On Wedenesday, March 30, the American Museum of Folk Art put on a jaw dropping spectacle of a quilt exhibit. Titled 'Infinite Variety:Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts, the show was the folk art equivalent of a Bill Graham rock concert.

From the first glimpse caught through the double doors of the 55,000 square foot Park Avenue Armory hall where the exhibit was housed, to the up close and personal views of red and white quilts hanging at eye level, the viewer was quite simply, transported. The installation was conceived by Thinc Design who deserve a lot of credit for turning folk art into something quite spectacular and mind blowing. The majority of quilts were hung up high like so many decks of cards blowing lightly in the wind and also brought to mind Chinese lanterns or banners.The lighting made me feel like I was in a cathedral or sacred place.

The 650 quilts are the gift of Joanna S. Rose who is quoted in the brochure. 'While the Industrial Revolution swept through England...women stayed at home raising children, cooking, cleaning and farming and often piecing quilts from leftover scraps of material and socializing at quilting bees. Their imaginations took flight...'

The sad part of the show is that it only lasted six days and today was the last day. The show was free and a gift of the American Folk Art Museum, the City of New York and, of course, Mrs. Rose. It is posible it will travel as Mrs. Rose is quoted as saying that there have been inquiries from other continents and she would like it to go on the road. If it comes to a town or city near you, I highly recommend it. Hopefully, the same people will be involved in it's installation.

It was really hard to choose only ten photos of the hundreds I shot. Time permitting I will upload a short video that gives an even better idea of the scope, imagination and beauty of this exhibit.