20th Rotary Antique Quilt Show

Before paper bags, boxes and now plastic, items were carried from place to place with baskets. Baskets also provided storage for food stuffs or any other things needing to be kept. The basket often took on its shape by how it was intended to be used. Often handles are an indication as to the weight of the objects to be carried. A utility basket for picking apples for example would have a different handle, size and shape than a laundry basket. Materials varied from one geographic area to another giving the basket a different appearance. Always with hand made objects there is the need to make things beautiful no matter how utilitarian they might be, so decoration can also change the baskets appearance. Often woven designs are part of the basket or paint and pigment is applied for additional eye appeal. Then there are those baskets, with absolutely no intended purpose, other than just to be beautiful.

Quilt makers were often inspired by these shapes and use the basket shapes to create interesting block designs for their quilts. During the 19th and early 20th century, baskets still played important roles in every day life, so these shapes were very familiar. The basket shape for quilt makers also functioned in the same way as in reality. They also were containers for different things. We see different style baskets, handles, and different kinds of objects being carried. ie; baskets of flowers, scraps, triangles, diamonds, fruit, baskets with handles and baskets without handles, baskets with pieced handles and baskets with appliquéd handles. The varieties are as abundant as their cargo and as individual as the imaginations of the quilt maker. Because there is a top and a bottom to a basket certain practical demands had to be met visually so their contents didn't spill out. Many baskets are empty, just for that very reason. Others are set so they would appear correct along the sides of the bed. Sometimes a great degree of imagination is used to create interesting and unusual sets. It is these that fascinate collectors.

For quilt collectors basket Quilts provide a wonderful opportunity to search for the most unusual types. In this collection you will see not only a great variety of styles, colors, and interpretations but you will also see the differences between individual collectors. Collections will often speak to the preferences of the collector and often consistencies become apparent within their choices especially among specific patterns.

Bobbie Aug and I have enjoyed each opportunity afforded us by the Rotary Club of Paducah of sharing so many of our treasured quilts. We hope this will be equally enjoyable and informative.

Co-Curated by:Bobbie Aug and Gerald Roy

Tuesday, April 22 - Saturday, April 26, 2008
Tuesday – Friday (9 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
Saturday (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.)

Robert Cherry Civic Center
2701 Park Avenue Paducah, Kentucky

$5.00 donation admits one to the Rotary Show all weekend

Kentucky Baskets - ca 1890	Baskets Without Handles - Hired Mans Quilt - ca 1860	Fresno Baskets - ca 1920
Mennonite Baskets - ca 1880p	Cactus Basket Variation - ca 1890	Moravian Baskets - ca 1880

BONUS EXHIBIT: The Hoffman Challenge Quilts - Quilters, novice and expert alike, accept the Hoffman Challenge to create a small quilt using their own creativity and a specific Hoffman fabric. You will be overwhelmingly delighted by the results!

Merchant Mall Vendors:

The Rotary Education Assistance Program of the Paducah Rotary Club is completing its 18th year of investing in Paducah/McCracken County students who otherwise would be unable to attend college. All proceeds from the Rotary Antique Quilt Show go to REAP. In fourteen years, we have invested $612,200.00 in area students. Your attendance boosts education!

Rotary Club of Paducah
P.O. Box 398
Paducah, KY 42002-0398
Phone/Fax: 270-442-3418
Email: office@paducahrotary.org

Copyright 2008 Rotary Club of Paducah. All Rights Reserved