Tuesday 16 February 2010

Blue Waves


If you have been reading this blog for more than a year you might remember that I mentioned Blue Waves exactly a year ago as well. And then the year before that etc. ! It's easier to remember the event this year as it coincided with the Olympic Winter Games and of course they are currently happening in Vancouver, Canada. Mind you, I'm unlikely ever to forget the date!

But 4 years ago the Winter Olympics were being held in Turin, Italy and the exhibition where my quilt Blue Waves was to hang, was due in the town hall of Luserna S. Giovanni (approx. 45 minutes from Turin). The exhibition was there to accompany the Games. Sadly it (that's the exhibition, the Olympic Games carried on regardless!) never took place as not only my quilt but 4 others as well were stolen before the exhibition could be hung. If you are interested in all the gorey details you can read them on my website here.

On the picture above you can see my quilt hanging at the exhibition in Ste Marie-aux-Mines, France, during the 11th European Patchwork Meeting (Sept. 2005) before it started off on its exhibition tour. You can also see a glimpse underneath of the quilt by the French quilter Ghislaine Berlier-Garcia, called Encastrement Musical, which was also stolen.


I'm determined to picture my quilt on this blog every year at least once, in the hope that if it ever turns up it might be recognized by someone but also to maybe appeal to the conscience of the person who stole it. It's never to late to return this quilt. Just contact me by e-mail (see side bar) and I will ask no questions!! I also am making it impossible for this person to ever sell or exhibit my quilt as it is by now much too well known for that!

You can also find Blue Waves on the marvellous website, maintained by Maria Elkins, for Lost Quilts. Occasionally I have a read there as quilts are actually found from time to time which is an uplifting thought. And it also brings home the fact that I'm not the only one this has happened too. Tristan is another quilter who had a quilt stolen, in his case when it was actually hanging in an exhibition at Yale Art Space in 2002. Tristan suggested last year that we should look upon it as an honour! We are the chosen ones!!! I just hope I'll only be chosen for this "honour" once in my lifetime.

7 comments:

Georgina said...

A dubious honour indeed - | am so sorry that this happened to you. I wonder about the long term relationship thieves can forge with purloined delights. Can they ever enjoy them - or am I naive - are they stolen for profit? If so I hope that the online community which shrinks the Global Village daily, means that their trail will be discovered - soon.

creativelenna said...

oh Frieda, I saw the title of your post and thought, oh my, was the quilt returned?? Oh I am so sorry for you, that was not the post you wrote.

It does make me very sad reading about this again on the anniversary it went missing, and i am not the one who labored over it! I cannot imagine. Blue Waves is a beautiful, beautiful quilt. I feel fortunate to be able to view photos of it and hope that it will be recognized and returned to you because of your efforts.
love, lenna

Frieda Oxenham said...

Thanks so much for your lovely comments, Georgina and Lenna. As I mentioned on my website, this sad event has also made me aware that there are many more kind people in this world than bad ones. And your comments are a shining example of that!

Maggi said...

My goodness, that's is horrid! I so hope it miraculously turns up one day!!!

gunnelsvensson said...

So sorry to hear about your stolen quilt ! How could people do so ????
It´s a wonderful work, so lovely colours and so nice stitching
Thank you for the nice comment on my blog :-)

Petra said...

Elk jaar hoop ik dat je de quilt terug gekregen hebt. Het is mogelijk, ik heb een quilt terug gekregen waar we 20 jaar niet van wisten waar hij was. Je quilt is zo mooi, hij moet gewoon terugkeren naar de maakster.

Debby said...

This still irritates me. Can't believe that your quilt hasn't been found.
Hugs,
Debby

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