Playing with Fabric 2: A Collection of Works by Carol Finerman (z”l) with Anita Liberman-Lampear

The Ann Arbor JCC’s Amster Gallery is pleased to present a collection of intricate quiltwork by Carol Finerman (z”l) and Anita Liberman-Lampear, with a reception taking place on Thursday, July 10 from 6-7:30 PM. Light refreshments will be served. These quilts demonstrate a love of the Jewish faith, the importance of trying something new, and the joy in bringing people together. 

Carol made her first quilt when she found out she was going to be a grandmother, 27 years ago. Although she had done a lot of sewing, needlepoint and embroidery, quilting was one thing Carol had never done. “I bought a book and made a quilt with different shapes, using primary colors, not knowing that there were many neat tools on the market to make the project easy,” Carol had said. “But I was hooked right away. The fabrics I chose were primary colors, but each had a different pattern. That was what intrigued me and kept me fascinated.”

Anita, though she had a strong love of textile art from an early age, took a hiatus in her adulthood. “I have been sewing since I was 10 years old – mostly garments,” Anita recalls. “In 1985, I attended my first quilt class, Trip Around the World. Having enjoyed it so much, I attended another class later that year, Log Cabin – Fields and Furrows. Sewing on and off in the following years was sporadic with two children to raise. But I managed an occasional quilt or two.”

The two women connected at Beth Israel Congregation when Carol was serving as president, while Anita was on the board. Their friendship blossomed, and they brought together a group of artistic individuals within the congregation. “We combined our talents and made the High Holiday curtains (2005) and the Torah covers (2011). Each of us brought a different style of work to the projects, and they’re still being used to this day,” Anita says.

Anita and Carol’s friendship and love of quilting continued to grow, and Anita remembers how much they loved going fabric shopping, working together on their many creations. “Carol’s quilting took a sharp turn once she became immersed in Art Quilting. While she attended many quilting retreats and courses, one of her favorites was Art Quilt Tahoe,” Anita states. “By the time she convinced me to come along, Carol had already been attending this retreat for 14 years. 2015 was the first year that I attended, and I too became hooked on Art Quilting – although I still do a lot of bed quilts, commission pieces and an occasional wall hanging. I attended Art Quilt Tahoe each year afterwards until the pandemic in 2020.”

Carol passed away from cancer in 2022, and Anita retired from Michigan Medicine after 46 years. Today, Anita works at Ann Arbor Sewing, teaching classes to new machine owners. She also teaches two Art Quilt Classes known as AQ-Fish and AQ-Photo. “Fish is the prequel to Photo, where I teach my students to take photographs and turn them into fabric portrait quilts,” Anita says.

The works shown here at the JCC are from Carol’s studio, which Carol’s children turned over to Anita after she passed away. Anita finished 15 pieces that her friend had not been able to complete, including a quilt for Carol’s cousin’s granddaughter. All of these pieces are for sale (unless stated otherwise) and the proceeds will be split between the JCC and the Ron and Elana Sussman Education Fund at Beth Israel Congregation. “Carol wanted very much to be a part of Ron’s retirement party,” Anita states. “And so, to that end, this exhibit and sale is in her memory.”

Carol and Anita’s quilts will be up at the JCC until the end of the summer, coming down on August 20.