QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-5900

Who documented this quilt?

Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Health

Where are the records for this quilt housed?

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project Number:

11.0028

If this quilt is owned by a museum, enter the accession number:

2011:141.2

Object label:

Confusion
Elsie M. Campbell
Dodge City, Kansas
2006
Collection of Michigan State University Museum acc.#2011:142.2

Essay:

Alzheimer’s is confusion. Commonplace things become mysterious, their identity and purpose impossible to discern. With confusion often comes loneliness and isolation.

The Lone Star parallels the progression of Alzheimer’s. In the early stage
(top), only one or two pieces are confused. A question mark and its mirrored image form a heart. As the disease progresses (middle), pieces are mixed up, left out, and transposed. Things don’t quite make sense anymore. Patches become misshapen and distorted. In the final stages (bottom), even the central purple diamonds, one’s deepest memories, become distorted and go missing. Finally memories fade and become nearly unrecognizable. Patches appear to lie in a pile on a table.

-- Elsie M. Campbell

Quilt's title:

Confusion

Names for quilt's pattern in common use:

Lone Star

Quilt top made by:

Campbell, Elsie M.

Quilted by:

Campbell, Elsie M.

If you are the quilt owner, how did you acquire this quilt?

Purchased the quilt

Where the quilt was made, city:

Dodge City

Where the quilt was made, state:

Kansas (KS)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

2000-2025

When was the quilt started?

2006

When was the quilt finished?

1/24/2006

Why was the quilt made?

Commemorative; Fundraising

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

Quiltmaker's city:

Dodge City

Quiltmaker's state:

Kansas (KS)

Quiltmaker's country:

United States

Other notes on how the quiltmaker learned, and how and why they quilt:

Elsie is an award-winning quiltmaker, international teacher, writer, and editor. She is the author of Nine Patch and Snowball Quilts and Winning Stitches. Her 75 plus awards include Best of Show - Quilt America 2000, Mary Krickbaum Award for Best Hand Quilting - National Quilting Association, 2001, and Excellence in Hand Workmanship Award - American Quilter’s Society, 2003.

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

30"

How long is the quilt?

32 1/2"

Shape of edge:

Straight

Shape of corners:

Straight

What color is the quilt?

Black; Blue; Green; Pink; Red

Quilt's condition:

Excellent/like new

Type of inscription:

Signature; Date; Message

What is inscribed on the quilt?

“Confusion” 2006 Elsie M. Campbell for the Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative organized by Ami Simms “Alzheimer’s Forgetting Piece by Piece” Completed January 24, 2006 Dodge City, KS Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative “Alzheimer’s Forgetting Piece By Piece” #2 If found call 1-800-278-4824 or 1-810-348-2772 immediately.

What is the date inscribed on the quilt?

2006

Method used to make the inscription:

Attached label

Location of inscription:

on back

Describe the quilt's layout:

Medallion or framed center

Number of borders:

3

Describe the borders:

3 1/4”, 1/5”, 1/2”

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing

Applique techniques used to make the quilt top:

Hand Applique; Fusible Applique

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Number of pieces of fabric in the quilt back:

1

Materials used in the quilt binding:

Cotton

How is the binding made?

Straight grain; Front turned to back

What kind of filling is used in the quilt?

Cotton

How are the layers held together?

Machine quilting

Describe the quilting designs used:

Outline/Ditch Continuous line Echo Feathers

Features or notes about the quilt's appearance, materials, or construction:

Artist statement: Alzheimer’s is confusion. Commonplace things become mysterious, their identity and purpose impossible to discern. With confusion often comes loneliness and isolation. The Lone Star parallels the progression of Alzheimer’s. In the early stage (top), only one or two pieces are confused. A question mark and its mirrored image form a heart. As the disease progresses (middle), pieces are mixed up, left out, and transposed. Things don’t quite make sense anymore. Patches become misshapen and distorted. In the final stages (bottom), even the central purple diamonds, one’s deepest memories, become distorted and go missing. Finally memories fade and become nearly unrecognizable. Patches appear to lie in a pile on a table.

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Exhibitions where this quilt was displayed:

This quilt was part of the special exhibit, “Alzheimer’s: Forgetting Piece by Piece.” The exhibit debuted at the American Quilter’s Society Quilt Exposition in Nashville, TN in August, 2006. It traveled to quilt shows all over the country through July 2009.

Related items such as diaries, obituaries, wills, household inventories, or pictures of the quiltmaker:

Alzheimer’s Forgetting Piece By Piece, Ami Simms curator, book. Mallery Press, 2007, page 8-9.

Source of the information on this quilt:

Museum employee

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public- Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's name:

Michigan State University Museum

Quilt owner's city:

East Lansing

Quilt owner's county:

Ingham

Quilt owner's state:

Michigan (MI)

Quilt owner's country:

United States

How was this quilt acquired?

Purchase

Tell the story of how the quilt was obtained:

The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative, a non-profit raising money for Alzheimer’s research. Started and administered by Ami Simms, Flint, MI.

Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

MSU Board of Trustees