Displaying a quilt in a public space

[Jennifer D.]

Thought I would post a question for everyone to think over. Please let me know if you have seen, or done this yourself!

I have a quilt (roughly twin size) that I want to hang on the wall of a pediatrician's office. It will be in a hallway that is mainly used by staff, but children and families often refuse to wait in the room and follow staff to the main desk to wait for their paperwork. We want to protect this quilt from curious hands (young and old alike) while still maintaining a modern/professional look and not encasing the quilt in a way that would allow condensation or other environmental issues to damage the fabric. Ideally, we would be able to change the quilt on occasion should we desire. The best we've come up with as an office group is some sort of large plexiglass mount with open sides that allow air flow. We believe this would allow the quilt to be viewed but not touched - but none of us have seen such a set-up before and don't want to recreate the wheel if it is not needed! I know other businesses have hung fabric art (but unfortunately none in our rural area)

Also - the hallway has artificial light only (no natural light) provided by overhead florescent bulbs. Any need to worry about color fading with such a set-up?

Thanks for your time and consideration!

[Jennifer D.]

Hi Jen,
I think your idea to hang a quilt/quilts in your office is great! Here's a link to quilts hanging behind plexiglass. http://www.friestyle.com/quilts-in-public-places/
Barb

[Geneva C.]

Jen,
At Sutter Roseville Hospital's Woman's Center (Roseville CA) they have exactly what you are describing. As I would walk down the hallway to receive my mammogram :blink: , I would admire the quilt. They had it displayed just as you describe. A piece of Plexiglas that was mounted away from the wall allowing air to flow around the quilt. I have to tell you, seeing that quilt immediately brought my heart rate down and made me feel more calm.

Good for you! geneva

[Jennifer D.]

Barb - This is the basic idea we have - but the question is the logistics! Do we need to mount it first? If we do how could we change the quilt - I'd really like to put up Halloween or Christmas quilts for the proper season on occasion as well. Would some type of low profile quilt hanger work? Would there be any damage to allowing the quilt to lay next to the wall or do we need something between the wall and the fabric such as a mount? Do we need to worry about light damage from florescent lights? So many questions and no good place I've found to go for the answers!

[Jennifer D.]

Geneva - thank you. I made an alphabet quilt a few years ago (D is for Doctor and of course Q is for quilt!). My whole staff loves it. I thought it would be perfect for our pediatric group and a good distraction for the kids!

[Jennifer D.]

I'd use quilt hangers to hang and not worry about the quilt against the wall since the hanger sticks out already. Good question re the lights I personally don't know about damage from florescent lights.

Barb

[Jennifer D.]

Jen -
Here's a link to University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 'International Quilt Study Center and Museum's' information re textile care including sun light and florescent light damage to quilts. www.quiltstudy.org/about/care.html

Barb

[Dawn S.]

Wow, everyone! This all sounds so very technical. There is a surgeon's office that I go to occasionally and there are quilts hanging everywhere! Wonderful quilts! And, they are protected by...............nothing! I always admire them, but had never thought about the lighting or touching of them. But, they all seem to do just fine. Maybe the owner(s) periodically swap them out, and possibly wash them if necessary. And, I'm remembering one that hangs high in the mamo lab, which again, is unprotected by anything. Of course, that one cannot be touched, unless you are 10 feet tall.