Ace of Clubs by Libby Lehman

Playing with a Full Deck

The full collection is available to view online. A portion of the collection is on view at the Museum.

January 21 – May 27, 2023

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

“One of the goals of the Full Deck is to increase the public awareness and appreciation of the art quilt medium by showcasing a broad range of art quilts in a collection that has inherent interest.”

–From the Preface of Art Quilts: Playing with a Full Deck, 1994

Playing with a Full Deck is a collection of 54 art quilts, each depicting a single card of the deck. The works were created by 56 artists (two of the quilts were created by spouses working as a team). The array of artists happily ensured a variety of styles, techniques, innovations, and aesthetics that, as the catalog proclaimed, provide a snapshot of the medium of art quilting in the late 20th century.

Like all fine art, the works prompt questions and elicit emotions. The series evokes the full human experience, from joy, whimsy, and nostalgia to grief, struggle, and loss. Even America’s favorite pastime, baseball, gets a cameo. Artists whose names are now synonymous with the modern art quilt movement, such as Carolyn Mazloomi, lent their talents to this audacious group show that was coordinated by artist and curator Sue Pierce.

Playing with a Full Deck was first exhibited at the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, and then traveled the United States for several years as a part of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) program. In the Foreword to the exhibition catalog, the Renwick’s Curator-in-Charge, Michael W. Monroe, noted that the quilts’ “diminutive size” helped the viewer understand that these artworks were not intended for sleeping or warmth. Decades later, the art-loving public is no longer surprised to see textile art in different sizes and shapes, including three-dimensional works. Playing with a Full Deck accomplished its goal of increasing the public’s awareness and appreciation of the art quilt.

Visions Museum of Textile Art thanks art collectors Warren and Nancy Brakensiek for donating Playing with a Full Deck to the museum’s permanent collection. Due to their generosity, we are able to continue to enjoy and admire this exceptional collection of quilts.

EXHIBITION GALLERY