Science and art merge in a new exhibit at the Marilyn Foley Art Gallery on the University of Mobile (UMobile) campus. The exhibit of handcrafted quilts by UMobile professor of chemistry Gail Shelly — “From Designing to Binding” — is on display through Dec. 5.
Shelly has taught general and organic chemistry at UMobile since 2008.
But “I was a seamstress long before I became a scientist,” Shelly said. Since age 10 her mother and grandmother taught her the ins and outs of needlework.
“My grandmother had taught my mother how to piece quilt tops from the fabric scraps of sewing projects,” Shelly said. “She also quilted with a group who worked together to sew the top, batting and backing at the same time in a ‘sandwich’ using decorative designs. They taught me the technique of hand quilting.”
She also became an expert at embroidery.
Unique pieces of art
In 2005 she began making her own unique quilts — from smaller table runners and wall-hung quilts to king-sized bedspreads.
“They are all unique,” she said. “There’s no point in making the same quilt twice.”
Her quilts combine vibrant colors and diverse shapes to create a unique piece of art with each project.
“Quilters use color and color value like any other artist — to define form and create spatial illusions,” she said. “I love to use both color and design to create quilts that show dimensionality and movement.”
Part of the inspiration for Shelly’s style comes from her experience in chemistry.
“One of the areas of chemistry that has always fascinated me is how molecules interact with light to produce colors,” she said. “As a quilter, fabric is my medium — it is far less messy than mixing chemicals together, although that can be quite satisfying too.”
Associate professor of art Phillip Counselman, director of the Marilyn Foley Art Gallery, said Shelly’s quilts “exceed the definition of craft; they are beautiful works of art. The works are highly designed with exquisite colors.
“It is apparent that Dr. Shelly is a keen observer of nature based on her organic designs,” he added. “This exhibit is a great example of how art reveals science. The exhibit is cross-disciplinary, which makes it perfect for our campus experience.”
Shelly said quilting “is my creative outlet; a means of self-expression. I have probably given away more quilts than I have kept, and it is very rewarding to know that my creations are keeping loved ones warm or bringing color into the nursery of a newborn baby.”
During the summer months, Shelly quilts with a group of women in Atmore just as her mother and grandmother did before her.
“Using my hands to create stitched designs allows me to honor the women in my family that worked with needle and thread and who took the time to show me how to continue a time-honored tradition,” Shelly said.
For more information about the exhibit or the Nov. 20 Artist Talk event related to the exhibit, visit umobile.edu or call Phillip Counselman at 251-442-2283.
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