Gwen Marston née Gwendolyn Joy Miller (October 2, 1936 - April 19, 2019) was an American quilter, quilt teacher, lecturer, and author who championed a style of quilting she called liberated quiltmaking. She encouraged modern quilt makers to break away from using commercial quilt patterns and to learn to design their own unique pieces of art.
After seeing an antique quilt exhibit at the Flint Institute of Art in the mid-1970s, Marston was inspired to learn how to make quilts.[1] She initially learned to quilt from Mennonite women in Oregon,[2][3] and in 1977, she met quilter and quilt historian Mary Schafer (1910-2006)[4] who became a primary influence.[5] Later, Marston authored a biography, Mary Schafer: American Quilt Maker, that was reviewed by library journals[6][7] and won the Michigan Notable Book Award.[8] The Mercer Museum brought Marston to give a lecture and gallery talk in 2017 when it displayed the exhibition “The Mary Schafer Collection: A Legacy of Quilt History” curated by Mary Worrall.[9][10]
Marston created hundreds of quilts using different techniques: hand and machine piecing, hand and machine applique, and hand and machine quilting. Her early quilts were bed-sized.[11] The birth of a grandchild inspired her to apply her quilt making skills to children’s books, a technique she shared in her 2002 book Fabric Picture Books. Later in her career, she was excited by the artistic growth that came from her exploration of making small quilts.[12] Her thirtieth book, A Common Thread, provides a retrospective of her contributions to applique, traditional patchwork, her signature liberated patchwork, string quilts, and abstract quilts in solids. Solo exhibitions of her work include “37 Sketches: Small Quilt Studies by Gwen Marston” at the Taupo Art Museum in Taupo, New Zealand,[13] “Gwen Marston: Contemporary Quilts” at the Dennos Art Museum in Traverse City, Michigan,[14] and twenty-seven others.[15]
Marston shared her approach to quilting through books, videos, and classes around the United States, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.[16][17] For 30 years, Marston led the Beaver Island Quilt Retreat (BIQR), a series of 4-day workshops, initially held at Central Michigan University's Biological Station[18] on Beaver Island (Lake Michigan)[19] and later in Elk Rapids, MI. In 1989, she talked about the ongoing revival of quilting and recognized that she was spending more of her time talking about quilts than making quilts.[20] In public lectures, Marston focused on ways that old quilts could inspire new ones.[21][22][23] In 2016, she gave the keynote address, "Liberated Quiltmaking: It’s About Making It YOUR Way," at the Modern Quilt Guild's QuiltCon conference in Pasadena, California, where she also had an exhibition, "Gwen Marston: Abstract Quilts in Solids."[24][25]
^Cox, Meg. "Gwen Marston - Her own fine self" (PDF).
^Hough Roda, Barbara (1991-06-09). "Meet quilt detectives, Marston and Cunningham". Sunday News. p. 127. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
^Marston, Gwen (2016). A Common Thread. Martingale. p. 9. ISBN 9781604688139.
^"Mary Schafer". Quilters Hall of Fame. 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
^Marston, Gwen (2004). Mary Schafer, American Quilt Maker. University of Michigan. pp. vii. ISBN 0472068555.
^Hamel-Schwulst, Mary (2004-07-15). "Mary Schafer, American Quilt Maker (Book)". Library Journal. 129 (12): 79.
^Herman, B L. Choice (January 2005). "Mary Schafer, American quilt maker (review)". Middletown. 42 (5): 842 – via ProQuest.
^Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle (April 27, 2017). "The Mercer Museum Presents: The Mary Schafer Collection: A Legacy of Quilt History" (PDF). Press Release Archives. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
^Worrall, Mary (July 23, 2022). "The Mary Schafer Collection: A Legacy of Quilt History". The Quilt Index.
^Schleper, Anne (1997-04-17). "Quilting author to give lecture and workshop". Evansville Courier and Press. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
^Beale, Pam (November 28, 2014). "Gwen Marston talks about her art book 37 Sketches". Pam Beale Art Quilts.
