Bedcover c. 1850

Editor: This is a quilt called "Bedcover" dating back to around 1850, and crafted from textiles using fibre art techniques. I find the repeated geometric, folky patterns so soothing, almost meditative. What feelings or ideas bubble up for you when you see it? Curator: You know, seeing this makes me think of my grandmother’s hands, always busy. It reminds me that everyday objects, like this bedcover, hold so much of our history, stitch by stitch. This one, it sings of Rebexy Gray Hamilton’s time; think of her life while working this piece, around 1850. Do you see how the geometric patterns create almost a garden? It’s not just covering a bed, but nurturing dreams. Editor: Yes, the repeated patterns do give it a calming garden feel! And folk art like this connects you so personally to the creator in a unique way, more intimate than many paintings, I feel. Curator: Absolutely! There's a human touch that leaps across time. Think of the choices Rebexy made - each fabric scrap, the needle dancing... It makes one think about value too, doesn't it? We often see the 'fine arts' as superior, but what about the stories sewn into these kinds of domestic treasures? Editor: That's a perspective shift for sure. I came thinking about geometry, but leave with the intimate touch, like a tangible family history. Curator: And isn't that the best thing about art, right? Finding those unexpected connections, the whisper of voices across time. We find beauty where we least expect it.