Cahoon Museum Announces Three New Quilt Exhibitions Opening in June 2024

The Cahoon Museum of American Art announces the opening of three quilt exhibitions this June: Small Quilts: Big Stories, Joe Cunningham: Quilts for These Times, and The Quilted Cahoon as part of its 40th-year celebration. The exhibitions highlight the history of American quiltmaking through today’s trends in art quilts. The exhibitions remain on view into September 2024.

Small Quilts: Big Stories features artworks from the collection of Julie Silber, one of the country’s foremost quilt historians. The exhibition presents a selection of small quilts, including youth and doll quilts, that encompass 200 years of quiltmaking in America. Historic images, new research, and related objects exhibited alongside the quilts will explore the evolution of techniques and imagery, but also how quilts are cultural “windows,” that carry messages across time. Quilts hold their own particular story connected to their makers and as a group document broad shifts in American culture. The exhibition opens on June 5, 2024 and runs through September 22, 2024.

Two of the upcoming quilt exhibitions feature the work of San Francisco-based quilter Joe Cunningham:

Joe Cunningham: Quilts for These Times includes ten new quilts by nationally recognized quilter, Joe Cunningham. The artist has designed each quilt as a response to current events; some of these include Mariupol, Beagles, Variants, and Weather Patterns. Cunningham has been creating quilts professionally since 1979, and his practice is steeped in the history and traditions of quilts. In addition to his love of traditional technique, Cunningham’s quilts have evolved into his own unique, personal style. This exhibit will open on June 19, 2024, and runs through September 15, 2024.

The Quilted Cahoon by Joe Cunnigham is the 2024 installment of the Museum’s annual Streetside series that presents large-scale public art on the Museum grounds. Cunningham, working with a team of quilters, is creating a giant quilt to surround the front and side facades of the Museum’s 18th-century Crocker house building. The big, bold, and brightly colored quilt, which incorporates re-purposed spinnaker sails into the design, is possibly the first such building wrap that has ever been created. Cunningham will install the quilt the week of June 17 and visitors are invited to stop by the Museum, watch the progress, and meet Cunningham. The quilt will remain on view throughout the summer. 

The opening reception for all three exhibitions will be during the Museum’s summer open house on Saturday, June 22, from 1pm-3pm.

Gallery talks with exhibiting artists and exhibition curators, gallery tours, art workshops, panel discussions, and other programs are offered in conjunction with each exhibition. www.cahoonmuseum.org for more information.

About the Cahoon Museum of American Art?
The Cahoon Museum of American Art is a unique Cape Cod destination. Located in the village of Cotuit, MA, the Cahoon Museum welcomes visitors of all ages to experience dynamic local and regional art exhibitions and enjoy fun, family-friendly activities and educational programs. The museum showcases a collection of American art from the 18th century to contemporary in a charming historic home with a modern gallery addition. The museum is committed to its mission to celebrate American art in ways that expand knowledge, enrich the spirit, and engage the heart.?

The Cahoon Museum is located at 4676 Falmouth Road (Route 28), Cotuit, MA 0263. It is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10AM – 4PM, March 13 – December 22, 2024. www.cahoonmuseum.org.  (508) 428-7581.