More than 30 quilts crafted by 14 current and former UNL employees are on display at UNL’s International Quilt Study Center and Museum.
The 2015 UNL Employee Quilt Show will be on display at the museum until March 14. It will transition to an exhibition space in Love Library and show from March 16 to May 11. A “First Friday” reception is 5-7 p.m. April 13 at the library.
The annual exhibition, now in its sixth year, is organized by Trudy Rhoads, an accounting clerk with Student Accounts.
“This exhibit is our chance to share and be inspired by the work of current and former employees who are quilters,” Rhoads said. “And, to see them hanging at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum, which specializes in what we are doing, is just plain awesome for all of us.”
Many of the quilts on display were made by employees who are also part of Quilt-N, a group that meets once a month at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum. The Quilt-N group, which was created as a result of the annual employee exhibit, has met since May of 2013.
Techniques taught during the group’s meetings led to a design challenge that has been incorporated into the annual quilt show.
“The challenge is something we have done for two years now,” Rhoads said. “For this show, the challenge was to incorporate a new technique or block design that we learned during our monthly meetings.”
The challenge winner will be decided through votes submitted by visitors to the quilt exhibition. A second vote is being offered to choose the best overall design.
While many of the quilts are made for family or friends, one holds special meaning for the Quilt-N group.
“There is one quilt that is different from all the others,” Rhoads said. “We put it together as a group in about three weeks so that our friend, Mary Ourecky, could have it the next time she goes in for breast cancer treatment.
“That’s one that is special to all of us.”
Ourecky works at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum. Her comfort quilt was constructed by Rhoads, Deanna Larson, Mary Ashbury, Barbara Brennan, Jennifer Brown, Cheri Marshall, Allison Nespor, Elias Salas and Lynn DeShon.
Current and former employees who submitted quilts for the annual show are: Nancy Anderson, Mary Ashbury, Jennifer Brown, Linda Crump, Lynn Deshon, Kristy Hattan, Debbie Hendricks, Deanna Larson, JoAnn Moseman, Diane Ohlson, Mary Ourecky, Trudy Rhoads, Barb Robertson and Mary Schieke.
Photos of quilts in the exhibition are available by clicking here.
For more information on the current exhibit, the Quilt-N group or future exhibitions, contact Rhoads at trhoads1@unl.edu or 402-472-9006.
