Gail Marirea’s quilted pictures, on show in the Painting with Fabric exhibition at the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, could drive you crazy just trying to figure out how she made them; yet it is an inevitable question, how did she make them?

I have been told and given some idea as to her process, but in the end, I really don’t know. I can see that it’s a complicated, time consuming process, but even if I could go over her procedures, step by step, would viewing her exhibition be any more pleasurable?

As to how long it takes to make even one picture, I can only guess, but it is at least weeks, for sure.

When listening to music, say a piano concerto by Beethoven, I know in the back of my brain, that the musician has spent hours, weeks, months and even years perfecting his/her technical proficiency, plus there is a lot more involved, but that for me is mere background.

I enjoy the music without my being consciously aware about matters of preparation. It seems to me, it is much the same with visual arts.

Ms Marirea’s quilted pictures take on a certain dimensionality primarily because of the quilting process. She does not try to hide the fact it is a quilt, but what is a quilt?

Usually it is a unique bed covering made by means of multiple fabric layers, including filler that is stitched together, often in a decorative manner. Gail Marirea seemingly does much the same, but in a miniature way.

Her subject matter is mostly take-offs of Bermuda paintings originally by some well-known artists, such as Winslow Homer, or the Tucker sisters, or sometimes from her own photographs.

Although depicting mostly paintings, her quilted pictures are totally fabric based, meaning her pictures contain no paint.

This means that one detail is finding the right coloured fabric in a multicoloured picture and that is no mean feat, especially with a dearth of fabric stores in Bermuda. No doubt she often has to find the right fabrics elsewhere.

This is an incredible exhibition that is certainly worth every effort to visit. It continues through June 10.

There are 26 quilted pictures on show in the Rick Faries Gallery. The show is curated by Max Grainge and the artist, Gail Marirea.