Inspired by "Feed Sacks: An American Fairytale," in the West Gallery, Lincoln Modern Quilt Guild members have created modern versions of vintage quilts using a variety of recovered, repurposed, or reclaimed materials. Textiles from denim to livestock feed bags to used clothing and everything in between are given new life in the upcycled creations. 

The first Nebraska fair was held in 1859, while Nebraska was still a U.S. territory. The annual event became known officially as the Nebraska State Fair in 1869 after Nebraska was granted statehood in 1867. The first listing of a quilt competition at the Fair is found in 1909. The competitions have continued since that time with awards presented in a variety of categories such as pieced and appliquéd quilts, best hand or machine quilting, and the top award, 'Best Quilt' or 'Best of Show'.

The artists of the Manhattan Quilters Guild present new work that celebrates a return to pre-Covid life. The guild created this project to celebrate rebounding from the restrictions that limited personal contact and renewing activities which were not possible during the pandemic. Each of the Manhattan Quilters Guild artists participating in this exhibition created a new quilt designed to be defined by a title beginning with “re.”

In Option Expedition, Victoria Findlay Wolfe takes basic shapes of patchwork — square, circle, triangle, parallelogram — and breaks down design principles of space, balance, scale, line, shape, color, emphasis, contrast, value, repetition, movement, texture, and unity to look at the bold, beautiful choices available. As a teacher, Victoria Findlay Wolfe finds that people often spend so much time trying to edit their work that they get stuck making decisions, which makes it hard to move forward. Findlay Wolfe believes each idea is a good one, or has the potential to be a good one.

Sue Spargo’s unique folk-art imagery reflects her multi-cultural background and her fascination with folk art from around the world. Her inspiration comes from memories of her childhood in South Africa with its distinctive environment and animals and her subsequent time in the green meadows of southern England. 

In 2007, twelve quilt artists from around the world, linked only by shared communication via the Internet, came together to challenge themselves artistically.  Each member of Twelve by Twelve: International Art Quilt Challenge took turns setting a theme or color palette for their group to use as inspiration for a piece made in a standard 12-inch size. (In 2012, the size changed to 20” by 12”.) After multiple projects they set their final challenge’s unveiling for December 12, 2012.

Feed sack is a catch-all term for any cloth bag that contains a variety of dry goods.This type of bag has many names: feed sack, feed bag, cloth commodity bag. Ingenious and thrifty quilters, seamstresses, home sewists and children re-used the cloth to create quilts, clothes, bedding, decor and accessories that exemplify the era.

The International Quilt Museum is located on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's East Campus. The building and its garden were all designed with quilts and quiltmaking in mind.

In the tabs below, you can learn more about the design of the building and garden.