Bedspread c. 1936

Editor: We're looking at "Bedspread," a drawing for a textile piece, made around 1936 by Irene Schaefer. I'm immediately struck by how vibrant and precise the geometric patterns are, especially considering it's just a design. What stories do you think this bedspread holds, or hopes to tell? Curator: Oh, I love that question. To me, this isn’t just about cozy nights; it's about legacy. Imagine Irene carefully sketching this out—a whole world built from geometric shapes, with each carefully planned stitch full of hope. You can feel this, right? Like finding a love letter in a time capsule. Maybe she was planning a future, a home, and expressing the joy that crafting brings us. A world contained on a bed, like dreams awaiting form. Editor: I do feel that. The attention to detail definitely speaks to dedication. Did design sketches like this one play an important part in the broader art world, or was this type of thing more utilitarian at the time? Curator: A delightful question! We must consider the era; for many, creation was functional first, an extension of hearth and home—however, I'd argue craft is inherently art, or contains a spirit of such. When it elevates, transforms, expresses that internal longing... then it takes shape beyond a function. Perhaps someone sought meaning by carefully aligning circles, diamonds, squares into rows... that's sacred to me, truly. What do you see? What feelings surface when considering pattern and artistry like this? Editor: It makes me think about how much intention goes into seemingly simple things. This piece almost seems both futuristic and traditional, at the same time. I think I’ll look at quilts a little differently from now on. Curator: Isn’t it glorious? To find whole worlds blooming in the everyday...