For geographers and other social scientists, "place" is not simply a physical location. The concept of place includes both tangible and intangible characteristics, and it reflects the ever-changing nature of a geographical area. Textiles are often key elements in defining a sense of place. Around the world, quilted, appliquéd, and pieced textiles help create specific spaces, especially temporary and ceremonial ones.
Marin Hanson, Curator of International Collections at the International Quilt Museum (IQM), talks about the carefully crafted cloth environments represented in the IQM’s exhibition, “Placemaking: Quilts and the Creation of Special Spaces,” including those formed by Egyptian khayamiya (appliquéd tent panels), Kyrgyz tush ki’iz (yurt hangings), and prayer rugs from across the Muslim world. She is joined by IQM Curator of Exhibitions, Camilo Sanchez, in talking about how they designed the IQM exhibition and, more generally, about the paradoxes involved with museums attempting to re-create specific places.