by Deborah Hauser

If you've been to a performance in the Earl Wynn Theater at the ArtsCenter recently, you probably noticed something on the walls when the lights went up -- 12 art quilts. The quilts, created and donated by eight area quilters, were installed in January to improve the acoustics. They are on permanent display at the ArtsCenter.

The project started in May 2001 after the ArtsCenter published a request for an artist to submit a proposal for artwork to act as sound baffles for the Earl Wynn Theater. Deborah Hauser was well aware of the cave-like acoustics in the theater, since her daughter performed in plays there with Theater Orange, a local youth acting group. Hauser approached the ArtsCenter with the idea of using art quilts as sound baffles.

Hauser then met with staff members at the ArtsCenter and measured for sizes and location of the quilts. She contacted several quilters to see whether they would be interested in donating or making quilts for the ArtsCenter.

Marni Goldshlag, Sharon LeSoine and Susan Neulist agreed to help out. Additional quilts were needed, so Hauser contacted several quilters from the 1999 Summer Is Sizzlin' quilt show at the ArtsCenter. From that group Francine Blouin, Marga deBruijin, Kathy Friedman and Katherine Nelson agreed to participate.

In June 2001, the quilters met at the ArtsCenter to review the plans and look at the space. Some quilters donated existing works, and other quilters created new pieces just for the theater.

This collection of art quilts provides visual impact as well as acoustical comfort for the theater. LeSoine created "Sine Nomine," a teal blue, gray, tan and brown modern nine-patch design surrounded by a border of leaves. LeSoine said she enjoys creating quilts to explore color and design.

Hanging near LeSoine's work is a tropical paradise of geometric shapes and colors in an untitled piece by Francine Blouin, who won several awards at the Durham Orange Quilters' Guild show in September. Blouin donated "Back in Black," a piece inspired by the rock group AC/DC and embellished with headphones. This quilt is composed of black satin and velvet with highlights of red satin and silver lame.

"Celestial Shores" by Hauser was inspired by the bluegrass classic "I'll Fly Away." The colors in this bargello-style piece range from pale yellow to deep violet, reminiscent of the sky at dawn. Hauser also created "Heart Strings," a tessellation of guitars with golden strings and beads.

Other pieces inspired by music include Susan Neulist's "Circle Game," which was created using a reverse applique method and sumptuous circles of blues, purples, reds and gold. Neulist recently had a show at the Century Center in Carrboro. Her focus is the use of color to capture movement and light.

Katherine Nelson's "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes, the Day but One," is a colorful fiber collage on a black velvet background. She also created "Musical DNA," with lively vertical lines and curved pieces. These two quilts were collaborations with Sherri Wood, an area quilt artist and teacher who sews pieces prolifically. Nelson edits them into finished quilts to hang in public places. Wood works on modular units. Nelson cuts up and re-forms them into startling combinations of color.

Goldshlag, who recently had work featured at "Quilt 21" in Massachusetts, donated two pieces: "Taking the Red Eye" and "Atmospheric Interference." Goldshlag's focus is on contemporary, abstract design often using hand-painted and dyed fabric.

Kathy Friedman, an ardent collector of antique quilts, donated "Antique Kaleidoscope," an excellent example of how traditional quilts can be abstract.

The quilts at the ArtsCenter are available for viewing before, after and during performances at the Earl Wynn Theater.