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Quilter Yvonne Line's work honoured by her brother in exhibition Threads of Life
Internationally renowned Victorian quilter Yvonne Line is known for her cutting-edge and sometimes rule-bending works.
Her brother John Lamb said his sister never developed one distinctive style in her 60 years of quilting. Instead she would constantly try new things.
Now, as Alzheimer's disease cuts short her passion, Line's sibling is honouring her work in an exhibition, Threads of Life.
Mr Lamb said his sister started to show symptoms of Alzheimer's disease about four years ago.
"She lost some of her memory, but her skill set was fine because it was in her long-term memory," he said.
But two years ago, when her anxiety began to grow and she started to lose other everyday skills, Line stopped quilting for good.
She now lives in an aged care facility in Albury.
Mr Lamb had spent years cataloguing some of his sister's work and produced a retrospective book as a more precise record.
Now, he has put together an exhibition of Line's works for the public to enjoy.
"It's one thing to see in a book, but to see it in real life, it's just very emotional," he said.
"Just a few days ago, I found work that I hadn't come across, so some of that is in the exhibition as well."
Mr Lamb said that not everyone understood Line's dedication to the textile arts.
The exhibition is named after the central piece of the collection.
Line created panels the sizes of tea towels, arranged by theme and colour scheme.
"Every day for a year, she picked out a bit of material … religiously," Mr Lamb said.
The series, completed by Line in 2019, is hanging in the Gateway Gallery in Wodonga alongside a small selection of her other works until August 23.
National Wool Museum director Padraic Fisher said Line's quilts were "extraordinary".
"Her artistry is exceptional, and world-class … she's meticulous in the way she designs and executed things," he said.
Mr Fisher said Line's ability to blend traditional techniques with contemporary design concepts made her a leader in the Australian quilting scene.
It's that commitment to the art form that Mr Lamb believes sets his sister's works apart.
"Artists are so driven to create, to the exclusion of everything else around them, and it's remarkable," he said.
