Applique Crib Coverlet c. 1936

Marian Curtis Foster made this Applique Crib Coverlet, and it's a pattern for something cozy and comforting. The regular pattern of the baskets gives the eye somewhere to rest, even as the slightly off-kilter snowflake shapes add a spark of visual interest. I love the texture and the way the different parts of the design interact – the soft red against the flat ground. It reminds me of making a painting, layering up shapes and colors, deciding what to hide and what to reveal. The overall effect is very tactile. I want to reach out and touch the quilt to see if the real thing matches how it feels in the image. I find myself wondering about what other artists would have made of this, maybe someone like Ree Morton, who also had an interest in domestic crafts and the role of textiles in the history of art. Ultimately, this piece is about openness and multiplicity and about seeing different perspectives.