Quilts aren’t just for keeping warm. For one North Merrick artist, they’re canvases for creativity, storytelling and nearly five decades of artistic expression.
Now longtime resident Patricia Schust is bringing that passion back to a familiar place: the North Bellmore Public Library, where she once worked and where 17 of her creations are currently on display. Schust, 70, is showcasing her handcrafted artwork in two exhibits at the library through Nov. 4.
The first, “A Feast for the Eyes,” is featured in the library’s display cases and includes hand-painted driftwood, decorative cloisonné pumpkins and vintage hand-painted saws. The second exhibit, “Quintessential Quilts,” is displayed in the library’s Gallery Above the Shelves and features an assortment of handcrafted quilts, ranging from colorful floral designs to nautical scenes and whimsical creations for children.
This is the second time Schust has exhibited her work at the library, and most of the quilts now on display were made specifically for the show.
Schust has been quilting for about 50 years, but she has been interested in art since she was a child. She started sewing in seventh grade.
“When I was in junior high school, a friend of mine got a sewing machine, and I thought it was just fabulous that you could create things with this sewing machine,” she recalled. “I asked my parents if I could get one, and they got me one.”
She began making clothing, and discovered that she enjoyed combining different fabrics and colors. The more she experimented, she said, the more she wanted to explore other forms of art. After graduating from Uniondale High School in 1974, Schust earned a bachelor’s degree in art from Adelphi University and a master’s in library science from Long Island University.
From 1982 to 1983, she worked as an artist at the North Bellmore library, creating publicity materials for its programs. She later worked at the Westbury Public Library while she studied for her master’s.
Returning to North Bellmore decades later, this time as a featured artist, has brought together two important parts of her life. “I think that my art career has met my library career, and I’ve gone full circle,” Schust said.
For years, she balanced her passion for quilting with raising a family and working full time as a librarian and school administrator. It wasn’t until she retired that she was able to devote more of her time to creating art.
She credits her partner, Barry Goodman, with helping her pursue her passion, from publicizing her exhibitions to hanging her quilts.
Since she retired, Schust has exhibited her work around Long Island, earning recognition for her craftsmanship and creativity. She has taken part in Nassau County’s Women of the World Art and Photography Show, and has been accepted into the Water Mill Quilt Show in the Hamptons for three consecutive years.
Schust has also been commissioned to create a quilt commemorating the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library’s 80th anniversary next year, another opportunity to combine her love of art and libraries.
Over nearly five decades, Schust’s approach to quilting has continued to evolve. While traditional quilts are often made of cotton, she has experimented with unconventional materials, using everything from silk neckties and vintage handkerchiefs to embroidered tablecloths in her designs. She refers to her technique as “found-object quilting.”
Schust has also incorporated painting into her quilts, including a piece featuring a painted tree trunk and appliquéd leaves.
“I think experimenting with different types of materials is where I’ve developed the most recently,” she said.
Schust spends roughly five hours a day in her sewing room working on her creations. A smaller quilt can take five days to complete, while a king-size quilt can take about a month.
Rather than relying on premade quilting kits, she prefers to sketch her own designs. She then uses a design wall to arrange the fabric pieces, experimenting with their placement before sewing them together. She pays particular attention to how different colors, patterns and textures complement one another, often spending hours selecting and arranging fabrics before beginning to sew.
“My favorite part of the quilt, believe it or not, is the planning part with the fabric,” she said.
Displaying her work at the North Bellmore library is particularly meaningful because of her longtime connection to the community. A North Merrick resident for 47 years, she said that returning to the library as an artist has given her a sense of appreciation and belonging.
“It means that I'm appreciated in my town,” Schust said. “It makes me feel like I've come home again, and that's why I like to do it there.”
She believes that libraries play an important role in bringing communities together by offering a variety of cultural experiences. “I also think that it's another way to show the community that libraries are not just books,” Schust said.
Through her exhibits, she hopes visitors gain a greater appreciation for quilting and recognize the creativity, time and craftsmanship that go into each piece. Quilting, Schust said, is often viewed as an old-fashioned craft, but she believes it can be just as modern and expressive as other forms of art.
“It's more than a blanket,” she said. “It's a piece of artwork. It takes you on a journey through color and fabric and design.”
