Catherine Whalen traced the outline of Henry Main when he was four days old for her quilt, which also includes the baby's footprints. She gave the quilt to Henry's mother, graduate student Karin Main, as a baby gift.

Students find 'creative outlet' in Battin' & Chattin'

Some of Yale's scholars-in-training displayed unexpected talent with needle and thread on May 4, when the Battin' & Chattin' Quilters exhibited their handiwork on the walls of the Hall of Graduate Studies. The quilters, both women and men, are doctoral students, primarily in the American studies program. They meet twice a week during the academic year for two-hour work sessions to create distinctly original works of art, with their quilts representing their own vision and craftsmanship. On their quilts, colors and textures combine to create patterns, sometimes geometrical and abstract, other times representational. Some of the stitching forms designs or images, superimposed on the fabric. A couple of quilts have exquisite embroidery, and several use a technique known as appliqué. "There's definitely an interesting mix of tastes and styles in what is produced," said Françoise Nicole Hamlin, whose "Family Tree" quilt features photo transfers of her family members, appliquéd onto the branches of a quilted tree. The outer border is quilted in a wavelike pattern on a solid-colored background. "I couldn't sew straight before I started," Hamlin admitted. "This has become a creative outlet for me." The founder of the group is Heather Williams, who has been quilting for about 14 years. A self-taught artist, she passed along the basic skills of her craft to three friends at Yale, and they, in turn, taught others. "The best way to learn is to teach," Williams noted, adding, "We have grown into a kind of support group. While we sew, we talk about teaching, school, personal matters. These people have become my friends. We trust each other; we influence each other." For the exhibit, Williams displayed a quilt of richly textured fabric -- velvets, satins and more -- overlaid with floral embroidery. On the same day as the students' exhibit, the American Studies program unveiled a quilt it had commissioned from Williams. Called "Circles," it is made of hand-dyed cotton, silk and burlap that was machine-pieced together and hand quilted. The design features circles within circles, and circles within squares, primarily in glowing reds and oranges, set off by green, purple and black. The 11 Battin' & Chattin' quilts on display included patchwork quilts, wall hangings, lap quilts, pillows and baby quilts. One baby quilt, "Wiggle Man," by Catherine Whalen, has squares and rectangles on one side, and on the other, a portrait-in-fabric of a baby. In fact, the baby in question is Henry Main, son of Karin Main, also a graduate student in American Studies. His outline was traced at four days old by Whalen, who surprised the Mains with the quilt as a baby gift. Each corner has a quilted footprint of the newborn Henry, which was taken from the birth announcement. (Henry, born May 30, 1999, was toddling around the reception, with his mother close behind him.) Although the membership of Battin' & Chattin' Quilters varies each semester, current participants are Williams (American Studies), Hamlin (African American/American studies), Brian Herrera (American studies), Whalen (American studies), Aaron Wong (American studies), Leigh Raiford (African American/American studies), Lisa McGill (American studies), Tanya Hart (history), Robin Bernstein (American studies), Karin Thomas (American studies) and Jayna Brown (African American/American studies). The exhibition and reception were sponsored by the McDougal Center. -- By Gila Reinstein T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S $5 million to fund student exchanges Shiller predicts 'uneven course down' for the stock market Janeway, Srinivasan are named as new members of the NAS Seven from Yale are among the new fellows of the AAAS Summertime at Yale Chemistry lecturer honored with national award Yale program for children lauded at dedication Commencement Information Show celebrates adventurous 'Art of Bloomsbury' 'Dance of the Dragon' traces use of mythical motifs in Chinese art Study shows arthritis drug aids premature babies' brains Roundtable discussion inaugurates Corporate Law Center Newly unveiled portrait features first Yale graduate from China Leffell's 'Total Skin' offers insights into our outer layer Nurse practitioners group cites Grey and Safriet for their work YSN and Connecticut Public Radio creating show on care of ill, elderly 'What is a Pathologist?': Young students have winning answers Historian wins award for his creative use of technology Multimedia projects receive special grants from the DMCA Marrakech honors two at Yale for their volunteer contributions Panelists decry nuclear proliferation in India, Pakistan Students find 'creative outlet' in Battin' & Chattin' Search committee formed for School of Drama Dean In the News Bulletin Home|Visiting on Campus| Calendar of Events|Bulletin Board Classified Ads|Search Archives|Production Schedule|Bulletin Staff Public Affairs Home|News Releases| E-Mail Us|Yale Home Page