The Virginia Quilt Museum will open its newest exhibit, Eye Contact: Creating a Connection, on July 15.
“I am excited to have this exhibit at the museum,” said, Susan Farmer, executive director of the museum. The exhibit “seeks to bring people together, and we need to come together now more than ever. My hope is that this exhibition helps to open dialogue in our community and encourages connections.”
The concept for the exhibit came to Curator, Barbara Hollinger, during frequent visits to Washington D.C, where she noticed that many people walk through the world with their heads down, and their attention focused on daily tasks and distractions.
“In a time where we seem to be divided by politics, economics, race, religion, and philosophy, a personal connection to those around us seems hard to establish,” Hollinger said. “To reestablish that link, I have put my phone away, lifted my head, and started making eye contact with strangers. As our paths cross and our gazes meet, even if only for a fleeting moment, that web rebuilds. Shoulders hunched in discouragement or sorrow straighten, heads lift slightly, and a smile often sparks across clenched lips. That momentary connection when eyes meet reignites the spark of humanity that connects us all.”
This exhibit showcases 249 individual pieces from artists from all over the country, each quilt represents the artists interpretation of the theme.
The exhibit will run through Aug. 28, and is sponsored by Sacred Threads.
The Virginia Quilt Museum is the Official Quilt Museum of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Founded in 1995, the museum’s mission is “celebrating and nurturing Virginia’s quilting heritage.” The museum’s three floors of rotating exhibits are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located at 301 S. Main St. Harrisonburg.
For more information, visit http://www.vaquiltmuseum.org.
