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Lighting the Darkness
, 2007, textile, 11’ x 2 ˝’ (photo by PRS Associates)
May 27 to July 25, 2008
Margreta Silverstone: Recent Quilts
reception for the artist
Thursday, June 26, 2008, 5:00 to 7:00pm
Artist’s Statement
 I
want my art to bring the holy to the world. I want my wearable art garments to
give dignity to the wearer. I want my work to be a source of healing the spirit.
 I
first learned to quilt from women at my church in Washington, DC. You need to
visit my church to realize how ironic to be doing such a traditional activity in
a very non-traditional church. We gathered to make a log cabin quilt-in-a-day,
but the power went out mid-day. It took longer than a day to finish that quilt;
by the end, I was hooked.
How does one describe influences on your own work? I grew up in Washington state
and did a lot of hiking and photography. Does my sense of color come from those
formative years? Does my love for the simple come from the year I spent in Japan
where I taught English as a missionary and practiced shuji? Does my current
sense of patterning come from more than 8 years of working in the computer
industry? How does one take the experiences of a lifetime and pick the parts
that are "important"? Where and how does my faith influence my work? I don't
journal enough to answer all these questions. I'd rather spend my time DOING my
artistic work.
 It
took me ten years to apprentice in this art craft before I was willing to hear
the criticisms of others through juried shows. My apprenticeship was not as long
as Itchiku Kubota's (master kimono maker in the tsujigahana style), but I
understand the same need to perfect one's skill and knowledge. I still have many
things to learn.
Margreta Silverstone
Curator’s Statement
 It
is not often that one gets the opportunity to watch someone grow into a
full-fledged artist before one’s very eyes. When I first met Margreta
Silverstone, she was a young graduate student in serious pursuit of a career in
public service. Today, she is indeed a public servant, as well as a wife,
mother, and faithful member of a Christian community. As may be seen in the
quilts on display, she is also an accomplished artist who has grown in her
chosen medium through disciplined practice, attention to detail, and an
eagerness to continually stretch herself in new directions.
 The
works in this exhibition demonstrate Margreta’s continual willingness to
challenge herself, enriching both her visual sense and her technical expertise.
While some of the works may be understood as practical exercises, their
complexity, unexpected color choices, and use of non-traditional materials
suggest a depth of meaning that the artist, herself, only hints at in her
explanations.
It
is with great pleasure that I introduce Margreta Silverstone and her quilts to
the Wesley Theological Seminary Community. May these rich, vibrant patches of
cloth and color bring as much pleasure to all who view them as they do to me.
More information about Margreta Silverstone's and her work can be seen at her
web site, http://www.margreta.com.
Deborah Sokolove
Curator,
Dadian Gallery
Installation Views of the Exhibition
quilts © Margreta Silverstone
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