Quilts are often full of tradition, time, stories and warmth. They are functional as well as beautiful, and at the HUB-Robeson Center, they are unquestionably art.

But this display, titled Quilts: Traditional, Contemporary and the Deviant, not only showcases the beauty and timelessness of a sometimes overlooked art form, but it also introduces the newest styles of quilting that have pushed the edges of traditional patchwork in addition to expanding the cultural background of the craft.

Ann Shields, senior gallery manager, said she thinks the exhibit, on display through April 30, will be popular and meaningful for many people.

"There have been cultures throughout history that were known for their quilts," Shields said. "We wanted to display that traditional essence of life that can be found through quilts while also showing people what is new and different about them."

Carol Brooks, who works for the gallery in exhibit design, said she thinks the range of the quilt exhibit makes it an educational and interesting art display.

"There is such a wide variety of quilts in the exhibit," Brooks said.

"It is a great way to compare the styles and changes that have happened over time, or people can compare the things that have stayed the same. There's a great depth to this art."

The exhibit features some quilts that serve a functional purpose and others that are artwork.

Traditional Amish quilts, African-American story quilts and contemporary works from artists across the country that involve video, painting and other mixed-media create some of the diverse flavor that is shown in this display.

Cynthia Nixon is one local artist who not only has work in the exhibit but is also partly responsible for bringing the quilt display to Penn State.

"[Shields] wanted to show the quilt tradition and contrast this with the explosive changes that have transformed this art medium in the past few years," Nixon said.

Shields said that she thought this exhibit would be popular, especially in this area, because of a strong quilting history in Pennsylvania.

"Students have been very interested in quilt exhibits in the past," Shields said. "Quilt making has a very strong tradition in Pennsylvania, and that is something to be recognized and appreciated."

Nixon's piece focuses on her current series, which is on figures, self-portraits and reflections.

"It doesn't matter what drives an artist. All that matters is desire," Nixon said. "Every work of art is, in a sense, autobiographical, and these quilts are all an intrinsic American art form. They developed here, as did jazz and rock 'n' roll and abstract painting. Quilts are an American art form."