Through August 31, more than books are brightening up the walls at C.H. Booth Library. The Southern Connecticut Modern Quilt Guild is displaying a collection of works by members, and preparing for a reception open to the public on August 2 in celebration of the elaborate works.

In conversation with The Newtown Bee, Quilt Guild President Brenda Phelps and Vice President Terri Garneau expressed they want to encourage others, including non-quilters, to give the art form a shot.

Phelps, a costume designer, said she does “a lot of weird sewing” for her job as a costume designer. She added the special “tangible art” of quilting with the guild to her repertoire in 2016.

She described theater pieces as “ephemeral,” but quilting as “more permanent” — a quality that drew her to the medium. Phelps added that some people seek to memorialize fabrics by making a quilt, transforming it into “something to be passed down.”

“It is unique in the way people interact with it,” Phelps said of textiles as an art form. “Even when the quilt is hanging on the wall, there is a desire to touch it.”

The guild president talked about how a quilter can spend 100 to 300 hours making a quilt and give it away for free to be interacted with and used.

“That’s such a gift of love, there’s such a beauty in that to me,” she said.

Outside The Block

The quilts on view in the meeting room and adjacent hallway of the library range in subject matter, depending on the fancy of a particular quilter. Garneau said the collection includes themes of marine life, portraits, abstract works, political works and others.

“People think of quilting as repetitive patterns, but when you start looking at the world, there’s so many fascinating repetitive patterns,” Garneau said, citing the brick work and shadows of buildings as well as patterns in nature.

Garneau said many quilters today take pictures of the world around them for inspiration. She continued, saying “modern” style quilting is “a breakout from traditional pattern” which may not “coalesce” in a uniform way.

The vice president’s journey with textiles began when she learned to sew nine years ago, she said. Already an artist in several mediums, she joined the guild last September, applying her unique perspective to the guild.

Phelps said an “improvisational” style was incorporated in the process, as well as prompts to help get ideas flowing.

“We’re all kind of riffing and taking a modern interpretation on the old-fashioned block,” said Phelps.

“It’s a really open-minded group,” said Phelps, who emphasized the guild is not “old-fashioned.”

“It’s called ‘modern,’ but we have space for all kinds of quilters,” Phelps added.

“We’re trying to push that quilting is more than a craft that women do; it’s for everyone,” said Garneau, who added she hopes the gallery presentation will inspire a new generation to quilt and “bring in new voices of all types” to the guild.

‘New Voices’

Phelps said the gallery at the library is a way to show quilting as something to have fun with, and “an accessible experience, an accessible art form” with a variety of styles.

“You don’t have to buy fabric, you can use your old clothes and repurpose them. It can be a very inexpensive hobby,” added Garneau. “You can do a lot with a needle, thread, a pair of scissors, and leftover fabric.”

“You can pretty much do anything you want with textiles,” she continued, detailing some expressive options. “They’re a pretty forgiving medium and you have endless possibilities.”

Garneau said people do not have to know how to sew in order to come to a meeting, and that they could learn with the group.

Phelps described the guild as “community-based.”

“We really try to lift each other up,” said Phelps. “That’s a big part of what we do.”

The public is invited to join members of the guild during a mid-exhibition celebratory reception planned for Wednesday, August 2, from 3 to 7 pm, at the library, 25 Main Street.

The collection can be viewed any time the library is open, when the meeting room is not in use: Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am-8 pm; and Friday and Saturday, 9:30 am-5 pm. The library is closed on Sundays during the summer.

More information about the guild can be found at southernctmqg.com.

Reporter Noelle Veillette can be reached at noelle@thebee.com.