CF Appleton Museum of Art to present handcrafted pinecone quilts by Betty Ford-Smith

The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, is pleased to announce “Under the Cover of Knowledge: Betty Ford-Smith’s Pinecone Quilts,” on view September 6, 2025-February 22, 2026. This marks the first major solo exhibition of Ford-Smith’s work. Her quilts have been collected nationwide and by major institutions like the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Ford-Smith’s quilts are striking, contemporary interpretations of the traditional pinecone quilt — a form rooted in African American quilting practices dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Created entirely by hand, each piece can take more than six months to complete and can weigh more than 30 pounds. Beginning with a small square at the center, Ford-Smith builds outward in hypnotic spirals using more than 4,000 hand-cut, folded cotton triangles, a process that evokes celestial orbits and the rhythms of nature. Beyond the studio, she continues to deepen her practice by sharing knowledge, mentoring beginners and connecting with fellow quilters across the Southeast and beyond.

“The Appleton is honored to highlight such an amazing Florida artist. Betty is as vibrant and life affirming as the pinecone quilts she creates,” said Jason Steuber, museum director. “The artistic pinecone quilts draw you in while you become spellbound by their colors and fine handmade craft.”

In “Under the Cover of Knowledge,” Ford-Smith’s dazzling quilts will be presented alongside antique examples, Gee’s Bend quilts, and related artworks, celebrating the power of tradition, the complexity of craft and the resilience of stories stitched through time.

Appleton Director’s Circle members will be invited to a private reception on Friday, September 5; additional details will be announced soon.

Regular admission fees apply to visit. Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month as part of the Free First Saturday program.

The Appleton Museum, Artspace and store are open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. A campus of the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.

Topics and concepts presented at this event are for discussion purposes only and are not intended to espouse, promote, advance, inculcate, or compel individuals to believe the topics or concepts presented therein. Nor do they constitute endorsement of such topics or concepts by the College of Central Florida, its Board of Trustees, or any of their officers, employees, or agents.