At first glance, Amish quilts may appear curiously similar to works by the great abstract artists of the twentieth century. With their vibrant colors and bold geometric forms, the handcrafted designs seem reminiscent of paintings by Joseph Albers, Mark Rothko, and Frank Stella, among others. This visual coincidence invites a deeper appreciation of the quilts and the communities in which they were created. Closer examination reveals that the principles of the Amish faith—simplicity, humility, discipline, and community—are masterfully stitched into each design. Colorful and dynamic, the remarkable quilts radiate the harmony and dignity of Amish life while providing a window onto the history of American art and textile traditions. Published in conjunction with the exhibition organized by the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Amish Abstractions: Quilts from the Collection of Faith and Stephen Brown explores the origins, techniques, and context of these visual masterpieces. More than seventy-five quilts originating in communities throughout Pennsylvania and the Midwest from the 1880s to the 1940s are presented with contributions by three quilt experts: Joe Cunningham, a well-known quilt artist, author, and lecturer; Robert Shaw, an independent curator of numerous quilt exhibitions; and Janneken Smucker, a doctoral candidate at the University of Delaware specializing in quilts from the Amish and Mennonite traditions.  Download Press Release (PDF)  Peek Inside the Book Includes Collector’s Note by Faith and Stephen Brown. 128 pages with more than 90 color images. Size: 9 x 10½ inches. Smyth-sewn casebound book, with jacket. ISBN 978-0-7649-5165-7. Amish Abstractions: Quilts from the Collection of Faith and Stephen Brown A178$29.95 About the Author Joe CunninghamJoe Cunningham's early mentors were steeped in quilt history and traditional techniques, leading him to a life of studying, making, and writing about quilts. He travels widely to lecture and teach on the subject. Cunningham lives in San Francisco with his wife and two sons. About the Author Robert ShawRobert Shaw, former curator at the Shelburne Museum in Vermont, is the author of American Quilts: The Democratic Art, 1780—2007 and numerous other books. He has curated quilt exhibitions in the United States, Europe, and Japan; written articles for The Magazine Antiques and other publications; and served as a consultant to private collectors, museums, and Sotheby’s. About the Author Janneken Smucker Janneken Smucker is a PhD candidate in American civilization at the University of Delaware. Research for her dissertation, “From Rags to Riches: Amish Quilts and the Crafting of Value,” has been generously supported by fellowships from the Smithsonian Institution, Winterthur Museum and Library, the International Quilt Study Center and Museum at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln, and the American Quilt Study Group. All of our pictures enlarge; click on any picture for a closer look. Text & images protected by copyright. Join for Our Monthly E-mail Newsletter Private list, unsubscribe any time. View e-mail archive Home | Customer Service Center | Ordering Information