In its crisp use of positive and negative space, light and dark contrasts, and warm and cool values, this quilt has a marvelous graphic quality, evoking a Parcheesi or backgammon board. It is also evident that this artist has looked at a lot of historic quilts and is updating traditional patterns. Here, she seems to be simplifying a New York Beauty pattern. The artist said she was evoking the hot sun on Manhattan sidewalks during a summer trip to New York.

Title: 
Manhattan Heat Wave
Maker: 
Elizabeth (Betsy) Cave
Dated
1987
Made in
Mansfield
Ohio
United States
66.5
81.5
IQM, Ardis and Robert James Collection
1997.007.1094