NANCY PETTWAY- BRICKLAYER VARIATION

Work Clothes Quilt

During an adventure to the dismal craft section of the Brooklyn Public Library I fell upon a book which celebrates, documents, and gives voice to the Quilters and Quilts of Gee’s Bend.

LORETTA BENNETT- CRAZY QUILT

Gee’s Bend is piece of land surrounded by three sides with water of the Alabama River. It’s unique location and shape have kept it as a small, remote, rural, intimate, entirely African American community. Gee’s Bend had historically been and still is a very poor community with little education.

LOLA PETTWAY-FOUR HOUSETOP BLOCKS

But in the midst of this community great artists were creating. And there lies the stories of the Quilts of Gee’s Bend.  The quilters inspired by their humble surroundings and the scraps and available fibers they could find -created modern quilts that parallel the work of such minimalist artists at Joseph Albers, and abstract expressionist as Mark Rothko and other great artists of the 50’s and 60’s. However,  these women were making these quilts without ever knowing of these artists and even before these artists were doing similar images themselves..

REVIL MOSELY-CORDUROY LAZY GAL

They often worked with untraditional and difficult materials such as corduroy and denim.

Lutisha Pettiway

The works of these women are inspiring and astounding in their unique choices and beautiful technique. Each quilt is truly a work of  art.  And thankfully, finally they are starting to get credit and payment  for their inspiring talent.  You can find much information on these amazing quilts and quilters here , here, and here