The shop may be located in a town that is sandwiched between two larger towns, and the owner of the small shop there, Kapa‘ia Stitchery, may not have had the notoriety of recognition afforded to others. But people from around
The shop may be located in a town that is sandwiched between two larger towns, and the owner of the small shop there, Kapa‘ia Stitchery, may not have had the notoriety of recognition afforded to others.
But people from around the world involved in quilting knew of her, some being fortunate enough to have learned some quilting from her, or have been in her shadow while working on a quilt project.
Julie Yukimura is being honored by the Kaua‘i Museum’s Quilt Show which opens formally on Aug. 1 and runs through Oct. 1, funded in part by the Young Brothers Community Advisory Board.
Yukimura encouraged the Kaua‘i Museum to document its own collection of Hawaiian quilts and assisted the community in registering their quilts into a state-wide database known as the Hawaiian Quilt Research Project.
This collection from Kaua‘i Museum offers a display of old and new Hawaiian quilts in its Main Gallery.
Among the new acquisitions are a collection of quilts created by Jennie Mahikoa Kimble and Dean Jamieson, whose trademark included a piece of Hawaiiana embedded within the Hawaiian quilt design. Additionally, four quilts loaned by the community join the offering, states a press release from the Kaua‘i Museum.
“This is not just a visual treat and inspiration for quilters,” said Kaua‘i Museum Curator Chris Faye in the release. “The exhibit also shares insights into the cultural practices associated with quilting and designing. This year’s festival features a digital slideshow of about 60 historic quilts documented by Lihu‘e photographer William J. Senda in 1933 at the Mokihana Club Quilt Festival held in the Lihu‘e Parrish Hall.”
Yukimura’s idea was to exhibit not just Hawaiian quilts, but modern adaptations of quilting to have a showcase for the quilting community. It was this dream that forms the basis for this year’s theme of the love of people, family, places and stories behind each quilt, attested by the maker in each stitch.
On July 19, quilters will have an opportunity to participate in a hands-on workshop to encourage them to design their own patterns rather than copy old designs which was the main criteria in the cultural traditions associated with Hawaiian quilting.
There is a fee of $25 for the workshop that runs from 1 to 3 p.m. and reservations can be made by calling the museum at 245-6931.
This workshop embodies one of the two objectives of this year’s show. That includes the display and demonstration of modern expressions of quilt-making by the people of Kaua‘i.
Residents who feel they have quilts in this area and are interested in sharing them with the community can pick up an application for displaying their work. Deadline for this is July 23.
This year’s exhibit which hopes to perpetuate the art and practices of traditional Hawaiian quilting is funded in part by the Young Brothers Community Advisory Board grant which was presented to the museum, Tuesday morning.
Kaua‘i Museum is a private nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with the mission of sharing the arts, culture and history of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.
The galley hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Sundays.
There is an admission fee charged to non-members.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
