San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles

San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles

520 South 1^st Street

San Jose, CA 95113

(408) 971-0323

www.sjquiltmuseum.org

$8 entrance, $6.50 students/seniors, children 12 and under are free

While I have visited over a dozen cultural or entertaining locations over the last four weeks, the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles stands as the most inspirational and is my favorite new discovery.  I am baffled that I didn’t even know this place existed.

Opening in 1977, this was the first museum in the United States to showcase quilts and textiles as an art form – hard to believe, since quilts are such a traditional part of American culture.  It has existed in a variety of locations over the years but came to its permanent home on 1^st street in 2005.  It is a large, clean facility lined with palm trees out front on what appears to be a newly renovated block – there is an open area with a large sculpture and landscaping immediately opposite the storefront, so I felt very safe despite its "edge of downtown" location.  We found free parking on the street right out front as it was the weekend, but parking is metered on weekdays.  As a bonus, there is a pottery studio with a small gallery only 100 yards away.  More on that in a future blog.

The museum itself has five designated spaces.  To the right of the front entrance is an open workspace where they hold museum events, such as lectures and classes.  They are actively engaged in outreach to children, schools, and the community at large, holding classes for beginners and advanced artists.  Some upcoming events include “The Basics of Hand Sewing,” “Inside Quilt National,” and “Bead Embroidery for Quilters.”  They also promote quilting and textile arts events elsewhere, such as the Crocker Arts Museum in Sacramento where there is currently a historical quilt exhibit.

To the left of the entrance is a museum gift shop with lots to look at or buy.  However, the woman at the front desk told us that they are planning to close the gift shop and use the space for more participatory work – perhaps put in a bank of sewing machines for classes.  I admire that they are choosing outreach and classes over commerce!

The three other spaces in the museum are galleries.  The wide front hall currently holds an exhibit showcasing the 1973-76 work of one particular quilting artist, Ros Cross.  Her quilts are three-dimensional and interactive, with flaps, stuffed geometrical shapes, and hanging pieces – very inventive and playful.

A second smaller gallery currently displays small quilts, approximately the size of pillowcases, which are Northern California-inspired pieces made by members of Studio Art Quilt Associates.  Many Incorporated the beaches, trees, landscapes, agriculture, and activities we are so fond of. 

Here are some examples -- I was fortunate that they allowed photographs in this gallery.

"Umbrellas of San Francisco"

by Aileyn Renli Ecob

Up close detail from

"Bamboo -- Hakone Gardens"

by Denise Oyama Miller

"Morning Mist, San Joaquin Valley"

by Sue Seflon

Finally, the largest gallery, encompassing three spacious rooms, displayed contemporary art quilts from Quilt National 2013, a juried exhibition that has existed for almost 20 years sponsored by an art center in Ohio.  For the most part, these were full-sized quilts that launched traditional quilt making into a modern art form.  So many techniques and ideas were represented, some very dark and edgy, some representing urban life and landscapes, some very abstract. More than I expected incorporated text and photographic images printed on fabric.  Unfortunately, photographs are not allowed in this part of the gallery, but I was able to find some of the featured quilts online (and see the link to the slide show below).  My favorite was a quilt by Lorie McCown entitled “My Grandmother’s Dresses.”  It looks more like a painting than a quilt, and I love the colors and the concept of the quilt pieces as dresses hanging on clotheslines in the wind.  I am going to attempt to make my own version of this quilt while I am here in San Jose where my mom can help me through the tricky parts.  I’ve never been particularly interested in quilting; I like receiving them as gifts and have several in my home, but I have never much wanted to make one until visiting this gallery.  These modern quilts helped me to rethink what a quilt is – it doesn’t have to be a feminine geometrical pattern of floral squares and triangles any more.

"My Grandmother's Dresses," by Lorie McCown

Here is a link to a slide show that contains images of quilts hanging on the walls of the gallery:

http://quiltnationalartists.com/quilt-national-2013/quilt-national-2013-images/

I visited with my cousin Emma, who is not only interested in textile arts, but practices them as well – she is a superior knitter and writes a knitting column for the San Jose Examiner.  Talking over exhibits with someone who knew more than I did about what I was seeing added that much more to the experience.  Going to this gallery as well as the San Jose Museum of Art with her reinforced for me the joy of sharing art with someone who appreciates it at approximately one’s own level and enjoys perusing pieces at a similar pace.  We usually read the artists’ statements and explanatory plaques together, then discussed briefly what we admired about a piece or what confused or unsettled us.  We also played a little game invented by our Aunt Vickie that is a favorite of mine in any gallery: in each room, after looking at everything, we’d each have to share which piece we would take home with us if we could.  You can learn a lot about a person this way!

Before leaving the museum, we had a brief conversation with the staff member at the front desk.  She informed us about the upcoming events and encouraged us to take along informative fliers.  She also reminded us that it is not just a quilt museum, but also an art gallery for textiles, such as two dimensional or sculptural pieces that incorporate fabrics, hand-woven cloths, unique clothing, knitting, etc.  She lamented that oftentimes, visitors will come and be upset when there are no quilts on display.  While I think I’d be happy regardless of the exhibits, I suppose the lesson here is to call or check the website before visiting if you are hoping for something particular.

