The Museum is now on Winter Hours:
Wednesday - Sunday   11am - 4pm

CURRENT EXHIBITS

Landmarks Gallery - First Floor

Wool Swimsuit c.1920s from the Museum's Permanent Collection

Knit & Purl
A Snapshot of Knitting History
Echo Mae, Guest Curator
November 1, 2023 - January 21, 2024

Knitting holds a rich yet elusive history. While the exact origins remain a mystery, most agree that its roots lie in the Middle East. From there, this craft meandered its way through northern Africa and the Mediterranean, eventually threading its path across Europe. The discovery of an 11th-century knitted sock from Egypt stands testament to knitting's ancient legacy.
 
Europe, with its diverse cultures and traditions, embraced knitting, leading to the birth of unique regional styles and techniques. As Europeans began to explore and colonize North America, knitting accompanied these European settlers. The ever-evolving tapestry of history, marked by migration, colonization, and cultural amalgamation also wove knitting into the fabric of the Coast Salish culture.
 
For some, knitting became a livelihood or done for utility; for others, a means to create heartfelt gifts for loved ones or those in need. The very act of knitting has always been synonymous with community and connection. The northern Puget Sound region stands as a testament to this. Knitters from this area have crafted with purpose, whether it was fashioning treasured family heirlooms, knitting for soldiers, generating income, knitting for fashion, or simply keeping traditions alive.
 
This exhibit is a tribute to their legacy. While the displayed artifacts and images provide a glimpse into their world, the true testament to their contribution is the thriving knitting communities we see today. Our region, with its bustling yarn shops, vibrant knitting circles, and celebrated fiber festivals, draws inspiration from these past artisans. We walk, with gratitude, in their knitted trails, even as we explore new paths, ensuring that this timeless craft is passed down to future generations.
 
About Echo Mae
Echo Mae is a knitter and fiber artist, writer, speaker, instructor, knitting designer and board member of the Pacific Northwest Quilt & Fiber Arts Museum. Her designs often draw inspiration from popular culture, literature, and mythology, and her speaking engagements explore the history and culture of fiber arts. She is co-owner of Northwest Yarns & Mercantile in Bellingham, WA, and author of the online journal Know Your Fiber, which explores the history and culture surrounding fiber animals and plants.

Second Floor

Detail, Ashes to Ashes by Elizabeth Runyon

Art Evolved: Intertwined
(SAQA Global Exhibition)
Presented by Studio Art Quilt Associates
and the National Basketry Organization
November 29, 2023 - March 3, 2024

There is a continuum where beauty and function blend and diverge in the hands of the contemporary artist. Even when traditional materials such as thread, fabric, wood, reed, and paper are used, these artists combine skill, imagination, and vision to meld their materials into compelling and beautiful art which resonates in today’s world. Artists were invited to participate in this conversation between media to illustrate the continuum between beauty and functionality.

Artists Include:
Cheri Dunnigan
Amie Adelman
Kadey Ambrose
David Paul Bacharach
Lanny Bergner
Toni Best
Beth Blankenship
Jerry Bleem
Charissa Brock
Clay Burnette
Ana Buzzalino
Cael Chappell
Christine Chester
Larry P. Clifford
Ann Coddington
Linda Colsh
Ramona Conconi
Mary Day
Lynne Dees
Jacinthe Demmert
Jeffrey Lloyd Dever
Carol Eckert
Audrey Esarey
Lisa Flowers Ross
Lynne Francis-Lunn
Jayne Bentley Gaskins
Helen Geglio
Mita Giacomini
Zia Gipson
Heather Hietala
Laurel Izard
Irene Koroluk
Annetta Kraayeveld  
Katherine Lewis
Michelle Lipson
Viviana Lombrozo
Elaine Longtemps
Valerie Maser-Flanagan
Dorothy McGuinness
Alicia Merrett
Amanda Miller
Merrill Morrison
Clara Nartey
Dan B. Olfe
Larry Page
Claire Passmore
Wen Redmond
Irene Roderick
Connie Rohman
Elizabeth Runyon
Sara Sharp
Terri Shinn
Karyl Sisson
Jennifer Solon
Jo Stealey
Jennifer Tang
Hope Wilmarth
Nolan Wright
Saaraliisa Ylitalo

Third Floor

Detail, Mosaic Medallion, Unknown Artist, c.1900-1920, The Jim Erickson Collection

The Jim Erickson Collection
November 1, 2023 - February 4, 2024

This collection was recently donated to the museum by American-Canadian James Erickson, award-winning movie set decorator.

Erickson won the Academy Award for Best Production Design for his work on Lincoln, and was nominated for There Will Be Blood, among many of his other credits. Jim traveled all around the world while pursuing his career and began to collect quilts and textiles from many of the places he visited.

He recently approached the museum about donating some of his quilts and woven coverlets so Carla Schultz-Parks, Collections Manager, and Joy Neal, Board President, made the trip to Salt Spring Island and spent two days going through his collection. Jim was gracious and generous. He only wanted the items to find a good home. We could have any of several lovely quilts, woven coverlets and quilt books. Each trunk and cupboard he opened was filled with delightful pieces. Sometimes he knew nothing of the maker, he just loved the design and bought it. Others had stories or were clearly marked with a date and/or name.

"How I wish we could have brought all of the pieces back with us." said Carla. "We had to consider condition, design (do we already have a bunch of that style) and how or if we could display them. It came down to hard decisions and in the end we brought back 42 beautiful pieces."

As Joy said, “We only had so much room in the car!”

UPCOMING EXHIBITS

Birds of a Fiber 2024  | Jan 24 - March 24, 2024

Denise Labadie: Stone Portraits and Sacred Landscapes  | Feb 7 - May 5, 2024

Shift Change - Curated by Brian Nigus  | March 6 - April 28, 2024

La Conner in Bloom Challenge  | March 27 - April 28, 2024