osprey_archer: (art)
[personal profile] osprey_archer
My mother and I went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art today and had a rather marvelous time. We hadn't realized it beforehand, but the museum has a perfectly enchanting exhibition of Marie Webster's quilts (Marie Webster revolutionized American quilting in the early twentieth century).

My larger pictures didn't come out that well - it's hard to capture the detailed quilting in a photograph - but here's a close up of my favorite quilt in the exhibition, which Webster called the Magpie quilt because of it's black and white stripes:





I found the contrast between the black and white stripes and the pink flowers so striking. The plaque said that the colors had faded, too, because the Websters used the quilt so much, so originally the pink must have been even brighter.



There were also some perfectly charming children's quilts: I particularly liked the one with little Kate Greenaway girls, their bonnets covering their faces, accompanied by the suggestion that such a quilt could be made with the remains of a little girl's dresses as a keepsake for her. But unfortunately I didn't get a photo of that one.

I did, however, get photos of this exhibition of



Isn't that delightful? It shows the silhouette and style of American women's fashions from the 1770s to the 1960s. I took a photo because it seems like such an excellent quick resource for historical fiction writing.



A close-up on the dress in the 1912 style.



We also popped by the contemporary art exhibition, on the grounds that there might be something interesting, although I must confess we were both rather doubtful on this score. And there were a few baffling pieces, but we also found some we quite like, like



I rather wished they had a light fan on it so that it would turn gently in the breeze; I think that would show it off to best advantage. But I do like the fact that, lying still as it is, it casts these strange complicated shadows: it's like a second piece of art, echoing and complicating the first.



And I also very much liked this



I'm afraid the photo doesn't capture all the intricate detail that went into it, but it's marvelously made: an exquisitely detailed model ship, times three.

Date: 2016-07-26 09:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] asakiyume.livejournal.com
Speaking of art museums, I got your letter! Will answer very soon.

That is very cool about the shadow artwork cast by the mobile, and also the ship. The ship is how I imagine things seen with compound eyes.

Date: 2016-07-27 12:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] osprey-archer.livejournal.com
It's been a good month for art museums! I actually got another card that I think you'll like at the Indianapolis Art Museum, so I'll save that to answer your letter.

I loved the ship. I really wish I could have gotten a photo that captured all the intricacy of it. It seems like it could be the setting of some sort of fantasy story - the ring ship, sailing though space, or something like that.

Date: 2016-07-27 09:29 am (UTC)
silverusagi: (Default)
From: [personal profile] silverusagi
Oooh, I like the fashion piece.

Date: 2016-07-27 04:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] osprey-archer.livejournal.com
Isn't it gorgeous? I love seeing it all laid out like that.

Date: 2016-07-27 12:32 pm (UTC)
littlerhymes: (Default)
From: [personal profile] littlerhymes
I love the detailing on the quilt. So intricate! The mobile looks great too.

I have to say I'm really taken with the url for the museum. It's like it's saying, "I'm a museum!!!" Yes. Yes you are. *pets the museum*

Date: 2016-07-27 04:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] osprey-archer.livejournal.com
The quilts were all so detailed. Such marvelous dainty stitchery!

Date: 2016-07-27 06:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] wordsofastory.livejournal.com
Wow, that quilt is gorgeous! Such tiny details!

Date: 2016-07-28 01:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] osprey-archer.livejournal.com
I know! So delicately done!

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