Also important is that the art quilt movement has attracted a lot of men, said Trager. "The traditional quilting world is largely female. Like my mother and my sisters. They sat around the quilting frame and passed on what they knew. It was unusual for men to be anywhere near."

Then artist Robert Rauschenberg began experimenting with fabric art. "It was like he gave men permission to fool around with fabric, because he was fooling around with fabric." While many women still come to quilting from a sewing/fabric background, "most men come from art schools. They are painters, sculptors and then come to quilting. So it is very, very interesting to see them there."

But as quilts have moved from beds to walls, one thing has not changed, said Trager. They are still quilts. They have a front, a middle layer and a back. The front may be sewn or silk screened or painted; the middle may be batting or canvas or flannel or some other material; it might all be held together with stitching or with grommets, pins, staples, tacks, beads, buttons or something else. "But they are still made in the time-honored tradition of three layers."

If you go

What: "Quilts Rooted in Tradition"

Where: Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah

When: Through Oct. 15.

Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m-5 p.m.;

Wednesday until 8 p.m.; weekends, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

How much: adults, $5; youths (6-18), seniors, $3

Phone: 581-7332

Web: www.umfa.utah.edu.

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E-mail: carma@desnews.com