Look up at the long wall in the Riverside Room and you may be surprised to see Mona Lisa looking down at you! DaVinci’s famous icon is part of the quilt created by local artist Miriam Kaye, called “Monatheism.” Miriam built the quilt around a funky tea towel of the woman with the enigmatic smile—as she peeks out from behind her own quilt. Miriam added the golden stencil and gem halo that adorns Mona. She used hues of earthy browns and complementary blues in brocade fabrics from her friend and fellow artist Fran Gillespie for many of the pieces that make up the quilt. Look at the bottom of the quilt to see three Greek-like amphorae with rose and pink highlights.
For a different visual experience, turn around and walk directly under the rotunda to the John and Alta Black Reading Room, look up again and you will see “Halfway There” another quilt by Miriam facing Mona Lisa. This quilt was made from beautiful silks, brocades, rainbow ribbon and vintage printed fabric the artist came across as she moved through her life. With them, she created a quilt full of images of the journey and stages of living. Follow the ship on its voyage as it travels around the outer edge of the quilt. For the artist, she was “halfway” on her journey when she created this quilt.
Miriam Kaye, who works in many art media, made both quilts in the 1980s and gave them to the Library at the time of the renovation in 2003. Come in and see the quilted walls in Meekins. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist. #throwbackthursday; #tbt
Posted to Facebook 9/16/2021
