The Dalles Art Center’s September exhibition will be the first comprehensive showing of the work of an Oregon textile artist from her early years, the influence of her family to her work creating print designs for national fabric companies, to her full-circle journey into personal storytelling through memorial quilts.  Lori Mason of Portland has family roots in the Underwood area.  Memorial quilts have a long history in America, going back to the 19th Century with examples such as Elizabeth Rosemary Mitchell’s, “The Graveyard Quilt” to 20th Century quilts honoring the grief of a nation, such as the Challenger Quilt.  Mason builds on this tradition using clothing from the deceased as the material for the quilt while engaging modern symbols that bring the personality of the deceased to life.  Due to the personal nature of her memorial quilts, and because they go directly to people’s homes throughout the country and beyond, it is usually Mason’s studio work that makes it to galleries.  An opening night reception will be held on September 7, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.   An artist talk with Mason is set for September 14 at 7 p.m., and tickets are available at thedallesartcenter.org.