Morton Quilts 2011

Quilts from the Collection of Judy and Tom Morton
January 10 - March 18

The exhibit, Quilts from the Collection of Judy and Tom Morton, features nineteen quilts from a collection acquired over a twenty-five year period and which currently is comprised of over eighty quilts.  The majority of the quilts in the collection and in the exhibit were purchased at the annual Dillion Amish auction in Cannelton, Daviess County, Indiana, whose Amish quilt makers, working in the style of their foremothers, focus upon perfection of technique and interpretation of traditional quilting patterns.  All of these quilts in the exhibit are hand-done and had been juried into the auctions by Lucille Dillion.

The exhibit also features five quilts made by Judy Morton.  She is a highly accomplished quilter, and has created various forms of needlework most of her life.  Ms. Morton has completed many commissioned quilts, including quilts for the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra for their Jubilee anniversary in 1984 and for their 75th anniversary on 2009.  She has been honored by a special designation as Official Curator of Southern Indiana Quilts for her expertise in the technique and knowledge of Amish quilt making.  Her quilts have won numerous awards at the national level and have been featured in publications such as Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting magazine. Tom Morton notes that "Somewhere along the line, we went to a quilt auction and bought four or five and that was comparable to smoking that first pack of cigarettes…the earlier ones are excellent bed quilts which stand out with rich colors. The later ones are art, pure and simple."