Quilts art showcases at sanitas

This sort of art woven on bed covers is commonly referred to as quilt in the art lingo and has its origins overseas, especially Britain and America.

A quilt is distinguishable from types of blankets because it is pieced together with several pieces of cloth.  The quilt exhibition on Saturday brought together visiting American artist Cindy Friedman of Fiber Revolution alongside Jenny Healy, the founder and designer of Botswana's Kalahari Quilts.

According to Healy who was born and raised in Africa, most of her quilt work relies on things that happen in Botswana.  She told Showtime that as she grew up in this country, she has noticed that Batswana do not only like dark colours such as brown as most of the tourist think but rather, like her, love colourful  fabric as well.

The marvellously designed pieces of art, designed in two layers of fabric stitched together, with interior padding of cotton held in place by decorative intersection seams caught most of the attendants' eye as they could not stop talking about how brilliantly the pieces were attached.

Some of  the attendants bought some pieces on the spot while others placed orders.  The quilt works prices ranged from  P200 to P2,000.  Healy's highest price was P6,280, this quilt is one of Healy's brand new items named ' Kgosi Tau' or 'King Lion.'  This piece that measures 31' x 26' was one of the large pieces on display.

One of Healy's quilts that left everyone thinking is 'Mmago Kalahari' quilt.  In it is the drawing of a woman whose face is coloured in various bright colours such as blue, green, yellow while her neck is black.  The woman wore an orange and yellow dress and a red, yellow and blue turban in her head.  The picture that most of the art lovers said represented Africa the most while some said Botswana is mother of different nations.  The quilt of 23'x 25' costs P2,750.

There was also a masterpiece quilt, the 'Insane Mowana' that was beautifully made. 

The Mowana tree was designed with various types, designs and colours buttons.

The tree that was designed in a painted quilt represented how colourful Africa is.

Lorato quilt designed by Kalahari Quilts was one of the cheap quilts at 11'x 11' and going for P200.  It  shows an African woman dressed in a bird wing-like dress standing in the middle of the field. This is one of the company's latest quilts.  Some of the pieces displayed are African windows, blue diamonds, Water diamonds, Dreams and many others.

One of Friedman's beautiful and eye catching quilts showcased 'Kgale hill shadows' in which she drew her daughter in four dimensions.

According to Healy, Friedman drew her daughter as she was climbing the  Kgale hill in Gaborone.

'I am very happy with the presence of people in this exhibition.  Am glad that Batswana appreciate art.

Everyone who loves art looks for me and places their orders. I am glad that people came in such great numbers to support us,' Healy said.