China Trade with Miss Liberty, U.S.A. quilt top, Virginia Jean Cox Mitchell

Exhibition Label:
"Personal Geometry: Quilts by Yoshiko Jinzenji and Virginia Jean Cox Mitchell," Feb-2014, Susan Earle and Cassandra Mesick
This quilt commemorates the centennial of the Statue of Liberty in 1986 and the bicentennial of the China Trade in 1984. Halley’s Comet was also to return in 1985-1986, and the artist wanted to include this event in her quilt commemorating this moment. Lady Liberty stands like a goddess on a trunk, which the artist has called “the emigrant’s chest of hope.” Liberty island is connected to a French Star block in recognition of the gifting of Lady Liberty from France to the United States. Even fireworks are included in recognition of their invention in China. The artist’s mastery of technique and her ability to turn multiple abstract ideas into visual, textile form is seen abundantly in this work. As author Marie Shirer has noted, “Between the English Piecing, precise appliqué, hand-embroidered chain stitching around almost every appliqué, and close hand quilting, Jean has pushed needle through cloth more times than anyone could count.”

Exhibition Label:
"Kansas Quilts," 6-Jul-29-Sep, 1996,Nancy Corwin
I wanted to commemorate three events in this quilt: 1) the bicentennial of the China Trade in 1984; 2) the return of Halley's Comet during 1985-1986; and 3) the centennial of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. The quilt is done in a chinoiserie style and has flowers symbolizing many of the countries from which immigrants came to the United States. The central roundel is enclosed by the Dresden Plate pattern, divided so that it is an "America the beautiful" border: amber waves of grain, purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain, and the blue of the sea to shining sea.
Virginia Jean Cox Mitchell