Women's Institute Film Series

Why Quilts Matter: History, Art, & Politics

Quilts Bring History Alive
Looking back through the historical window of 200 years of quilting, this film explores the quilt as a unique documentary text. Made by ordinary women, quilts reflect and preserve not only the personal and family memories of their makers’ everyday lives but also the wider cultural contexts and historical periods of their making. (30 min)

Two Screenings Offered:

• Thur., Feb 16, 1 p.m., HUM 129
• Wed., April 18, 7 p.m., HUM 112

Empowering Women One Quilt at a Time 
This film explores the uniqueness of the quilt as an object in the social fabric of the history of women. Curators, quilt makers, and scholars explore the material and cultural nature of quilting: “Both lowly ‘woman’s work’ and great art, they are something made from nothing; they are both nurturing and inspiring. They can communicate both intimate memories and great societal truths.” (30 min)

Two Screenings Offered:

• Mon., March 26, 11 a.m., HUM 125
• Wed., April 18, 7:30 p.m., HUM 112

What Is Art? 
Art or Craft? Different theories about what makes art “Art” are applied to a wide variety of quilts and quilters to explore the art vs. craft debate. This film asks: What happens when quilts made by women as everyday domestic objects are exhibited, like paintings, on museum walls? And what happens when other quilts are made explicitly for exhibition as “art quilts”? (30 min)

• Wed., April 18, 8 p.m., HUM 112
  Each of the three films of the Spring Film Series will be screened this evening beginning at 7 p.m.