Re: Quilts and Museums [fairly long]

Here's my somewhat lengthy response to the request to show my quilts in an "interactive" museum. Thanks everyone for your input...I think this about covers it!:

-- Thank you for your interest in the Bible Block quilts. While we are open to new ways of sharing the Good News through quilts, we see a number of problems in your plan:

- The cost of shipping and insurance for our quilts could be quite substantial: in general, we set a value of between $500 and $1000 [US} on most of our Bible Block quilts. Some of the smaller ones may be valued slightly lower, while a few of the larger, more intricate ones have a significantly higher value. The quilts must be insured in transit, as well as covered by your facility's insurance for loss or damage/professional restoration while displayed.

- The use of the term "interactive" in your description of your facility raises some major questions: how will the quilts be displayed? Do you have the appropriate light-controlled facilities to prevent ultraviolet damage? Will they be beyond the reach of viewers, or will you have "white glove monitors" to prevent soil? How do you intend to make the displays interactive?

- You mention "pictoral" quilts and "handmade religious items" in your request. Most Bible block quilts [and all of my quilts] are NOT pictorial in design, and seldom are overtly religious. Rather, they feature traditional geometric quilt blocks which have names which refer to scripture passages: Jacob's Ladder, Job's Tears; Crossroads to Jericho etc. The exceptions may be the occasional "cute" interpretation of scripture such as Noah's Ark for a child's quilt and a few outstanding examples of Folk Art quilts such as the Harriet Powers Bible Quilt which is in the National Museum of American History. Some church "banner" type quilts may also be closer to what you have in mind.

- Finally, for quilts to be shipped from Canada where I make my home to your US destination, they will need to pass through Customs: do you have the resources to handle brokerage?

If you wish to familiarize yourself with the Bible Block quilts which are featured in my work, I suggest you visit the gallery on my page:

or refer to the two books I have available. Another excellent source for Bible Block patterns is Rosemary Makin, who also has two books available on the subject. If I can be assured that the liability and facility problems are addressed, I would be happy to inform the members of my mailing list of your request: perhaps some of them who live a little closer to your facility might be able to assist you. Perhaps you might be interested in something that is more geared to the "interactive" part of your mandate? I would certainly be willing to allow you to use the colouring sheets I provide when I do trunk shows for kids and when I teach beginners: each sheet features a traditional Bible Block in outline with the appropriate scripture message. [I can make these available in PDF form, so long as you include my copyright notice and a refrerence to my website and book.] If you wished to use them in your museum, you could provide scraps of appropriate fabrics and glue for the children to make their own "quilt blocks" by cutting fabric to fit the shapes. I do also have a number of unfinished "orphan" Bible Blocks that I would be willing to lend your facility for display. Please advise if this would be something you would be interested in including.

I do wish you success in your venture: perhaps when you are more established, we can be of assistance in a later display