“Cutting Edge: Inventive Nineteenth-Century Quilts,” 33 selections from the collection of husband and wife Arlan and Pat Christ, continues through Oct. 26, Kress Gallery, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown.

On view are colorful designs by Pennsylvania-German quilt-makers, album quilts, and quilted handprints.

Many of the quilts have never been on public display.

“The exhibition really focuses on creativity and the idea of innovation within tradition practice, and how individuals and communities can build on tradition and really enrich that practice,” says Allentown Art Museum (AAM) Associate Curator Claire McRee.

“There are only a handful of them that are known to be made,” says Arlan Christ of American Bullseye” (circa 1860 - 1875; pieced and quilted cotton with appliqué flowers). The rare quilt and a few others with its pattern were created in the Lenhartsville area of Berks County.

“That’s why they call it a regional quilt,” says Pat Christ. She explains the construction of this type of covering is difficult to make and get it to lay flat. “This one, I have on my bucket list to recreate,” says Pat, a quilter since the 1990s.

The museum hosted a quilt turning Sept. 6 where the Christs showed off around 30 more early quilts from their vast collection by pealing layer after layer from a stack of quilts.

McRee met the pair of collectors a few years ago at a quilt-turning event at Easton Public Library and became eager to feature them at AAM.

Based in Berks County, the Christs have shared selections of the more than 1,000 carefully curated and stored quilts in their collection with the public at museums and quilt-turning events.

Having been collecting quilts for 25 years, they have published two books and are working on a third about quilts and patterns.

“I’m still working,” says Arian Christ, a tax accountant, “I have to. I’m buying quilts.” Pat Christ is his assistant.

“I’m adding to my 401(q),” quips Pat Christ.

The exhibition is supported through the Bernard and Audrey Berman Foundation and the Leon C. and June W. Holt Endowment.

“Cutting Edge: Inventive Nineteenth-Century Quilts,” through Oct. 26, Allentown Art Museum, 31 N. Fifth St., Allentown, Gallery hours: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Thursday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Third Thursdays. 610-432-4333; https://www.allentownartmuseum.org/

“Gallery View” is a column about artists, exhibitions and galleries. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com