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A passion for patchwork

BY BECKY MALKOVICH, THE SOUTHERN

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 11:47 PM CDT

MOUNT VERNON - The artistry of quilting will be celebrated with a new exhibit opening Saturday at Cedarhurst Center for the Arts.

The 19th annual Gathering of Quilts features dozens of quilts made by members of the Cedarhurst Quilters, a quilting guild with about 15 members.

Vintage, traditional and contemporary quilts will be displayed in Cedarhurst's Creative Arts Center gallery, as well as Grand Corridor Gallery, CAC Director Carrie Schott said.

"People love quilts and they are being viewed more and more as a painting with fabric. Quilting is a folk art. They are very much about patterns," Schott said.

Judith Biggs of Sesser is a member of the guild and has two quilts in the show. A quilter for more than 30 years, Biggs said she hopes shows like those at Cedarhurst will keep the art of quilting alive.

"I don't have anything against machine-quilting because I've seen some beautiful work, but I am saddened by the fact that hand-quilting seems to be almost a lost art," she said.

The exhibit's opening weekend will include a special bed-turning program on Sunday, Schott said, that will offer the individual stories of 25 quilts.

A full-size bed topped with the quilts will be set up in the Grand Corridor, she said, and the quilts will be folded back one at a time.

"As each quilt is folded by members of the guild, its history and other information will be shared," Schott said. "They will also be there to talk to people about quilting."

Two programs are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

The free exhibit continues through Oct. 19. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.

An opening reception is set for 5:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 15, with quilters in attendance to tell their own stories of quilting and quilts.

For more information, call 242-1236.

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DETAILS

What: 19th annual Gathering of Quilts

When: Opens Saturday through Oct. 19; special bed turning program from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Sunday

Where: Grand Corridor Gallery and Creative Arts Center Gallery, Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mount Vernon