Speaking of exhibits, here are features from previous years that I wish I’d seen:

“Metamorphosis: Clothing and Identity”

“Threads of Love: Baby Carriers from China’s Minority Nationalities”

“Folk Indian Textiles”

“Scrap Art”

“Contemporary Chinese Fiber Art”

“Hawaiian Quilts”

“Creating Community: Quilts as Women’s Shelter”

Also, here are the upcoming exhibits after the ones I’ve written about move on:

Starting July 26: International TECHstyle Art Biennial 3

This features “work by artists merging fiber medi­a with new information and communication technologies in their artistic processes, as a medium of artistic expression, and/or in the content of their work.” 

Also July 26: Vel Garrick: Conversational Watercolor Quilts

This artist uses scraps of hundreds of novelty fabrics, like prints of cartoon characters or animals that you’d find in the children’s section of a fabric store, to piece together large mosaic quilts that look like soft watercolor paintings from far away but are a cacophony of color, shapes, and contemporary culture close up.

Coming November 15: Antique Ohio Amish Quilts

This exhibit will feature over forty quits made between 1880-1950 by the Amish living in Ohio.  This region also has historical links to quilting and the Underground Railroad, which is not part of this exhibit but something I find fascinating.

I give this museum my highest recommendation for anyone who is interested in sewing, quilting, and other fabric arts.  If you are one of those people, I have two novels to recommend as well: How to Make an American Quilt, by Whitney Otto and The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier.

Homecoming, John's of Willow Glen, and Dolcetto

Saturday was a big day for me.  The last few weeks, between finals, graduation, packing, a birthday party for my daughter, and a visit to Orange County, have been a whirlwind of activity.  It all culminated in the drive from Los Olivos to San José yesterday morning.

Most of my friends know this about me, but after a terrifying incident driving down the Cuesta Grade about seven and a half years ago, I haven't been able to drive on highways much.  Seven months pregnant and with my three year old in the seat next to me, hauling a heavy floor-to-ceiling load in an old ten-passenger van, the brakes stopped responding adequately due to the steep downward momentum.  I was hemmed in on all sides by other vehicles, and the cliff was immediately on my right.  With the intensity of pumping the brakes, gripping the wheel, and thinking that we were about to experience a massive accident, I started to pass out -- I got very cold, dizzy, and my vision got patchy. We got within inches of the trailer in front of us before he sped up and gave me room, and were able to maintain that distance until we were down the mountain and the ground leveled out and I could slow down and pull off the road.

Even though that experience only lasted a couple minutes, it haunted me for years.  A doctor told me that women are more strongly affected by incidents that happen to them during pregnancy, so maybe that's why I couldn't recover.  That, paired with the reality that I am just a sensitive person, created something in me almost like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).  I kept driving for a few months after that, but whenever the road would slope downhill, I'd get the same shortness of breath, dizziness, fuzzy vision, etc.  It was the worst on the Cuesta Grade -- a fairly unavoidable road when one is driving between San José and Los Olivos.  Whenever I'd come to the spot where the original incident occurred, I would relive it in my mind.  The same would happen when driving down Highway 154 or 101 between Los Olivos and Santa Barbara.  I decided that it was just unsafe for me to drive on highways under these conditions.  It's one thing to have a panic attack in one's own home, or in a plane or other public place, but behind the wheel of a car, it felt like I was putting our lives at stake every time it happened.  Each time I'd have a panic attack while driving, the road where it occurred was now mentally closed off to me.  As this happened, my world became smaller and smaller.  Eventually, I could no longer leave the Santa Ynez Valley (unless another adult was driving with me) because highway driving is unavoidable where I live.  This was a dark time for me, and I'm certain that it put a lot of stress on my husband, whose help I needed to solicit if I had to go to Santa Barbara or Santa Maria for any reason, or even to get to the train station in San Luis Obispo to catch a train for San José.  It also hindered my ability to visit friends around the state, and many of my closest friendships suffered and are maybe lost because of it.

Thankfully, over the last year, I have slowly emerged out of it.  While this is partially due to my doctor finally putting me on a low-dose anti-anxiety med two years ago, applying what I learned from an audio lecture series called "Pass Through Panic" by Dr. Claire Weekes also helped me break through it.  This April, I drove back and forth several times to Santa Barbara without panicking for the first time in years, and soon afterward, to Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo.  The joy and elation of the freedom this represents is hard to put into words.

This is why yesterday was such a momentous occasion for me -- it was the first time I've driven a car to San Jose without my husband with me in about six years.  And it went well!  My daughter Claire was in the front passenger's seat  and was an excellent companion.

