Crazy Quilt c. 1940

This "Crazy Quilt" was made by Barnes sometime between 1855 and 1995. It's got this great, unrestrained energy, the kind that comes from diving headfirst into the process. Looking at the surface, you can almost feel the texture of the different fabrics, even though it's paint. The dark brown and the inky blue, they’re so rich, but then you've got these bursts of yellow, green and pink. There's a really delicious tension between control and chaos in the repeated zig-zag stitch marks, like the artist trying to wrangle something wild. I love the way each little stitch is visible, like a fingerprint. It reminds me of some of Miriam Schapiro's later work, her Femmage pieces, where she collaged fabrics and patterns in this celebratory, maximalist way. Both artists seem to be saying that art isn't about perfection. It’s about embracing the unexpected.