Quilts as an art form are getting quite a showcase in North Texas. Quilt Mania II is a staggered rollout of exhibitions at a dozen and a half venues from Plano to Arlington to South Dallas to Mesquite. It began last week at the Irving Arts Center with the opening of a show by Paul D. Pilgrim and members of the Irving Quilt Guild.

Quilt Mania II continues through next April, highlighted by a series of “quilt crawls” and a Quilt History Weekend. The first crawl takes place Nov. 8 at six spaces: Arlington Museum of Art, ArtCentre of Plano, Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Dallas Historical Society, Irving Arts Center and Latino Cultural Center. Bus transportation, entrances and lunch will be provided for a yet to be determined fee.

The first Quilt Mania was held five years ago and involved 11 art institutions. The next exhibition opening is Monday at Farmers Branch Historical Park.

Marian Ann J. Montgomery, project coordinating curator, Quilt Mania II