^Garber, Gail (September 1, 2013). "37 Sketches: Small Quilt Studies by Gwen Marston". Gail's Quilting Blog. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
^Merry, Colin (2014-01-14). "Dennos to host paper and fiber art exhibits". Benzie Record Patriot. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
^McCray, Linzee (February 18, 2016). "A Note About the Keynote: Gwen Marston". Moda Fabrics Supplies. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
^Houck, Carter; Museum of American Folk Art (1991). The quilt encyclopedia illustrated. Internet Archive. New York : H.N. Abrams in association with the Museum of American Folk Art. ISBN 978-0-8109-3457-3.
^Laing, Melissa (1989-08-25). "Quilters share ideas on applique methods". Longview Daily News. p. 14. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
^"Quilters retreat to Beaver Island". Beaver Beacon — Digital Michigan Newspapers Collection. 1 September 1992. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
GwenMarston née Gwendolyn Joy Miller (October 2, 1936 - April 19, 2019) was an American quilter, quilt teacher, lecturer, and author who championed a...
the Quilters of Gee's Bend, Amish quilts, Nancy Crow, Denyse Schmidt, GwenMarston, Yoshiko Jinzenji, Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle. The Modern Quilt Guild...
Laury John Lefelhocz Rosina Lippi Linda MacDonald Gwendolyn Ann Magee GwenMarston Carolyn L. Mazloomi Therese May Dindga McCannon Susan McCord Wini McQueen...
Gordon MacArthur – a retired World War I general Anthony James Marston (Tony Marston) – an amoral and irresponsible young man Ethel Rogers – the cook/housekeeper...
sculptor. Massimo Marino, 59, Italian television presenter and actor. GwenMarston, 82, American quilter. Roy Mugerwa, 77, Ugandan physician. Yuriy Pimenov...
(2015), the action comedy American Ultra (2015), the period drama Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017), the comedy-drama The Land of Steady Habits...
Bogarde in Appointment in London (1952) and had a featured role as Grace Marston in The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan which was made as part of the Coronation...
current storyline; Marston commented that this could also be setting up "a potential ratings bump" when Kamala is resurrected. Marston asserted that Marvel...
Hal Munson 2003–2005 Daniel Markel David Stenbeck 1997–1998 Nathaniel Marston Eddie Silva 1998–2000 Lauren B. Martin Camille Bennett 1997–2000 Marie...
Retrieved 2022-09-10. George Marston (2022-07-18). "Best X-Men members of all time". gamesradar. Retrieved 2022-09-10. George Marston (2022-08-02). "The best...
8 October 2007 (2007-10-08) 8.84 Anthony (Karl Theobald) and Terri Oakwood (Amy Marston), and their undisciplined son Sam (James Cronin) who vandalizes vehicles...
#250 Sabra 1980-08 Bill Mantlo, Sal Buscema Incredible Hulk #250 Snake Marston 1980-08 Tom DeFalco, Steve Ditko Machine Man #16 Fusion 1980-09 Dennis...
to Luchner M MacAfee to Maddison MaGuire to Mangrum Manning, Allen to Marston Martin to Maybach, Bruce Mayhew, Alexandra to Mayhew, Theresa Maynard to...
1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4. Marston 2010, p. 121. Donnelley 2003, p. 390. United Press (February 12, 1934)...
Comics #1 Wonder Woman (Diana Prince) 1941 (December) DC William Moulton Marston, H. G. Peter All Star Comics #8 / Sensation Comics #1 Liberator (Nedor)...
Mickey Evans, Michaela Gallo, Kaleigh Krish, Nick Meaney, Natalie Elizabeth Marston, June Lu Pokemon: Mewtwo Returns Warner Home Video / Nintendo / 4Kids Entertainment...
Magneto". ScreenRant. August 14, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2023. George Marston (August 17, 2023). "It's Johnny Vs. Johnny as Human Torch and Ghost Rider...