By Bev Jackson Cotter

Bev Jackson Cotter is a member of The Albert Lea Art Center, where The Art of Quilting will be on display through Sept. 14.

Well, here we go again, back on the soapbox.

What is art?

But first, a touch of history. Where did the phrase “on a soapbox” come from? It dates back to the late 1800s when soap was shipped in medium-sized wooden crates. This crate was a convenient size to stand on for anyone who wanted to make a spontaneous speech or a public announcement on a subject they were passionate about.

So, here we go again. My soapbox subject, “What is art?” Almost everything in our lives involves creative thinking, skill, talent and hard work. The design on the t-shirt you are wearing is art, as is the license plate on your car, the architecture of the buildings in Albert Lea’s downtown historic district, even the colored patterns of the beautiful quilt your grandmother made.

And speaking of quilts –— have you stopped at the Albert Lea Art Center to view the incredible quilt art that is on display?

Thanks to Calico Hutch in Hayward and Granny’s Legacy in Albert Lea, we have an exhibition that is outstanding. The quality of work is incredible.

My mother and I have made quilts, the kind where you cut squares, stitch them together in rows, sew the rows together, lay a background fabric on the floor with another fabric pad over it, cover them with the stitched squares, pin the edges together, hem on the sewing machine and then tie all of the square corners together with yarn. Memories are sewed into these quilts: my Dad’s shirts, my outgrown childhood dresses, maybe some feed sack material. One of my quilts, made to fit the baby’s crib, warmed my four children and is now in my cedar chest.

Memories, aah, memories.

That is a different story than the one told by the quiltmakers from Calico Hutch and Granny’s Legacy. These pieces are works of art.

Instead of a quilt top made from the fabrics at hand, the items on display are created by artists who plan the entire design, select fabrics, cut the pieces to fit the required shape and then stitch them carefully together.

The quilts contain hundreds of pieces. The designs are varied and they may be monochromatic or multi-colored. Patterns include florals, farm animals, fishing scenes, mosaic tile designs, Minnesota wildlife, snowflakes, stars, flags, leaf patterns and modern, abstract creations.

There is even a small quilt titled “I love dirt” with pictures of a farm tractor, cement truck and backhoe.

There are wall hangings of all sizes with embroidered- and stitched-on designs, pillows, framed art, oval mats and round ones.

There was also a toothbrush rug on display that reminded me of the braided rag rugs my mother used to make.

The creativity and imagination involved in these designs is inspiring. The hours and dedication involved are mind-boggling.

We are living in a world where technology seems to dominate so much of our lives. This display proves that our love of creativity and hand work is not being left at the wayside. There is a personal satisfaction during the design process and the actual construction that cannot be met in any other way. While some of the process has been made easier and faster by computerized quilting machines, the finished product is a family heirloom to be admired and loved for generations.

A special thank-you to the folks at Granny’s Legacy and the Calico Hutch for bringing this special showing to our visitors.

And speaking of soapboxes — I wonder who designed the sturdy crate used for shipping and if he (I’m guessing it was a he) ever dreamed that one day it would be used as a stand for a spontaneous speech or that the phrase “on a soapbox” would go down in history with a meaning he never dreamed of. Hmmm.