CURRENT EXHIBITION:

Various quilters who live in Monterey formed an informal group in early 2024 in which they share love of quilts – old, new, or in progress – and also new (or recently learned) techniques with each other. A group exhibit was curated by these artists, which resulted in Quilts of the Berkshires, which opened at Knox Gallery on Friday, October 24. We are pleased to have the group exhibit examples of their work, along with that of a few other invited local or Berkshire quilters.

A quilt is an example of a composite fabric; that is, it is one fabric made up of multiple layers. Typically, the middle layer is a heavy batting that adds bulk, which allows the completed quilt to provide insulation and warmth. The top layer is usually decorative, often by piecing, or sewing cuttings of fabric together to make a pattern. The back layer may be one plain fabric, or it may be pieced, too. The three layers are sewn together at the perimeter, and additionally, decorative stitching through all three layers creates a pattern of its own. The stitching may itself be as simple as regular dots or straight lines, or it may be quite elaborate.

Quilts date back to before America was settled, and are pervasive in nearly all cultures. Please visit Quilts of the Berkshires, which is on view through December 6, 2025, to admire the work of our local artisans.

PREVIOUS EXHIBITION:

Echoes of Meaning, featuring the work of Constance Van Rolleghem, opens on Friday, September 12, with an Artist’s talk the following evening, Saturday, September 13, from 5:30 -6 p.m. A reception will follow the talk, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. that evening. The Artist talk is sponsored by the Monterey and Massachusetts Cultural Councils.

Van Rolleghem studied at the Academie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels. She developed her early work based on expressionistic writings and has expanded those ideas that explore communication, language, and codified images.

Her personal experience as a neurodivergent-artist led her to more fully and deeply explore “the act of communication in its most abstract sense,” she states. As she developed these ideas in her paintings, drawings, and photography, she has been sought after by art institutions to consult on issues of education, communication, and assistive technology for people with disabilities.

Van Rolleghem exhibits in galleries in New York and in Brussels, and has been invited to residencies in Spain and in Virginia. Her consulting services have been utilized by many agencies, including the Metropolitan Museum, MOMA, ARISE, and the Mark Morris Dance Group. The artist states “In a world increasingly shaped by meritocratic ideals and the rise of soft eugenics that target the underserved, my work insists on alternative narratives centered on care, interdependence and the value of every life.”

Please join us on the 13 th to meet the artist and hear more of her story, first hand.

Echoes of Meaning will be on view through Saturday, October 18.