Fun Exhibits at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky

Love art? Move over canvas, clay, paint, and junk metal... make way for quilts! Most people have the mindset that quilts are no more than cuddly, pretty bed coverings. Not anymore! Quilts are taking over as the new visually striking and technically perfect art form. If you haven't been to The National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky you are unquestionably missing out on one of America's hidden treasures.

Recently, The National Quilt Museum hosted an exhibit entitled The Chicago School of Fusing. This exhibit had it all, from vibrant landscapes to deep sea creatures to a three-dimensional, electrified quilted Ferris Wheel. The exceptional creativity of these artists truly brings to life these awe-inspiring pieces of textile art.

Currently on exhibit, are the exhibits A Sense of Balance and Quilting Reivented: Longarm Quilters of the 21st Century. These exhibits are a perfect complement to one another because they are the extremes of the quilting art form. A Sense of Balance is an antique exhibit of quilts with a focus on the technical aspects of art, such as form, color, line, and intricate hand workmanship. At the other end of the quilting spectrum, there is Quilting Reinvented with a focus on the use the longarm quilting machine. To see these exhibits side by side is wonderful because it is breathtaking to see what has happened to such a domestic task over a span of 100 years.

Skeptical of quilts being listed as an art form? Many people are, but don't take my word for it, visit their website at http://www.quiltmuseum.org or even better go to Paducah and see them for yourself. The National Quilt Museum has over 13,000 sq. ft. of gallery space and over 150 quilts on display all year. All I can say is get there and check out the beauty of textile art. You will never look at quilts the same way again. Guaranteed!