Quilt #150: Rehoboth Meander

Michael James, Quilt #150: Rehoboth Meander, 1993, machine pieced cotton and silk; machine quilted, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Renwick Alliance, 1994.76, © 1993, Michael F. James
Copied Michael James, Quilt #150: Rehoboth Meander, 1993, machine pieced cotton and silk; machine quilted, 5352 12 in. (134.6133.4 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the James Renwick Alliance, 1994.76, © 1993, Michael F. James

Artwork Details

Title
Quilt #150: Rehoboth Meander
Date
1993
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
5352 12 in. (134.6133.4 cm.)
Copyright
© 1993, Michael F. James
Credit Line
Gift of the James Renwick Alliance
Mediums
Mediums Description
machine pieced cotton and silk; machine quilted
Classifications
Keywords
  • Abstract — geometric
Object Number
1994.76

Artwork Description

Michael James uses commercial cottons and silks to construct his quilts, blending the printed patterns into his designs. He hangs the fabrics on the wall of his studio, intuitively piecing together the different shapes and colors as he works. This piece represents a period in the artist’s work when he was moving away from a more traditional grid format. The jagged and curved edges create dramatic contrasts between the dark and light tones, while the continuous stripes of color make the bold shapes appear almost translucent.