Special Exhibit: Fiber artist Lola Jenkins has a free spirit approach to fabric art using raw-edge appliqué to create her beautifully crafted fabric portraits. She starts with an enlarged photo or sketch, and uses small pieces of fabric and free-motion, thread painting, or random quilting to bring it to life. She fuses abstract and folk art into creatively crafted, award-winning portrait quilts. Without any background in sewing, art, perspective, or drawing, she developed her passion. Through her courage and fearless approach in creating art quilts she has evolved to master-quilter status.

When the Apollo astronauts went to the moon, the whole world watched. When the Fly Me to the Moon art quilt challenge went out, it went global. The book showcasing the curated results of that call for entries includes 179 art quilts by over 130 artists from 8 countries, expressing their interpretation of the space program and all things lunar. The exhibit displays 44 of these quilts.

From exhibit curator, Susanne Jones:
What is your memory of the moon mission, Apollo XI? I was 16 when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon on July 20, 1969. I watched it on TV with my grandmother, who was born during the horse and buggy era, and my cousin, April. I remember how amazed my grandmother was that she was watching men walking on the moon. I was further intrigued to find out that Buzz Aldrin had roomed in college with April’s uncle. Years later I discovered that my father-in-law was on the design committee for the lunar module. Those are my connections to the lunar landing, what are yours?

Fly Me to the Moon commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Man’s Walk on the Moon. This multifaceted collection is published in a book by Schiffer Publishing and is available in the museum shop. The 44 quilts in this exhibition are all 18"W x 30"L quilts and fall in one of the following categories:

• Puppy Love by Nneka K Gamble
• Shine on Harvest Moon by Jeanne M Knudsen
• Making Moonshine by Barbara S Pozek
• Moonlight in Vermont by Kate Themel
• PROPULSION The Other Boosters Behind the Moon Landing by Linda T Cooper
  Ed White by Margaret Williams

This is a juried collection and it will travel all over the United States. The beauty of this collection is that it can travel all together or in smaller groups for specific purposes. The quilts will be exhibited in quilt shows and art shows, as well as some NASA facilities.

I am encouraged by NASA’s involvement in the fiber arts. At Houston last year there was an exhibit of star blocks that were made in response to a challenge by astronaut Karen Nyberg. Over 2200 blocks were submitted and were made into 28 quilt panels. NASA also had a booth at the show in support of Nyberg. In Huntsville, Alabama at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, a Saturn V rocket was wrapped in 8000 pieces of fiber art by the International Fiber Cooperative. Aptly named the Dream Rocket Project, it was displayed in Huntsville two months in 2015. I am hopeful that some of our quilts will be displayed in some of the Space Centers and Museums.

The book showcases the curated results of that call for entries: 179 art quilts by over 130 artists from 8 countries, expressing their interpretation of the space program and all things lunar. It invites you to walk down memory lane or discover the story of the missions for the first time, but most importantly, enjoy a trip to the moon and beyond without the time and rigors of space training. As you travel into space, meet the astronauts, hum the tunes, and read how the artists tell you about their pieces. Find endless inspiration and discover what the moon is really made of: cotton, thread, crystals, paint, ink, tulle, and crocheted lace.