Modern Quilting: Susan Lenz Designs Inspired by Grave Rubbings

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I've wanted to learn how to quilt for some time, but have yet to actually take the plunge. Instead, I spend time admiring the work of talented quilters. One of my favorite sources of information on the history and art of quilting is the blog, Art in Stitches, where I am continually surprised by the textile arts. I was totally awestruck by the work of Susan Lenz, who makes these fantastic and unique quilts inspired by grave rubbings.

A grave rubbing is simply an impression of a headstone made by rubbing a soft pencil or charcoal across a clean sheet of paper, which is held against a headstone. Grave rubbings were popular in the Victorian era.

Susan explained how she came up with idea of incorporating the rubbings in her art: I made all these rubbings in Maine while at the MacNamara Foundation residency program. I had fantasies of making art with the results. It all seemed so bohemian and exotic...dancing alone in a cemetery with yards of silk fabric and a child's brown crayon...dreaming about the art I'd make...letting nature and a sense of eternal peacefulness take control.

All descriptions, titles and photos from Art in Stitches
• 1 Grave Rubbing Quilt. The Just by Faith Shall Live Again. The grave rubbing on silk came from a 1796 tombstone.Hand and free-motion machine embroidery on vintage linen and severely light damaged, recycled curtain scrap with found buttons. Crayon rubbing.
• 2 detail. Father and Mother. 30" x 30". Crayon on silk rubbings. Vintage drawn work linen. Silk. Hand and free-motion machine embroidery.
• 3 Grave Rubbing Quilt Series: Darling Sons. Rubbings created with crayon on silk; Appliqued onto vintage linens with crocheted edges. Hand and free-motion machine embroidery.
• 4 Grave rubbings, crayon on silk, appliqued on vintage linen guest towel with cutwork. Hand stitched. Words: One Less to Love on Earth. One More to Meet in Heaven; Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his Trust; Thy Blessed Will Be Done.
• 5 Grave Rubbing Quilt. Thy Blessed Will be Done. Grave rubbing on silk machine stitched to a vintage doily, a scrap of a severely light damaged curtain, and finally onto a piece of fringed crochet.

Fantastic! Thanks, Susan!

MORE MODERN QUILTS
• Modern Quilts by Luke Haynes
• Modern Japanese Quilts
• Urban Quilting by Amy Ahlstrom
• Color Study Quilts by Dainty Time
• Roundup: Modern Patchwork Quilts
• Leah Evans & Topographical Quilting

Interesting idea, but not a fan of the final product. Gravestone rubbing is bad... doesn't everyone know that by now? It wears away the surface and the etchings become less defined.

posted by mattster on April 7th 2009 at 1:19pm
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Mattster-
Not all gravestone rubbing is "bad." There are ethical standards provided by the Association for Gravestone Studies.

http://www.gravestonestudies.org/faq.htm#Some%20Gravestone%20Rubbings%20Dos%20and%20Don%27ts

posted by Amy A on April 7th 2009 at 1:39pm
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Some really interesting techniques in the work, thanks for posting, I hadn't seen this artist's work before.

If you're looking for "modern" quilts, try SAQA:

http://www.saqa.com/

Most all the quilts meet the definition of modern, by the quilt world's standards, in that most don't use traditional quilt piecing patterns. Only a subset, however, meet the definition of 'modern' by interior design or standard art world definition.

Well worth looking through their gallery as it's a great cross-section of work.

posted by Rucy on April 7th 2009 at 9:03pm
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Wow - I love these.

I was just up in Maine over the weekend, and spent some time visiting my grandparents' headstone. I think having a quilt made from a rubbing of a loved one's grave could be a comforting reminder of their life and presence, especially when the actual stone is a half-country away.

posted by Ellms on August 22nd 2009 at 11:22am
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