2006 Overture Center for the Arts Channel 3 Time Capsule Fabrication
2005 Madison Sesquicentennial Fabrications
Other Fabrications
Quilts
|
“See how she has quilted us in, gathered lace, feathers,
fans, jackets, gloves, and how many lost loves.”
Andrea Musher, Madison Poet Laureate Fabrications are fabric
collages which incorporate pieces of clothing and other related items such as
hats, gloves, slippers, belts and jewelry into a design. Fabrications can serve
as "memory quilts" in which families, classrooms or communities can create
visual repositories for collected treasures and heirlooms.
The time capsule at the
Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, WI is scheduled to be opened in 2056.
Inside it is a fabric collage sewn of
remnants from “A Celebration of Madison’s 150 Years – in Cloth” accompanied by a
poem by poet laureate, Andrea Musher, commemorating the project.
|
Descriptions of the items run from left to right in four rows.
- 1940’s Badger State fabric from Mary Robinson was contributed
by her daughter Lynn Stickels, head swim coach at the East YMCA. Mary’s family
worked with the international YMCA. She continued to drive herself to the Y into
her 90’s.
- 1960’s satin wedding dress fabric was contributed by Carla
Koykkari, of Rosie’s Traveling Show. Carla specializes in refurbishing vintage
clothing, offering them “new life.”
- Bucky Badger t-shirt was contributed by the artist’s daughter,
Lili Kilfoy.
- 1900’s tablecloth fragment was contributed by Joanne Jensen,
daughter of Josephina Magnasco, owner of Josie’s Restaurant. The tablecloth
belonged to Josie’s mother and came from Sicily.
- 1999 East High School graduation gown collar was contributed by
the artist’s daughter, Elena Kilfoy.
- 1983 Willy Street Fair t-shirt commemorates what has become the
most popular of Madison’s many street festivals.
- Gold wrist watch belonged to Donna Heideman’s mother. Now in
her 70’s, Donna recently retired after 50 years as a neonatal nurse at Meriter
Hospital. Donna literally helped birth thousands of Madisonians.
- 1950’s Josie’s Spaghetti House t-shirt was contributed by
Joanne Jensen. Josie’s was the longest running Italian Restaurant to-date in
Madison.
- Blue satin embroidered jacket was contributed by Judy Sharpless
from the Parental Stress Center, where she works as a therapist with girls who
have suffered sexual abuse. The jacket was a beloved dress up item.
- American Girl Doll apparel was contributed by the Pleasant
Company. In 1986 Madison philanthropist Pleasant Rowland founded the American
Girl brand as a way to educate and entertain girls. The idea proved to be such a
hit that in 1998 Pleasant sold her company to Mattel, a giant toy company.
Pleasant and her husband Jerry Frautschi have left Madison a permanent legacy in
the Overture Center for the Arts.
- 1890’s beaded black dresser scarf remnant was contributed by
the artist.
- 1930’s handkerchief was contributed by Brandy Stiteler, retro
clothing manager of St. Vincent de Paul’s. In expressing how much she loves her
job, Brandy says, “Every day is like dress up day!”
- 1940’s orange velvet dress was purchased by the artist from a
warehouse sale by Opera for the Young.
- 2004 Northwoods League Champions patch was contributed by
baseball team Madison Mallards.
- 2006 College for Kids t-shirt was contributed by the artist.
The innovative program offers enrichment experiences for middle school children.
- Hand dyed fabric was contributed by local artist Cherie St Cyr.
- 1990 The Home Planet t-shirt was contributed by Wildwood
Productions, a local silk screen business that enjoys a national reach yet
remains at the heart of the intersection between art and the Madison community.
- 2006 Madison Museum of Contemporary Art t-shirt was contributed
by Wildwood Productions.
- Hand printed Farmers Market t-shirt (circa 1975) was
contributed by artist Carol Hambrecht who has been selling her creations at the
Farmer’s Market for 30years.
- 1950-60 Boy Scout badges and patches were contributed by Karen
Mandt, on behalf of her brother Eugene.
- Miscellaneous fabrics were contributed by Vicki Oldham and Erin
Sobek.
- Miscellaneous pins and small items were contributed by the
artist.
- 1990 Red satin border fabric was contributed by the artist’s
daughter, Shadayra. It was from a dress that Shady wore as a dama in a friend’s
quincenera (becoming 15 years old) celebration.
|
Nine 6’x6’ fabric collages were made from artifacts collected from more than 130 individual, families
and groups, and then were sewn together at community sewing bees at neighborhood
centers and with at-riskk teens.
“Sesquicentennially stitched, we are all in the mix. She has
hitched our remnants to a hopeful star.”
Andrea Musher, Madison Poet Laureate
View entire
project...
Click here for
artist’s statement -
2007 Arts Board Lobby solo exhibit “FABRICATIONS –Torments and Treasures from
the Metaphysical & Material Worlds of Sharon Kilfoy”
Click here for artist’s
statement -
2005 Overture Center group exhibit “Layered Intentions”
Quilts by Sharon Kilfoy
“Kilfoy’s quilts are dazzling displays of colors, patterns
and textures, which reflect her ability to integrate fabrics collected from a
wide variety of sources.”
“In addition to the cotton calico that is a favorite of many quilters, Kilfoy
includes satin, velvet, brocade, tie-dyed and batik fabric in her work.
Materials from fabric stores, antique stores, Indian and Pakistani sari shops,
and second-hand clothing all go into the mix to become transformed into powerful
visual statements.”
“Coming from a fine arts background, Kilfoy approaches quilting with an artist’s
sensibility which is most apparent in her strength as a colorist. Her ability to
compare and contrast groups of colors results in compositions of shimmering
beauty.”
Richard Moninski, Green Lantern Studios, Mineral Point,
WI
|