Today would have marked the 60th birthday of Prince. The iconic artist not only made a huge impact on musicians, but also inspired other artists from various fields. One of those fields is the textile arts.
Cedarburg's Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts is hosting an exhibit called, Prince's Purple Reign - A Textural Tribute to Prince. Running through June 17, the touring exhibit features 25 varied art quilts honoring the life and art of Prince, including members of the Women of Color Quilting Network. The exhibition comes from the Textile Center in Minnesota which is juried by Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, one of the nation's experts in African American quilting.
“The quilts in Commemorating His Purple Reign: A Textural Tribute to Prince best represent the many and varied elements of creative ideas and techniques that have brought quiltmaking out of the sphere of functional domestic crafts to stand alongside the more universally recognized art forms, such as painting and sculpture, as a valid means of artistic expression. The imagination and ingenuity in the quilt community is extraordinary. The selected works were chosen based on strong composition, color, and construction technique. In addition, the work had to speak to the life, spirit, and music of Prince.” -Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi
One of the pieces in the show was made by Marliss Jansen, a Minneapolis-based quilter who used to design costumes and dye fabrics for Prince and his backup singers. Over the years, Jansen saved the fabric samples. When she saw an open call for the exhibition, she created a work using the material.
If you're truly devoted to celebrating Prince through every art form there is, you'll want to experience this tribute.
