Quilts can these days be considered art, rather than simply utilitarian textiles, thanks in part to Shelly Zegart.
The “Queen of Quilts” as she was once called, Shelly Zegart was not a quilter, nor even a stitcher. She became interested in quilts after tea in the 1970s with Bruce Mann, a collector from Louisville, Kentucky, who brought some of his pieces along. According to Ms Zegart, Mr Mann was “throwing these things out” and “that was it”. She subsequently purchased some of the pieces to hang and so began an obsession. When Bruce Mann died in a vehicle accident in 1980 he left behind plans for documenting the state’s quilting history and Ms Zegart was encouraged to take this project on by friends. The Kentucky Quilt Project had started.
Shelly Zegart has passed away at the age of 84 in Louisville. Although not a maker she is one of the most significant figures in the world of American quilts.
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