To celebrate our arrival, my mom took us out to dinner at our family's favorite local restaurant, John's of Willow Glen -- formerly John's XLNT Foods.  It's located at 1238 Lincoln Ave, between Willow and Minnesota.  It's owned and operated by a Greek family, been there since 1976 (my family started going even earlier, when it was called Mike's and was run by John's brother), and they specialize in Greek, Italian, and American comfort food, and the portions are very large.  For a long time, my dad would go there for breakfast two or three times a week.   We go at least once a week when I'm in town, and occasionally for dinner.  Last night, I had the lobster ravioli.  Yum!  Some other favorites are Greek Lemon soup, all of the Eggs Benedict variations (especially the Florentine), rack of lamb, and bread pudding. The staff knows my family, especially my father, so well that for breakfast, they don't even bother asking his order anymore.  He tells the waiter, "Just bring me whatever you've got lying around in the back."  Inevitably, his hamburger patty, eggs over-easy, and side of fruit appears soon.  The home fries and hashbrowns are also great.  Sometimes there are plenty of seats and sometimes, like in the picture I took this morning, there is a crowd waiting outside.  It's worth the wait!  OR they deliver!

www.johnsxlntfoods.net OR www.johnsxlntfoods.com

I will only rarely write about restaurants on this blog, but as long as I'm at it, I will mention a fairly new place that opened on the corner of Lincoln and Minnesota.  It's called Dolcetto Café and Market, and it's doing a good job resembling a modern but authentic Italian neighborhood café.  Besides coffee drinks and pastries (this morning I had fluffy round pastry filled with Nutella!), they also serve breakfasts, pizza, sandwiches, wine, and beer.  They have an extensive menu considering their small size, and they are open until 8 several nights a week.  I will definitely be spending some time here this summer.

www.dolcettocafeandmarket.com

Crazy Stuff Found in my Parents' House

My childhood home is a very comforting place for me, but it also can an amusing time warp back to the 70's.  My grandparents lived in this house until 1976, and some things have not changed since that time!  Here are some gems:

Kennedy Family Playing Cards,
Printed 1963.

Toothbrush and tumbler holder purchased at Gemco for $3.95. As you can see, it's still in the plastic wrapper!  For those of you who don't remember, Gemco was a grocery and home goods store, the predecessor of Target, that was in the Target location near Hillsdale and Camden.  It closed in 1986, but I'm pretty sure my mom or grandmother bought this bathroom accessory way before then.  I certainly have a lot of early childhood memories shopping at Gemco with my mom, though, and this brings them all back.  Maybe this is how my kids will feel about Target in 30 years.

As my Uncle Dan once wrote, walking into the bathroom in this house can be like entering the Emerald City of Oz.  This green tile is on all the walls, with dark green tile on the floor.  All the paint used to be light green as well, until I took it upon myself to paint the room in the mid-1990's.  But really, the Seagulls are the best part.  These guys are flying through the bathroom in a couple locations.  How they have lasted all these years without the slightest hint of age is a wonder.
And yes, that is just a bathtub -- no shower in this room!

While a little more recent, here is a flag I got when cheering on the Lincoln Marching Band in 1987 when I was still in middle school.  An exciting discovery in the back of the closet.  It lasted over a quarter century, then a couple days after I discovered it, I broke the wooden handle. Figures.













I think I'm all ready for the big move -- it happens tomorrow morning.  Nine weeks in San Jose. Here goes!

Gearing Up

I'm moving back home -- my childhood home in Willow Glen where my parents have resided for 38 years -- for an eight week summer teaching job.  I love being in San Jose because so many of my friends and family are here, and also because I get to experience the "big city civilization" (a.k.a. Thai restaurants, malls, REI, amusement parks for my kids, Starbucks, stoplights, etc.) that I have been missing for the past fifteen years in Los Olivos. (No, I don't miss stoplights, but since my entire town doesn't have a single one, it helps illustrates just how remote and small Los Olivos is.)  However, being here also reminds me why I left, and why I love my quiet, community-based life at Dunn School.

My life in Willow Glen is very relaxing and peaceful.  My parents help out amazingly with my kids, and I can be as lazy or as social as I want without any judgement from them.  But that is my big concern in taking this job: if I'm not careful, I could turn into the laziest slug, wasting away my time on Netflix, Minecraft, and huge restaurant meals with my dad.  As the Elite Prep job is only three to five hours a day, this is a very real possibility.

I have decided to challenge myself to "revisit" San Jose, searching out museums, activities, hikes, cafés, and tourist sites to find the gems of this city.  I'm going to shoot for five visits a week and will blog about my discoveries.

A few choices on my list:

• Alum Rock Park
• Quicksilver Mines
• Comedy Sportz SJ
• Winchester Mystery House
• Mystery Spot
• Villa Montalvo
• Lick Observatory
• Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
• Rose Garden
• San Jose Museum of Art
• San Jose History Park at Kelley Park
• San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
• Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph
• SJ Center for the Performing Arts
• Stanford Theatre
• I also bought two books full of south bay hikes, so I'd like to choose at least one or two a week as well.

There are plenty more, but several San Jose icons I frequent regularly while I'm here on other visits: Happy Hollow, the Japanese Friendship Garden, Children's Discovery Museum, etc.  Most of the ones on this list I haven't visited since I was in my teens or earlier.

Please list any other suggestions you may have for me in the comments section, and let me know if you want to join me on any of the trips listed above.  I'd love the company!