Nautical Stars
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A compass rose, sometimes called a windrose, is a figure on a map or nautical chart used to display the orientation of the cardinal directions - north, south, east and west. Ancient cartographers would design the most elaborate compass roses to decorate their maps so that mariners of old could navigate the oceans using charts and stars to explore unknown realms. This modern interpretation was inspired by a pen and ink drawing of a compass rose in the collection of the Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum. In this quilt, darkness gives way to light, just as night turns to day. As you look up at the heavenly stars and planets in the night sky, it is easy to understand how the beauty of the natural world inspired Judy Mathieson to explore the many possibilities of star and compass rose patterns, culminating in her masterpiece quilt, “Nautical Stars.” It has been named as one of “The Twentieth Century’s 100 Best American Quilts”. Judy Mathieson lives in California, USA, and in addition to exhibiting her work, she began teaching in 1977 and has since been at the forefront of the quilt world.
© 1986 Judy Mathieson
