There’s an impressive quilt show going on at Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport.

Why quilts, you might ask? Well, you might be interested to know that a very young Glenn Curtiss, fascinated by the process, once sat on his mother’s lap and pieced a quilt while she operated the treadle sewing machine. (Wish we had THAT quilt to see on exhibit!)

But more aptly, Curtiss Museum was originally founded to cover local history, as well as the pioneer aviator. It’s also the only real exhibit space in the central part of the county, so it’s the venue for many topics, which is part of the fun of the place. When I was director there I knew a Canadian couple who planned their visit every two years so that he could spend his time with the machinery, while she enjoyed the biennial embroidery show.

My wife is an enthusiast for all things needlearts, but I am no specialist in quilting. That being said, though, I know what I like, and enjoy visiting shows like this.

One of the quilts that really grabbed my eye was a large piece by Marie B. Peek of Bath, entitled “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish,” which she cheerfully confesses to having lifted from Dr. Seuss. (I especially like the barracuda that stretches over two blocks in the upper left.)

Besides just the fun of looking at all the varied fish, I was intrigued at her written description explaining that she had never been to the Caribbean, but enjoyed seeing pictures of the colorful fish in their sun-drenched habitat. This really resonated with me because back in the 1960s my parents used to take my sister and me to Audubon Society lectures in Providence. I’m still overwhelmed by the films of life on Caribbean reefs… and just like Ms. Peek, I’ve never been there.

Interestingly, at the other end of the room, and the other end of the spectrum, Marie Peek also created what was perhaps the next most visually arresting piece, “Carpenter’s Square”… an austere traditional design in blue, which just bursts from the sea of white onto which it’s been worked.

Also bright and vivid was “Billiards,” by Pat Clayton of Hammondsport – each block a large billiard ball in its own glorious color.

I’ve long known that Mary Shipp is a whiz with a needle, and I really enjoyed two of her small pieces… one a flock of goldfinches on a thistle, and one an elephant with her baby. We can’t help but be touched by such an image. Apart from us, elephants are about the only beings that spend years caring for their young. There’s real fellow-feeling there.

“Building Blocks,” by Wendy Baker of Dundee, bore 11 blocks with variations of traditional designs, and the quilt had very attractive October colors. Similarly muted was “Sprigs & Twigs,” by Fran Stoughton of Trumansburg. As a historian I was interested in the “Variation on Whig Rose” quilt by Maureen Johnson of Bath, but if you like a more modern, whimsical, and seasonal approach you should look up “The Ghastlies Family Reunion,” by Shirley Ann Fleet of Bath.

It may be Halloween season now, but Christmas season is coming up. Mary Ellen Westlake of Almond used Christmas fabric and traditional designs to create “Merry Christmas Quilt,” while Pat Clayton dedicated a block apiece to each of the “12 Days of Christmas.”

Liz Scott created a couple of quilts using a process I’d never seen or heard of before, ice dyeing. My wife tells me that you set dyes and ice cubes onto the fabric, and let nature take its course. It has a very ‘sixties feel. Also on the unusual side (and VERY interesting) were hand-hooked art pieces created by Diane Philips.

Just for fun I went around and did a count, and somebody else might get a slightly different figure, but I came up with exactly 100 pieces in this exhibit, which is a number worth seeing if you’re at all interested. The show runs through Saturday, November 1.