Symphonic Design

On Wednesday I went to the African-American Quilt exhibit in the Nelson Art Gallery that is currently showcasing at the UC Davis campus. Each quilt portrayed a unique pattern and design. Every quilt I saw established their own individual rhythm, creating a symphony of texture and pattern. As my eyes danced along the movement of bright and subdued patterns and I was lost in their visual melodies. I found that the tempo would quicken amongst the bright, dynamic patterns of some quilts and slow to a calm, even pace as my eyes reached balanced shapes and pastel repetitions. 

            One quilt, called Slave’s Popcorn Quilt, embodied the qualities of a legato musical rhythm and incorporated the aspects of alternating rhythm as well. Analogous, puffy rosettes softened its grid-like pattern. The repetition of each fabric disk, created a pattern of twelve squares, along with a pastel purple border. In the middle of each square, the colors of the disks interchanged. This created an alternating pattern within a more stable pattern. Although its pattern takes on a hectic description, its complete appearance was peaceful and serene.

            The second quilt that caught my eye was morbidly titled My Mama is Dead. This quilt possessed the attributes of a staccato musical rhythm. The quilt contained only three colors but its labyrinth of lines and their irregular densities created a dynamic contrast of abrupt changes. The red, black, and white produced bold, positive and negative spaces as well as a haphazard composition. Although the texture was quite muted, it prevented any distraction from the quilt’s dramatic pattern.

            Each quilt I encountered sent my senses soaring amongst a whirlwind of textural beats. These decorative bed covers included their own individual visual rhythm through a variety of patterns. The entire exhibit contained an illustrated symphony of colors, textures, repetition and pattern. This “music” I was feeling, made me realize how something as ordinary as a quilt’s design can leave a person captivated. It is a simple household object, yet it is a prime example of design’s omnipresence. After entering the art gallery I felt as though I was in the midst of an aesthetic orchestra. I was the composer and through my heightened senses, I had successfully learned to conduct a group of quilted musicians.