Paula Nadelstern’s exhibit
Colleen, Melitta, and I ventured to NYC on Tuesday to see “Kaleidoscope Quilts: The Art of Paula Nadelstern,” showing until September 13, 2009 at the American Folk Art Museum located on 53rd Street.
What a milestone for quiltmakers everywhere! Paula is the first contemporary quilt artist ever to have her work featured at the American Folk Art Museum! I practically had tears in my eyes the moment I walked through the hallway and saw her name painted in huge letters on the walls!
Stacy C. Hollander, curator, writes:
Every artist must find a voice that feels true and strong. Paula Nadelstern (b. 1951) found hers early in her career as a quilt artist, inspired by a bolt of sensuous and beautiful Liberty of London fabric. The bilateral symmetry of the design was an epiphany that stirred Nadelstern’s imagination and that has yielded a seemingly infinite vein of creative expression for more than twenty years. Focusing first on the kaleidoscopic quality in the symmetry, Nadelstern innovated new techniques and developed a highly refined, intricate, and distinctive personal aesthetic. …
Paula and I go way back, sharing a room when we both had books with C&T to promote. Paula, however, has clearly gone on to the big time. And lucky me had a blast taking pictures of her and her work (which I cannot share here until approval is granted by the Museum’s Board).
If you live in the NYC area, be sure to watch for Paula on the CBS Sunday Morning show. It was taped today. Also, be sure to visit the show – as nothing is better than seeing her beautiful quilts in the “flesh.” If you cannot, please visit her website (and notice who maintains it <g>) to see her work and/or order her books. Information about the show at the Museum is here. And enjoy the video tour of the exhibition from YouTube, produced by eQuilt.com, below.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:50 am
Oh Gloria! Thank you so much for posting about Paula’s show in New York, and ESPECIALLY thanks for the two videos! I feel so inspired by her, and this was just the icing on the cake.
cheers,
Linda in Houston
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:12 am
thanks, Gloria–not sure I can get to NY during the run, but it is so wonderful to see Paula N. get a fabulous show of her super work in a terrific venue (enough superlatives? I feel more, but will restrain myself). I’m hoping this will be the first of many art quilt shows at MAD–an art form I want to see more and more of a museum venues.
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:21 am
My pleasure to post! I also hope it’s the first of many shows for quilt artists!
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 am
Gloria – yes, thank you for the posting of the two videos. Have I been under a rock? Beautiful, beautiful quilts. I must check out her fabric and Puzzle quilts (I’m a jigsaw puzzle addict) I just love this internet. I learn so much every day!
jojo
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Thank you for the videos and info. First time looking at your site. Have your latest book and for our oldest grandson’s HS graduation, April 15th, we gave him the new large Intros4 pen tablet. He has been drawing since age 2 and is also a writer winning the creative writing award. Will be starting college doing computer annimation and graphic art as well as writing. Also saw your quilt at Paducah. Wonderful!! Lily Kerns and I teach a small art quilt group together and she got me hooked on you. Thanks enjoy your work and will be back.
Maureen in MO
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Wow .. thanks Maureen! :)
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Thank you, Gloria, for a lovely review. The banner outside the Museum is so fabulous and just thinking about it makes me happy! The interview on Youtube is marvelous, but this exhibit is one that must be seen in person to be really savoured! Thanks for sharing it with your readers. Paula’s work inspires so many of us!
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Jeri, I agree — Paula is such an inspiration! (you, too, my dear!)
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 pm
I”m so glad you’ve posted the videos of Paula speaking about her quilts. I attended one of her SAQA tours on Friday and it was incredible! I blogged about it, but it’s hard to capture how articulate Paula is as she describes her beautiful work. Thanks!
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:03 pm
My pleasure!
June 7th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Thanks for sharing the review and the videos. Great stuff for those of us who are far, far away from NYC – I have been a great admirer of both yours and Paula’s work for a long time ;O)
June 10th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Thanks for sharing these videos of Paula’s work and exhibit in NYC. I’m really hoping to get in to see it.
August 10th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Thanks for the tip on the exhibition. I went to NYC with my husband for his birthday. We saw a show and then he went to the P. Nadelstern exhibit with me. Now that’s a nice husband – a quilt show for his birthday. He even said that it is an impressive show! The quilts are just fabulous. Again, thanks for the “heads up”.