Franklin and Marshall exhibit - Ice Jam

Today the focus is on my artquilt Ice Jam.  It's part of my invitational exhibit at the Philips Museum of Art, on the campus of Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. The Enduring Beauty of the Susquehanna River will run from January 21 to April 24, 2025.

Ice Jam

The exhibit will feature 4 of my large-scale quilts I've made over time as my response to living near the  river. From my statement: "A major source of inspiration for my work, bordering on obsession, is the Susquehanna River. I grew up in a house on a hill overlooking the river and took its presence for granted. When I moved to Lancaster to attend Franklin and Marshall I began to explore the river hills in earnest, hiking the trails and learning about all the best overlooks. My enthusiasm was deepened during the decades I spent living near the Northeast Lancaster County River Trail and exploring it on my bike. I’ve enjoyed learning about the important historical impact of the river on the region. Most of all, I’ve come to appreciate how incredibly beautiful, and everchanging in its aspects, the Susquehanna is. It’s been a privilege and a pleasure to spend time interpreting my impressions using the art quilt medium."

Ice Jam, detail 1

This is a good season to be thinking about ice jams on the Susquehanna. They don't occur every year, but when they do, they are momentous both in visual appeal and potentially deleterious effects. The river is deep, windy, and has swift currents. Ice can form on the surface in a series of freeze/thaw cycles, then be broken up and swept downriver, where it gets caught up and swept up on the shoreline in big chunks. The worst cause scenario is flooding in the river towns like Marietta, PA.
 

Ice Jam, detail 2

Here's a few photos of one of the events that inspired this quilt.

The challenge with this one was to keep to the subdued, largely monochromatic palette, while also including the details of the surrounding landscape. I enjoyed making collagraph prints to use in the borders.

Ice Jam, detail 3

 Ice Jam, detail 4

It measures at 43"h x 52"w.

 About the Susquehanna: Archaeology of the Lower Susquehanna River reveals that American Indians had utilized its resources for thousands of years. Around 1550 AD, the people we know as the Susquehannock moved from higher up the river to the Lower Susquehanna Valley. The Susquehannock were Iroquoian speakers and shared many similarities with the Iroquois in New York. Learn more here.

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