'Hidden Histories, Untold Stories' at the V&A

Above, 'At the End of the Day' Natasha Kerr 2007

Next month sees the opening of the Victoria & Albert Museum's first British quilt exhibition, from 20th March - 4th July 2010. The quilts, largely from the museum's own collection, will include commissioned pieces from contemporary textile artists such as Caren Garfen and Sue Stockwell. Also on show will be work by Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry.
On hearing about this exhibition my first thought wasn't that I'd rush to see it. However, after following the preparations leading up to this event via curator Sue Pritchard's blog and the V&A's Facebook page,  I now feel differently. Alongside some of the quilts will be personal effects, sewing equipment from the age, paintings etc, helping to give a social and historical context to the piece.  As well as loans from private collections there will also be quilts from the Geffrye Museum, the Imperial War Museum and Upton House. The exhibition will be displayed using 6 themes (such as Memory & Memorial, British Eccentricity...), both chronologically and thematically, into which the contemporary pieces will woven rather than made into a 'modern' stand alone section.
For anyone with an interest in British folk art this could be really interesting. Let's go see!

Above, 'Right to Life' Grayson Perry 1998

The book to accompany this exhibition is available to pre-order from the V&A's website (currently with a £2 discount if you order online)  http://www.vandashop.com/ 

Above, Bishops Court quilt, approx 1690-1700

Entry tickets are £10 for adults and can be pre-booked at http://www.vam.ac.uk/