Unraveling the Stories: Quilts as a Reflection of Our Lives

"For centuries mankind has dreamt of inventing a time machine. Womankind went ahead and created one: they made quilts." In this visually satisfying tape, quilting is presented as a distinctly American art form; a connection with the past; a form of spiritual bonding; a means of preserving family history; a method of aiding the community or changing society; and a way of honoring or memorializing loved ones. Not addressed here are quilting techniques or "the history of quilting" per se; instead, practitioners, folklorists, and scholars present a diverse picture of "culture in cloth" that is rife with meaning and personal and social significance. This is a perhaps somewhat romanticized view of sewing, but there is no denying the beauty, emotional power, and functionality of these pieces. Though kind of bare bones production-value-wise, and a bit scattered on the organization-front, this video will be of interest to serious folk artists and women's studies collections. Optional. Aud: C, P. (K. Glaser)