New Exhibits Showcase

A Rhapsody, a Menagerie, and some Top Winners!

This spring and summer will bring three very different and exciting exhibits to the Texas Quilt Museum, celebrating the work of two extremely talented individuals and the prizewinning efforts of others!

On display from May 12-September 18, 2022 will be Ricky Tims: A Rhapsody of Quilts, Timna Tarr’s Noble Menagerie, and Quilt Festival Prizewinners 2021.

​Bohemian Rhapsody (90” x 90”) by Ricky Tims. Photo by Gregory Case.

In Gallery III, Ricky Tims: A Rhapsody of Quilts presents 11 pieces highly regarded as excellent examples of contemporary quilt art with traditional appeal. Tims is also a renowned musician, and many of his quilts have musical references. As he was working on Bohemian Rhapsody using hand-dyed fabrics, the composition developed with a very Eastern European flare. The rhythmic movement and harmonious shapes in this quilt encouraged the artist to design and make an entire series of Rhapsody Quilts, which resulted in his book of the same title.

Our exhibition also includes his Lifelines III: Can Something Come from Nothing?, awarded first place category prize at an International Quilt Association judged show. Museum Curator, Dr. Sandra Sider, comments, “If you have missed seeing the amazing quilts by Ricky Tims at Houston, this is your chance to see an astonishing collection!” A special Museum-produced monograph will also be available for purchase.

​Lady Teela of Amherst (38" x 38") by Timna Tarr.

Gallery II will showcase 12 works in Timna Tarr’s Noble Menagerie. Tarr, who resides in Massachusetts, comes from a long line of quilters but did not begin quilting until after studying art history in college.

Her own work is chiefly about color, in relatively small-format compositions. What keeps her engaged is watching how her projects change and transform with the addition of each color and texture.

Noble Menagerie began as a way for Tarr to explore making quasi-realistic fabric portraits of farm animals. Moving through the series, she realized that the images highlight the dignity and individual personalities in each animal, reflected in her highly original titles. The construction process starts with a blown-up photograph and ends with her piecing together the eye. Tarr explains that she needs to get to know each animal before tackling “the window to the soul.”

Finally, Gallery I will present Festival Prizewinners 2021, featuring 11 stunning quilts from makers who won prizes in the inaugural Quilt Festival Judged Show in a variety of categories and styles.

​Leap of Faith (36” x 55”) by Kestrel Michaud

Showcasing exquisite hand and machine stitching, the designs include abstract, pictorial, and geometric compositions. The makers are Marilyn Badger, Judith Beaver, Andrea Brokenshire, Audrey Esarey, Chizuko Ito, Jill Kerttula, Karen Lambdin, Kestrel Michaud, Sue Sherman, Chinami Terai, and Joann Webb. This juxtaposition of art quilts with contemporary traditional styles celebrates the exciting gamut of quiltmaking today.