QUILT INDEX RECORD

12-8-6688

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:

16.0008

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

2016:27.1

Essay:

In 1996, inspired by Tibetan prayer flags used on one of the Breast Cancer Fund's expeditions, Susan Gray decided to quilt a small, personal names banner to take along on breast cancer fund raising activities. The banner included only the names of Susan's own family and friends who had been lost to breast cancer: her mother, two aunts, two dear friends. When Susan began inviting others to contribute names, she was overwhelmed by the response. "Some days I had to get up my nerve to open my mail, knowing how many difficult stories I'd have to read." Susan began sewing furiously. Thus Raging Light, named after Dylan Thomas" famous poem, was born. The first panel of Raging Light was completed in October 1996 and was displayed at the Susan G. Komen Foundation's Race for the Cure in San Francisco. At the race, the backing fabric became an interactive canvas as survivors, friends, and family members signed names across the ribbons.131 Once it became 3 panels (Earth, Wind and Fire) it was displayed all over the country at various events and also went along to Japan with their 2000 Climb Against the Odds - Mt. Fuji. I carried it to the top of the mountain in my backpack and then at the top had a ceremony in front of a shoji gate where we lit a fire and burned printed prayers from and for people whose names were on the quilt.

Quilt's title:

Raging Light

When was the form filled out?

5/31/2016

Quilt top made by:

Mason, Susan Gray

Quilted by:

Mason, Susan Gray

Describe the relationship to the quilt's maker:

Museum employee

Where the quilt was made, city:

Walnut Creek

Where the quilt was made, state:

California (CA)

Where the quilt was made, country:

United States

Time period:

1976-1999

When was the quilt started?

1996

When was the quilt finished?

1997

Further information concerning dates:

Names continued to be added to the quilt at several breast cancer events over the next several years.

Why was the quilt made?

Art or personal expression; Commemorative

Quilt is presently used as:

Museum collection

Quiltmaker's gender:

Female

This is a:

Finished quilt

How wide is the quilt?

108"

How long is the quilt?

108"

Describe the edge:

Top and sides are straight, bottom is jagged.

Overall color scheme:

Multicolor

Quilt's condition:

Very good/almost new

Type of inscription:

Signature; Multiple Names

Location of inscription:

multiple locations; on back

Describe the quilt's layout:

Nontraditional or art

Fiber types used to make the quilt top:

Cotton

Piecing techniques used to make the quilt top:

Machine Piecing; Foundation Piecing

Materials used to make the back:

Cotton

Where did the maker find their pattern?

Original to maker

Ownership of this quilt is:

Public Museum, Library, or Institution

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?

Gift

Details

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Access and copyright information:

Restricted

Who photographed this quilt?

Pearl Yee Wong

Copyright holder:

Michigan State University Museum