Quilt-making continues to evolve from the traditional “women's craft” to highly regarded art executed with surgically precise stitching in stunning arrays of designs, themes, fabrics, and colors. Although it may be considered uniquely American, quilt-making is a universal form of artistic self-expression.
Throughout the term, a quilt exhibit will be on display in the College's Social Science Faculty Lounge Art Gallery from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Featured will be the quilts of Voorheesville residents Linda O'Connor and Barbara Mellinger.
O'Connor has a bachelor's degree in home economics and taught in Florida, Michigan, and New York State. She first exhibited her work in the late 1970s and began to teach quilt-making in the early 1980s. Since then she continues to teach, exhibit, lecture, and direct shows/exhibits in such venues as Albany City Hall, Albany Institute of History & Art, the New York State Museum, and the Shaker Heritage Society. O'Connor has also exhibited her quilts in Helsinki, Finland.
Her award-winning quilts are in numerous public collections including the corporate headquarters of Key Bank and Blue Cross/Blue Shield as well as the University at Albany, the New York State Comptroller's Building, Four Winds and Bellevue hospitals, and Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co.
Mellinger is working on her doctorate in physical anthropology. She is a program research specialist for New York State's Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Division of Child Support Enforcement.
During the 1990s, Mellinger taught quilt-making at the New York State Museum. Her articles are published in quilt magazines and twice she won “Best in Show” at the Albany City Hall exhibit. She continues to participate in juried and other exhibits throughout the Northeast.