The Sum of Many Parts: 25 Quiltmakers in 21st-Century America presents twenty-five quilts from diverse cultural and regional communities in the United States of America.Quiltmaking has always been an important tradition in America, and the many styles of American quilts reflect the diversity of the United States itself. Quilts tell personal and national stories, connect to past generations, and foster deep bonds of community. Though created in different communities across the country, quilts represent the interwoven spirit and cultural heritage of the American people.

The quiltmakers featured in this exhibition are actively producing work today. Some began quilting and sewing in their youth, while others did not pursue the art form until adulthood. Many learned the craft at home, creating practical blankets for their families. Others are academically trained artists who choose textiles as their primary medium. Some are professional artists whose work is a means of income, while others create quilts as gifts or simply for personal enjoyment. Each of these quilts is unique, as is its maker. Each quilt tells an individual story, has a distinct artistic style and purpose, and employs a personalized technique. Yet despite the range of styles, the artists presented here are united in their respect for the quiltmaking tradition and passion for artistic expression through textiles.

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Quiltmaking has always been an important tradition in America, and the many styles of American quilts reflect the diversity of the United States itself. The Sum of Many Parts features 25 contemporary quilters from the Midwest, the South, and Hawaii. Touring across China from 2012–2014, this exhibition will highlight a range of quilting styles and techniques while providing an opportunity for Chinese audiences to connect with American culture through our shared love of textile arts.

The Sum of Many Parts: 25 Quiltmakers from 21st-Century America is a program conceived and sponsored by the United States Embassy-Beijing. The exhibition and its tour throughout the People’s Republic of China has been jointly developed and managed by Arts Midwest and South Arts, with additional assistance from the Great Lakes Quilt Center at Michigan State University.

Partial funding provided by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Additional support from Alabama State Council on the Arts, Illinois Arts Council, Illinois Office of Trade and Investment, Iowa Arts Council, Kentucky Arts Council, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Mississippi Arts Commission, North Dakota Council on the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, South Dakota Arts Council, and Rhoda A. Pierce.

About the exhibition

Date: 8 Jan - 28 Feb 2013

Venue: Guangxi Museum of Nationalities

Opening Time: 9:30-16:30

Tel: 0771-2024322

Add: No. 11 Qinghuan Road, Nanning, Guangxi

Courtesy of the artists and Arts Midwest, for further information please visit www.artsmidwest.org.