Historically, quilting has been a practical technique to provide warmth and comfort. Decorative elements were also often present and at times quilts were used to memorialize loved ones or make political statements.

Today many quilts are primarily art pieces; created in a wide variety of sizes and shapes with numerous techniques and materials. Quilting has consistently remained an artform primarily completed by women, frequently collaboratively. From historic quilting bees to modern “telephone challenges,” (not to mention pandemic-era Zoom meetings), quilting continues to serve as both a creative outlet and a community building artform.

The unintended theme in this collection of quilts made by the members of the Courthouse Quilters over the past three years is Perception.

How does one interpret a whispered message or, in this case, a shared theme? How does one find the beauty in tragedy? How does one draw inspiration and make the decision to create something literal, figurative, imaginative or whimsical? When the theme is given invariably--a window--does one create a scene from the inside looking out or the outside looking in?

It all depends on Perception.