Northern Daughters gallery in Vergennes welcomes “Rose and Pomegranate,” a solo exhibit of quilts from Gwen Marston. The exhibition is on view at the gallery’s 221 Main Street location through Nov. 27, with an opening reception on Oct. 27, from 5-8 p.m.
Marston is a renowned quilter, author and teacher from Michigan. She has been exhibiting her liberated quiltmaking nationally and internationally for over three decades.
“I began as most quilters do, by learning how to make quilts from traditional designs passed down through the generations,” she writes in the introduction to her book, A Common Thread. “Looking at antique quilts, I saw mounting evidence that many early quilt-makers were not following arbitrary rules nor were they using patterns. They obviously were figuring things out for themselves, which resulted in great diversity and innovation in their work. I also became aware that folk-art textiles the world around bore a common artistic feature: a certain amount of irregularity. What I found appealing in both the quilts and the folk-art textiles was that these pieces all clearly showed the hand of the maker. They were lively, had movement, and were imbued with elements of surprise, innovation, and originality.”
Marston’s Quilt “God’s Dogs” on display at Northern Daughters Gallery in Vergennes until  Nov. 27.
Marston subsequently developed Liberated Quiltmaking.
“Rose and Pomegranate” features traditional patchwork and appliqué quilts created throughout Marston’s career. The exhibit seems to be of two worlds, that of traditional handcraft and of contemporary art, rich in design, color and texture.