Comfort, warmth, beauty – these are words that come to mind when quilts, or quilting, are mentioned. How about fine art?
“Art quilting is a fairly modern medium, but the technique of quilting by joining layers of fabric together with stitching has existed for centuries,” explains Bunnie Mauldin, president of Quilts on the Wall. These pieces emphasize design over functionality and are meant for display as art rather than used on beds. They are also significantly smaller than traditional quilts.
The exhibition “Celebrate! Quilts on the Wall,” at Pasadena Museum of History through May 12, 2024, features 46 decorative quilts that celebrate a special day, event, person, holiday, triumph, performance, accomplishment, or adventure. They were created by members of Quilts on the Wall, a Southern California group of textile artists dedicated to learning about and sharing art quilts. We are pleased to feature the art journeys of six of these outstanding textile artists.
“My habits of close study and curiosity regarding the details of the physical world inform my artwork; I enjoy the technical challenges and problem solving of translating observation and expression into art.”
Christine Castano, San Pedro, CA
I have created art quilts for over two decades and, more recently, have embraced drawing, painting, and surface design in my artistic practice. The sciences and medicine have been my focus throughout my formal education and career, including over three decades as a physician, now retired. I am currently pursuing a Certificate in Fine Arts at Otis College of Art and Design. My art quilts have been exhibited in large shows such as the Road to California and Mancuso Quilt Festivals locally in Southern California and nationally and have been viewed in gallery and museum shows in California and New York. In addition to Quilts on the Wall, I am a member of the online Make Big Art community.
“I try to engage the viewer through the use of color and, most importantly, by the selection of intriguing subjects that invite you to pause and explore the details made from thousands of tiny fabric pieces.”
Judy Crotts, Long Beach, CA
Crafts and sewing have been part of my life since I was a teenager. When I retired, I started making traditional pieced quilts. I had no idea anything like art quilting existed until I saw an ad for a quilting retreat. Here was a chance to use fabric in an entirely different way. After my first class with Kathy McNeil 12 years ago, I was hooked – and my journey into the world of art quilting began. David Taylor, Susan Carlson and, most recently, Bisa Butler have been the greatest influences in developing my techniques. Small pieces of fabric are glued to a foundation and then machine quilting is used to enhance the design. Having no training in art, I begin with a photograph I have taken or have obtained through royalty free websites. The photo is enlarged and the process of selecting fabrics and glueing begins.
I started making traditional quilts many years ago as gifts for my children’s teachers and for family members. I also made pictorial applique quilts, and hand quilted some of my batik art paintings. This gradually morphed into my becoming a textiles artist. Now, instead of using pencils and paint, I make fabric collages embellished with thread and quilted for texture. I’m fascinated by textiles and traditions from many cultures and am hoping to incorporate some of those in upcoming projects.
Two of my quilts are in the Celebrate! exhibition. “Buzz takes a Walk” celebrates the 50th anniversary of the iconic moment that Buzz Aldrin stepped on the moon; based on the NASA photo by Neil Armstrong. “Celebrate the Comeback of the Condors” commemorates the remarkable recovery of California condors’ population numbers. Today, condors are once again successfully breeding and nesting in the wild. Based on a USFWS photo by Joseph Brandt.
“I’m inspired to bring attention to endangered species, historic events, and special moments in time.”
Karen Johnston, Fallbrook, CA
“My favorite techniques are raw-edge collage, machine applique, and curved piecing.”
Bunnie Mauldin, Newport Beach
I began quilting as a hobby to do with my mother-in-law, who made quilts her whole life. Learning from her, I made mostly bed quilts for my children and grandchildren and created wedding quilts by sending out quilt squares to invited guests to decorate, assembling them with assorted photos of the bride and groom from their growing up years as well as photos of the couple throughout their courtship.
In 2010, I joined a friendship group of modern quilters and became a founding member when that group became the Orange County Modern Quilt Guild, serving as President for two years. In 2020, I joined Quilts on the Wall and began making textile art quilts. For quilt inspiration, I mostly use photos of my family and photos taken by me on various trips with my husband. Five of my quilts are currently in the Celebrate! exhibition: Celebrating Family, Celebrating Colorful New York City, Celebrating Aspens in the Vail Valley, A Celebration of Color and Chasing the Aurora.
“Eight years after I began my art quilt journey, I have been more successful than my wildest dreams. Art quilting is my passion.”
Laurie Mutalipassi, Westminster, CA
I went to my first quilt guild meeting and then my first quilting class when I was a young stay at home mother. I had finally found a craft that I loved! For the next 30 years traditional quilting was the fun I had when I had time, whileworking and raising a family. I considered myself a craftsperson as I always used patterns created by other quilters.
After retiring in 2004, I taught quilting and crafts classes and lead a group that made charity quilts. After five years I quit teaching to focus on developing my own quilting ability. In 2015, everything changed when I attended a meeting of a local art quilt group, Quilts on the Wall. I was awestruck at the beauty and creativity of the quilters -and I was scared to death! I had never tried to design a quilt myself, but plunged in feeling like I was jumping off a high diving board. Six months later I took my first completed art quilt to a QOTW meeting and got the feedback that ‘it was a good start.” I began to feel that I was an artist. This was a dream come true, as my father had been a natural artist. In this group, I had found my people!
Over the years I developed my own style, including favored materials and techniques. I like using cotton fabrics, batiks, lace, and cheesecloth; I usually work from an inspiration photo and prefer making representational art quilts. My favorite technique involves fused raw edge appliqué which is then appliquéd and quilted using both straight and zigzag machine stitching. You can see these materials and techniques in my two quilts in the Celebrate! exhibition, “Hanbok Girls” and “Birthday Balloons.” My quilts are touring both in the USA and around the globe. I have authored many articles for art quilting magazines; my quilts have been published in books and magazines; and I have a solo exhibit of 15 of my quilts currently on display at a local venue.
“It is an honor to celebrate life through our textile expressions using art quilts. The artwork in this exhibition includes work made before, during, and after our COVID isolation, appreciating life.”
Tara Ritacco – Carlsbad
I began to sew at age four by hand and age nine by machine, taught by my mother, a master tailor, artist, and painter. College years led me to study science and design at CSULB, where I earned a bachelors in Textiles and received the Necchi award (outstanding design given to one student). I also attended FIDM Los Angeles and worked in the garment industry in many different capacities from draping evening gowns to design, patternmaking, and as a product developer. While at CSULB, I did an internship with a textile fiber arts company and learned textile dyeing and printing techniques.
All these interests qualified me to become a customer and textile sourcing professional for the Walt Disney Entertainment Company. We made character costumes for theme parks worldwide with every new movie release. We partnered with Feature Animation, WD Studio, Consumer Products, Disney on Ice, Disney Cruise Line, Broadway plays, and more.
I started concentrating on art quilts in 2009 when we moved to Carlsbad. I became active at Visions Museum of Textile Art, and I am passionate about helping women achieve their educational goals as a Philanthropy Chairperson.
