Unconventional & Unexpected comes to a close.

May 24, 2015 Roderick Kiracofe

I have been unpacking the quilts from my exhibition that closed on May 17 after it opened on February 14 of this year. The quilts from my recent book, Unconventional & Unexpected, generated so many ideas and excitement that flowed into this exhibition of the same name at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. It was thrilling to see the quilts as I imagine them: freely flying, invitingly draped over a pedestal, or with its back shown instead.

Toward the end of the exhibition as part of the A.R.T.S. Student Exhibition, 4th and 5th graders from Sonoma came to visit the exhibition. After seeing the quilts, they responded in kind with their own quilted creations. They installed their pieces amongst Unconventional & Unexpected, titling their show Piecing It Together. The concurrent exhibitions paired so very beautifully. I am in love with their masterpieces!

The threads of a colorful passion for quilts

May 10, 2015 Roderick Kiracofe

“It was a common belief, Kiracofe said, that quilt making stopped after World War II. ‘People didn’t need quilts any more; there were blankets.’

But, had quilting really stopped?”

— Petaluma360

The exhibition, Unconventional & Unexpected, was featured in Petauma360 on May 10, just before the exhibition closed. I had a great conversation with them about my background with quilts and my adventure in discovering their beauty.

Read the article here.

Unconventional & Unexpected is at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art from February 14 to May 17, 2015.

Sonoma Index-Tribune asks Kiracofe "why he finds such comfort in his vast collection of comforters"

February 14, 2015 Roderick Kiracofe

Renowned quilt authority and collector Roderick Kiracofe hangs some quilts Wednesday as part of an exhibit at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. Image: Robbi Pengelly of Sonoma Index-Tribune. — Renowned quilt authority and collector Roderick Kiracofe hangs some quilts Wednesday as part of an exhibit at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. Image: Robbi Pengelly of Sonoma Index-Tribune.

The exhibition also titled Unconventional & Unexpected is finally up at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. The Sonoma Index-Tribune did a beautiful piece on the exhibition. They came with great questions.

'U&U' exhibition with 'Shaker Stories' speak to the "fine art of craft"

February 13, 2015 Roderick Kiracofe

The Sonoma Valley Sun featured the simultaneous shows at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art:

Read the review here.

The shows run through May 16. The Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, located at 551 Broadway, is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. $5, children and members free. 939.7862

“Presenting American crafts and craftsmanship as examples of fine art and design, quilts and Shaker furniture are featured in separate exhibitions at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. ‘Unconventional and Unexpected: Quilts Below the Radar, 1950-2000’ and ‘Shaker Stories from the collection of Benjamin H. Rose, III.’”

"I don’t know where to begin. I love everything about it."

February 8, 2015 Roderick Kiracofe

Quilty Pleasures Blog reviewed Unconventional & Unexpected. I was humbled by Diane Harris' kind words.

“I especially love the idea that these were quilts “below the radar.” That’s how I hope my quilts will be viewed some day. They aren’t going to win any prizes, but hopefully they’ll win somebody’s heart.”

— Diane Harris, Quilty Pleasures

Read the review on Quilty Pleasures blog here.

String quilt from Unconventional & Unexpected by Roderick Kiracofe — String quilt from *Unconventional & Unexpected* by Roderick Kiracofe

U&U included among books that "spark" creativity

February 1, 2015 Roderick Kiracofe

The Associated Press via the Union-Tribune San Diego has included Unconventional & Unexpected among an astounding list of books to "spark you or your child's creativity" -- craft and art that everyone can enjoy this new year.

Unconventional & Unexpected has great company among Merrilee Liddiaro's Playful: Fun Projects to make with + for Kids (also published by Abrams), Merrilee Liddiaro's Quilting with a Modern Slant, and The Plant Recipe Book by Baylor Chapman.

See the full list of craft suggestions here.

U&U is full of a "freer, more casual, utilitarian aesthetic"

January 28, 2015 Roderick Kiracofe

Unconventional & Unexpected received a beautiful review in Hali:

“Collected by renowned quilt authority and collector Roderick Kiracofe via eBay, flea markets, estate sales and other sources, they represent a 20th-century quilt movement that remains mostly undocumented.”

"Some of these quilts did not even have straight sides!"

January 3, 2015 Roderick Kiracofe

My quilts and words were featured amidst this conversation, "Reassessing the Revival," about the quilt revival in Antiques and The Arts Weekly. Here is an excerpt from Kate Eagen Johnson's depth article:

“Unconventional & Unexpected is dedicated to quilts of more recent vintage. About ten years ago, long-time quilt dealer Kiracofe literally woke up one day and thought ‘What were the ‘everyday quilts’ made from the 1950s to the end of the Twentieth Century like? And where they even made?’ He had ended his historical survey The American Quilt, 1993, with quilts from the 1940s because quilt dogma held that no good quilts were made after 1950.

Kiracofe began checking out quilts of a more recent vintage. Many, of course, were traditional in style and technique, but there were also ‘maverick’ quilts whose makers reveled in breaking the rules and in improvisation. The latter were the ones that appealed to him and he began buying them on eBay and through other means. Perhaps to the chagrin of Arts and Crafts purists, the makers of these objects did not always fashion quality, natural materials by hand. Many unabashedly delighted in polyester and rayon that they ornamented via machine stitching and appliqué. Some of these quilts did not even have straight sides!”

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