Historic Arkansas Museum is pleased to announce the opening of “Stitched Together: A Treasury of Arkansas Quilts” on Friday, July 12. The new exhibit, which is free to view, will be housed in Cabe Gallery through Oct. 31, 2020. 

“Stitched Together” tells the story of quilting in Arkansas through a selection of the museum’s most treasured bed covers, showcasing a collection of the rarest with most quilts made before 1900 and many prior to the Civil War. 

Quilting is not an American invention, but a skill carried to the New World by immigrants. However, in the almost two and a half centuries since the colonies became states, quilting evolved into a uniquely American tradition represented by the proliferation of block style designs. Most early quilts were not the thrifty creations of hard-strapped settlers, but elegant, complex compositions that commemorated significant life events and were reserved for the family’s best bed. 

Arkansas quilts pre-dating 1850 are rare; the majority of surviving 19th century quilts were produced in the last quarter of the century by the hard-working wives and daughters of independent yeoman farmers. Despite the demands of daily life, Arkansas women found time to create some of the most exquisitely crafted quilts in the entire country. 

The quilts in the exhibit are also a reflection of the unique experiences of the quilt makers, with themes of culture, politics and religion being a few of the themes expressed in their patchwork. 

The reception for the exhibit will be held during 2nd Friday Art Night on Friday, July 12, from 5 – 8 p.m.