75 Reasons to Live: Allison Smith on J. Wilbur Sandison’s Quilt

Artist Allison Smith looks at J. Wilbur Sandison's photograph Quilt (ca. 1940s). Reflecting on the traditions of the signature quilt and the quilting bee, Smith says, “I love the idea of an artwork that is as much the conversation as the material residue of that conversation.“Remember the end of Manhattan, when Woody Allen asks himself what makes life worth living? In January 2010, during SFMOMA's three-day 75th anniversary celebration, 75 people from the Bay Area creative community gave extremely short talks — 7.5 minutes or less! — on a single collection work of their choosing. Someone called it “manic splendor“ — and it was. You can view all of the talks on The Anniversary Show exhibition page. Or look for them here, on Open Space.