Red, White and Great All Over

I knew what to expect this evening, sort of. My friend and fellow blogger M. told me all about it. But I still was unprepared for the spectacle of quilts on display at the Park Avenue Armory. The cavernous hall provided the perfect minimal backdrop for the 650 pieces on display, highlights from the newest collection of New York's American Folk Art Museum (thanks to a generous gift from Joanna S. Rose).

The quilts are American and mostly 19th century, and none of the makers are identified. Patterns, traditional and geometric, share space with graphics ranging from names, animals and prayers. You've got until March 30 to see these at the Armory, but keep an eye out for the grand debut of the entire collection at the American Folk Art Museum—and perhaps at a museum near you.