Carrefour 2024: Quilts II

I’m writing about the experience my husband and I had at Carrefour European Patchwork Show in 2024, in Alsace France.

All posts in order are on the European Patchwork (Carrefour) page.

Previously, we arrived in Saint Marie-aux-Mines, and hit the Vendor Mall to start. Then we looked at the exhibits in the Theater (amazing), and now, we head on down the street to Venue 4: the Église des Chaînes, where the exhibit on the Amish is shown. The Anabaptists originally hail from this region, so this show always pays tribute to them by showing their quilts and their handiwork, including a tiny doll bed. (Click to enlarge any photo.)

I love Amish quilts, and many credit them with impacting the Modern Quilt movement, with their strong colors and simple shapes, although that was the first time I’d seen a Jacob’s Ladder block set like this (blue/red quilt).

After that, we double-back to Venue 3: Église St. Louis to see the Anne Bellas exhibit, From River to Ocean, passing some street scenes on the way (it’s really a small village, but love all the sights).

It’s a challenge to light these older churches for quilt exhibits, and I give all kinds of credit to Carrefour European Patchwork Show for the bunches of light they bring in (you can see the scaffolding in the two photos, above — a long rail at the edge of the benches with lights aimed at the quilts). So I’ve tried to adjust the photos on this end, at the computer, to compensate as well.

Anne Bellas’ work was between improv and modern interpretations of different scenes. Often I traipsed to the end of a bench to get the best view I could, as she was inventive with her materials and thread. Here are a few of my best photos (not all of the photos were ready for blog-prime-time).

The program notes state:

“After living for a long time on the Atlantic coast, and now residing in Nantes on the banks of the Loire, Anne is obviously sensitive to the theme of the ocean and water in all its natural forms: coastlines and estuaries, rivers and lakes, stormy or dry seas, ice floes and storms are words that her imagination tries to recreate. For this series, on which she’s working…her sister Cécile, a budding writer, came up with a short text to accompany each of the works, developing the emotions and memories they evoke for her” (from Carrefour European Patchwork program, 29th edition).

(I did my best on the title cards as they were over my head in height; please forgive.)

I love the Saint peeking out overhead, watching over us quilters. Really, old churches and quilts might possible have a natural affinity one for another.

She also had a few small quilts for sale, too:

The white signs advertise Tissus (fabric) for sale.

We’re heading back across the tiny river to Venues 6 and 8, but I’ll save 6 (Espace des Tisserands) for the next post.

Many places were decorated, some with traditional items (geese and swans are big around here), and some with quilts (Pharmacy of the Swan):

Église Ste. Madeleine, venue 8 (with DH at the base of the steps).

Viewpoints, an international fiber art collective, exhibited here and many of the works referred to the poem “Ithaka,” by Constantin Kavafis (inspired by Homer’s Odyssey). The program notes say “Ithaca is the path, it is both a journey and a goal. Ithaca is life itself.”

This is where — several weeks later — you really hope you got the right title card with the right quilt. On these two, I don’t really know. (Click on any in the galleries to enlarge.) I did head to Hsin-Chen’s website and she does have a bit about Ithaka, so my fingers are crossed.

I also looked up Betty Busby, and maybe I’m right?

Get out your scraps!

Giving you a feel for how things were, in this exhibit.

Time to get to work in our sewing rooms/studio/garage/basement/wherever you and your fabric find each other.

Next up: Carrefour: Quilts III: All the moderns, Victoria Findlay Wolf’s new exhibit, and others.