Quilt: Reverse Side 1935 - 1942

This small quilt was made by Joseph Lubrano, though we don't know exactly when. It's called 'Reverse Side', which suggests a certain intimacy, like seeing something not normally on display. The piece is made of strips of fabric, each with a distinct pattern, sewn together on the diagonal. What gets me is the way Lubrano handles the geometry. The quilt isn't quite square; it's a little wonky, and that's what makes it so human. Look at the strip with the tiny flowers on a blue ground, it’s rippling. I find it fascinating how this slight distortion creates a sense of movement and breaks up the rigid grid, which I love. There is an off-kilter beauty in the way these patterns and colors interact, it reminds me of the work of Gee’s Bend quilters. It's not about perfection but about feeling, about the conversation between materials and maker. For me, this piece is less about utility and more about seeing the art of making, the beauty in the reverse side.