Quilting is one of America’s oldest, most populist art forms. It flourished in the Great Plains states during the early 19th century because it was one of the only forms of artistic expression available to women of the era. It’s been passed down from mother to daughter ever since. Contemporary quilters, however, have elevated the craft into a form of modern art. Yet, the craft remains predominantly female. “It’s the history,” explains Riane Menardi Morrison, the guild’s communications manager. “Quilting was domestic work, women’s work.”