Barbara Kohl-Spiro

Barbara Kohl-Spiro was born in 1941 and was largely influenced by the 1960s. In the art sphere, a multitude of significant changes were also taking place. Pop Art and Minimalism were ascendant. The watercolor, "Log Cabin Humble Beginnings," from 1984, comes from a series of paintings based on quilt designs. This example depicts a log cabin pattern. Influenced by Op Art of the 1960s, Kohl-Spiro's work fools the eye with pulsating diamond and square patterns made up of lines and dots of color that are not blended. The work distorts the viewer's perception of depth and form. The color palette is influenced by the Italian Memphis design style that was popular in the 1980s. While both Op art and Memphis design have characteristic hard lines, Kohl-Spiro's painting emphasizes the handmade--much like a textile. Even the picture's frame is handmade. During the '80s, curators and critics were beginning to recognize the artistry and decorative nature of quilts. For Kohl-Spiro, the quilt represents a symbol of passing traditions from mother to daughter and the strength of familial relationships across generations.