Maine Craft cheetah
Betsy Dorr, “Cheetah quilt”

The Center for Maine Craft in West Gardiner will present “Wild Threads: The Nature of Quilts,” an exhibition of work by quilter Betsy Dorr, from Nov. 13 to Dec. 31.

Maine Craft giraffe
Betsy Dorr, “Giraffe Quilt.”

For more than 35 years, Dorr has worked with fabric, color and thread to depict landscapes, plants and animals. Her compositions draw on time spent hiking and observing the patterns, textures and colors of Maine’s natural environment. She combines cotton fabrics, including hand-painted textiles, with free-motion machine stitching, using thread to draw intricate lines and details.

Dorr learned to sew as a child in a family of makers that included her mother, both grandmothers and three sisters. She later opened Quiltessentials in Auburn, which she operated for 27 years, and has taught machine quilting throughout Maine. Retirement has given her more time to pursue her own subjects and develop her quilts as works of art.

The exhibition invites viewers to consider quilts beyond their traditional function, with fabric serving as landscape and stitching as a form of drawing.

The Center for Maine Craft is at 288 Lewiston Road in the West Gardiner Service Plaza. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For more information, call 207-588-0021, email edy@shopmainecraft.com or visit shopmainecraft.com.