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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2010

PRESS CONTACT:           
Andrea Potochniak
607 254-4563
arp37@cornell.edu

Ithaca, NY—The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University presents American Quilts from the Terasaki Collection, on view from June 26 to August 1, 2010.

The quilts in this exhibition were selected from the impressive collection of Etsuko Terasaki, which at one time numbered nearly three hundred quilts. “Etsuko has had an affinity for quilts since childhood,” said Cathy Rosa Klimaszewski, associate director for programs and Harriett Ames Charitable Trust Curator of Education at the Johnson Museum. “The best American quilts embody a highly personal engagement with design and color. Sophisticated in design and uniquely expressive, they remind us of the timeless human impulse to create order and beauty in our surroundings, with whatever resources available, for utility and for pure visual pleasure.”

Almost all women—and some men—made quilts prior to the twentieth century. It is hard to imagine how many American quilts were created, but estimates reach into the millions. Only a fraction survive today. Of these, many were made for special occasions and were lovingly cared for. A number of them stand out as exceptional, made by women with an innate sense of design and color who took their creations beyond the traditional and expressed their individuality. While they were made to grace a bed and not hang on a wall, these quilts were imagined in much the same way an artist might conceive a painting on a canvas, with careful consideration of composition, the effects of color, line, form, and texture, and the expressive qualities of the materials.

On Sunday, June 27, the Museum will host an afternoon of events in celebration of the quilt exhibition. From 1:00 to 4:00 pm, visitors can learn more about quilting through demonstrations, a tour of the exhibition, a care and storage session, and hands-on activities for quilters of all ages. Bring in your own quilts and learn more about them from quilt detectives! Cosponsored by the Tompkins County Quilters Guild.

Following the event, Cornell alumna Laura Fisher will present a lecture from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Fisher is a noted author (Home Sweet Home: The House in American Folk Art, Quilts of Illusion) and quilt dealer. She has been a frequent guest on Martha Stewart Living TV and other programs, and has lectured at the American Folk Art Museum, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, the New England Quilt Museum, and elsewhere.

Additionally, Cathy Klimaszewski, curator of the exhibition, will lead a tour as part of the Johnson’s “Art for Lunch” series on Thursday, July 29 at 12:00 noon.

The Johnson Museum has a permanent collection of over 30,000 works of art from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. The museum building was designed by I. M. Pei. Funds for the building were donated by Cornell alumnus Herbert F. Johnson, late president and chairman of S C Johnson. The building opened in 1973.

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The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, located on the campus of Cornell University, is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. The Museum is accessible for mobility-impaired visitors, and a wheelchair is available in the lobby. Metered parking is available in the lot next to the Museum. For more information, please call 607 255-6464. Visit the Museum’s website at www.museum.cornell.edu. The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art is a proud member of Ithaca’s Discovery Trail: www.DiscoveryTrail.com.

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