materials may seem unusual, but creating thriftfully is not new to the practice of quilting. Traditionally, the small scraps and remnants left over from larger household projects were the material used in the creation of intricate designs. The result was often a functional piece of artwork, unlike Kowaleski’s art quilts, which are meant to be viewed and appreciated while hanging on display.

Kowaleski’s art quilts carry with them traditions of the past, while also incorporating bold colors, personal narratives, and experimental techniques that contemporary quilters may consider a deviation from traditional practices. The art quilts displayed in “Threads of Meaning” create an immersive and lively exhibition rich in symbolism and stories.