BEAUTY IN MADNESS: 19 FEBRUARY 2019

Discover historic war quilts at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery

A blockbuster exhibition just back from New York War and Pieced: The Annette Gero Collection of Quilts From Military Fabrics will open on Saturday 23 February at the Cowra Regional Art Gallery.

This stunning exhibition is a unique showcase of spectacularly complex geometric quilts made from military fabrics by soldiers and military tailors in the time of war.

Once termed ‘soldiers’ quilts’ or ‘convalescent quilts’, the pieced textiles in this exhibition are associated with World War I and World War II as well as the earliest quilts from the Napoleonic wars, the late eighteenth century, conflicts in India, South Africa and wars during the nineteenth century.

The visual virtuosity of the quilts, often incorporating many thousands of pieces no larger than 2-3 centimetres square, assumes a deeper emotional resonance as we consider them within the matrix of war and its aftermath.

As works of art they demonstrate that something beautiful can be an outcome of war.

The exhibition is drawn from the unparalleled collection of internationally acclaimed quilt authority Dr Annette Gero who will speak about the collection on Saturday 23 February at the Cowra Civic Centre from 2pm including afternoon tea.

Tickets are $10pp ($5 Friends of the CRAG). There is no reserved seating.

There is a pecial exhibition preview and opening on Friday 22 February at 6pm. All are welcome and admission is free.

Exhibition dates are 23 February to 28 April 2019.

Cowra Regional Art Gallery is located at 77 Darling Street, Cowra, and open from Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 2-4pm. Admission is free.

Phone 6340 2190 or visit www.cowraartgallery.com.au.