Playing with a Full Deck is coming to Visions Art Museum: Contemporary Quilts + Textiles . This iconic collection of 54 contemporary quilts by leading American textile artists received support from the Smithsonian Museum and opened at the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery in 1995. It runs through May 19, 2013 at Visions Art Museum.

Playing with a Full Deck was conceived in 1993 by independent curator and quilt artist Sue Pierce who presented the challenge to depict one card from a standard deck of 52 playing cards plus two jokers. "The artists worked independently and were asked only to create a stitched construction of three or more layers made primarily of fabric," said Pierce. The quilts are shaped like a standard playing card with rounded corners, each approximately 28 inches high by 18 inches wide. The collection is a fascinating overview of contemporary quilting.

Playing with a Full Deck traveled throughout the United States as part of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and was acquired by collectors Warren and Nancy Brakensiek in 1998. The Brakensieks are well known collectors of contemporary art quilts who recently made a gift of the collection to Visions Art Museum.

The Brakensieks will be on hand March 9th for the opening reception along with Caryl Bryer Fallert, one of the artists with a quilt in the collection.

Caryl Bryer Fallert will present a visual lecture about her work and her 30-year career as an award-winning contemporary quilter on March 10th at 11:00 a.m. at Visions Art Museum the morning after the opening reception. Admission is $10 at the door for Caryl's presentation.