Baylor's Martin Museum of Art will Display Ann Johnston's "The Contact: Quilts of the Sierra Nevada"

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Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (Oct. 17, 2013) - When discussing works of art, quilts are not the first thing that comes to mind. But for Ann Johnston, quilts are the core of her craft.
Johnston uses brushes, sponges and rollers in varying techniques to create large quilts inspired by the natural scenery of Nevada and mankind's impact on it.
"The impetus for my work is the world around me -- its shapes, patterns, colors and textures," Johnston said on her personal website. "I use many different construction techniques, traditional and temporary . . . so my quilts are often very different from each other."
Baylor University's Martin Museum of Art will display Johnston's body of work "The Contact: Quilts of the Sierra Nevada," which comprises 13 seven-foot tall quilts.
Johnston is a renowned quilt artist who has perfected her craft through years of experimentation with dye and fabric. She has made more than 400 quilts in her lifetime, and now travels the world exhibiting her work and teaching. Johnston has written numerous books and presents workshops and lectures nationally and internationally.
The Martin Museum of Art displays works chosen by faculty in the department of art in Baylor's College of Arts and Sciences that will most benefit students, said Karin A. Gilliam, director of Martin Museum.
The collection will be on display Oct. 17 through Nov. 14. The museum also will host a reception and gallery talk from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 24. Both events are located at the museum at 60 Baylor Ave. and are free and open to the public.
by Rachel Miller, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.
ABOUT MARTIN MUSEUM OF ART
The museum's mission is one of education and service by bringing outstanding art exhibitions, speakers and guest artists to Baylor University and Central Texas. The museum serves as a valuable teaching tool for students and faculty. Exhibitions complement the courses of art history and studio art taught within Baylor's department of art. The permanent consists of approximately 1,300 objects representing a variety of art that has been donated to or purchased by Baylor. The collection contains art by such well-known artists as Robert Rauschenberg, Kathe Kollwitz, Francisco de Goya, and Edouard-Leon Cortes. Included in the collection are approximately 300 paintings by famous watercolor artists, among them George Post, Phil Dike, Edgar Whitney and John Marin.