Carnegie Center for Art & History

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"A to Z: The Alphabet Quilts of Kathleen Loomis"

November 18-December 31, 2005

Opening Reception Friday, November 18, 6-8 pm
Gallery Talk Tuesday, November 29, 7:30-8:30 pm

"V-8"
44" x 29" 2001

"The Scarlet Letter"
53x52
2002

The Carnegie Center for Art and History in New Albany, Indiana is pleased to announce the opening of a new exhibit, "A to Z: The Alphabet Quilts of Kathleen Loomis." This exhibit features the work of Louisville fiber artist Kathleen Loomis and will be on display November 18-December 31, 2005. There will be an opening reception for this exhibit on Friday, November 18 from 6-8 pm. Refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend. The public is also invited to attend a gallery talk with Loomis on Tuesday, November 29 from 7:30-8:30 pm. "A to Z: The Alphabet Quilts of Kathleen Loomis" is sponsored by the Carnegie Center, Inc.

Louisville fiber artist Kathleen Loomis has long been fascinated by letters of the alphabet. Her father was a noted typographer who brought up his children to notice and appreciate the nuances of type and calligraphy. She worked for thirty years in journalism and communication, as a reporter for The Courier-Journal and for William M. Mercer, the human resources consulting firm.

Her exhibit "A to Z: The Alphabet Quilts of Kathleen Loomis" features every letter of the alphabet executed in quilt format. The quilts show a variety of techniques. Many are pieced in the manner of traditional quilts. Some feature hand-dyed or hand-painted fabric; several use discharge, where bleach is used to take color away from fabric.

Some are quilted by hand, others by machine. Some of the quilts are made from selvages, the firmly woven edges of fabric, often printed with manufacturer’s information, that are usually cut off and discarded before sewing.

"401 (k)"
44" x 59"
2000

"Blue J"
48" x 76"
2003

"Hot L Baltimore"
43" x 57"
2004

Loomis’ work has been exhibited widely in the Louisville area, including at the Water Tower (where she received the Alma Lesch award for best fiber art at the 2004 Water Tower Annual), the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, the Mazin Gallery at the Jewish Community Center, and the Kentucky State Fair (where she received the first annual Alma Lesch Memorial award for innovation in textile art in 2002).

She has also been active in arts administration, serving on the board of the Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists. She helped organize and serves as a juror for "Form Not Function: Quilt Art at the Carnegie," the annual national show of art quilts at the Carnegie Center, which will have its third outing January 13-March 18, 2006.

"Black I" 45x42 2001	"Busy B" 63x52 2005
"Candy Kisses" 64x67 2004	"Orange Pekoe T" 44x33 2002

"That's My Q"
56x87
2004

The Carnegie Center for Art & History
201 East Spring Street
New Albany, Indiana 47150

(812) 944-7336
(812) 981-3544 fax

info@carnegiecenter.org