Set in the quiltmakers homes and yards, and told through the women s voices, this musicfilled, 28minute documentary takes viewers inside the art and fascinating living history of a uniquely american community and art form. Beautifully illustrated with 110 color illustrations, the quilts of gee s bend includes a historical overview of the two hundred years of extraordinary quilt making in this africanamerican community, its people, and their artmaking tradition. I learned that these quilters started by painstakingly taking apart old clothes by hand so as to use the entire piece of fabric. African american abstract log cabin flag quilt from gees bend us slave. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and. This exhibition of over sixty extraordinary quilts that were made between 1930 and 2000 showcases a body of work that is bold, spirited, and moving. I wasnt able to get into the quiltcon workshop on the gees bend quilt so i turned to books to learn more. A gees bend quilt, watch part of the pbs newshour documentary on gees bend, and locate gees bend on a state map. The gees bend ferry terminal is located at 12021 co rd 29, boykin al 36723. See more ideas about quilts, gees bend quilts and american quilt. The quilts of gees bend tells the story of this town and its art. Postal service even issued ten commemorative stamps featuring images of gees bend quilts. After students understand the history of gees bend, we look up the quilts and enjoy discussing the art. The quilts of gees bend are quilts created by a group of women and their ancestors who live or have lived in the isolated africanamerican hamlet of gees bend, alabama along the alabama river.
Feb 19, 2020 my gees bend quilt interests lie in their design concepts, division of space and ways in which their patterns might be modified or adapted for use in other media, such as clay, wood, paper. The architecture of the quilt this book shares the story of the women that make up the gees bend legacy. Gees bend quilts carry forward an old and proud tradition of textiles made for home and family. Miller was the mother of missouri pettway and grandmother of arlonzia pettway, both creative quilt makers. The gee s bend ferry terminal is located at 12021 co rd 29, boykin al 36723. The event at the offices of a local law firm who represents the artists was held primarily to introduce large art galleries and universities t. Leaving gees bend has been getting some welldeserved prenewbery buzz, and was also. The quilts of gees bend souls grown deep foundation. Beautifully illustrated with 110 color illustrations, the quilts of gees bend includes a historical overview of the two hundred years of extraordinary quilt making in this africanamerican community, its people, and their artmaking tradition. Post office was established in gee s bend, and the name was changed to boykin, an unwelcome change to the community. Since the 19th century, the women of gees bend in southern alabama have created stunning, vibrant quilts. We loved the bold illustrations and the story of a little girl making her own quilt and learning the history and importances of the quilts of gees bend. Beautifully illustrated with 110 color illustrations, the quilts of gees bend includes a historical overview of the two hundred years of extraordinary quiltmaking in this africanamerican community, its people, and their artmaking tradition.
Gees bend, alabama is a hamlet of residents, most of whom are the descendants of. Paper quilt gees bend geometric abstract collage washi tape mixed media assemblage art 6x4 quilter birthday gift christmas handmade card thedestinyofthings 5 out of 5. Set in the quiltmakers homes and yard, and told through the womens voices, this musicfilled, 28minute documentary takes viewers inside the art and fascinating living. Again in 1962, outsiders forced another change on the community when a dam on the alabama river flooded thousands of acres of the most fertile land. I just discovered an awesome web site with some great background and bio info on these amazing. The architecture of the quilt paul arnett, tinwood books, 2006. The women of gees benda small, remote, black community in alabamahave created hundreds of quilt masterpieces dating from the early twentieth century to the present. The women of gees bend, in a small and remote black community in alabama, have created hundreds of quilt masterpieces dating back to the early twentieth century. Gees bend quilts are different from the traditional patterns of squares and. Celebrate black history with gees bend quilts scholastic. Quilting projects, quilting designs, gees bend quilts, african quilts, quilt modernen, string quilts, art textile, contemporary quilts, quilt block patterns. Pettway bought the gee estate in 1850 and after the civil.
Gees bend quilt collage classroom art projects, quilts. The quilts, were created by a group of women living in the hamlet of gees bend, ala. Here are the last two of the gees bend quilts that i patterned. See more ideas about gees bend quilts, quilts, gees.
Here is her original quilt as seen on the page with her bio. Ranging in age from 19 to 90, they have been recognized by the united states postal service, the whitney. It was annie mae young s 1976 workclothes quilt that caught collector william arnett s eye and led to the gee s bend exhibitions. Lazy gal variation, 1976, corduroy, 81 x 89 inches. Resembling an inland island, gees bend is surrounded on three sides by the alabama river. It was annie mae youngs 1976 workclothes quilt that caught collector william arnetts eye and led to the gees bend exhibitions. The quilts of gees bend documentary accompanies the major exhibitions of gees bend quilts.
See more ideas about gees bend quilts, american quilt and quilts. The quilts of gees bend are considered to be unique, and one of the most important africanamerican visual and cultural contributions to the history of art within the united states. Gees bend quiltmakers the women of gees benda small, remote, black community in alabamahave created hundreds of quilt masterpieces dating from the early twentieth century to the present. Gees bend quilt by mary lee bendolph textile patterns, textile art, bauhaus textiles. Gees bend close to where i lived in alabama this is one fabulous courthouse steps quilt from the gees bend series. Gees bend gets its name from joseph gee, the first white landowner here, who came in 1816. Gees bend quilts lawsuits resolved the seattle times. I think they are a really great crash course in quilt history.
The architecture of the quilt, which was on view at the walters art museum from june 15, 2007 august 26, 2007, featured four generations of quilters and demonstrated how the influences of architecture and the environment appear in the quilters visual vocabulary. Gees bend quilts lawsuits resolved originally published august 26, 2008 at 12. See more ideas about gees bend quilts, quilts and american quilt. Gees bend gees bend quilts, african quilts, african. The quilts of gees bend by susan goldman rubin, hardcover. Annie may youngs 1976 workclothes quilt, collection of the.
American quilt missisippi gees bend style quilt vintage log cabin pattern link is bad. Gees bend quilt mural art projects for kids the women of gees bend live in a small, remote, black community in alabama and have created hundreds of quilt masterpieces. Nancy pettway, bricklayer variation, quilted fabric, 71 x 71 textiles, textile patterns. Oct 12, 2014 i read the book stitchin and pullin a gees bend quilt afflink by patricia c. Feb 19, 20 gees bend in blues quilt at anacraftsbcn. Gees bend quilt collage art projects for kids see more. The quilts of gees bend london convention centre london, on august 2010 gees bend i have always loved these quilts and im fortunate to come across this mother lode of images that i can create this board around. On friday, i had the incredible opportunity to attend a meet and greet of sorts for two gees bend quilters, mary lee bendolph and loretta pettway bennett. Set in the quiltmaker s homes and yard, and told through the women s voices, this musicfilled, 28minute documentary takes viewers inside the art and fascinating living history of a uniquely american community and art form. Feb 16, 2020 the quilts of gees bend, were on display at the whitney museum of american art in new york, in 2003, after premiering in 2002 at the museum of fine arts in houston. Gees bend quilt by rachel carey george, born housetopsixteenblock halflogcabin variation sashed with feed sacks. Gees bend quilts are different from the traditional patterns of squares and triangles.
Apr 17, 2017 explore redpepperquiltss board the quilts of gees bend and inspired by. Roman stripes variation quilt, by willie ma willie abrams, ca. See more ideas about art lessons, gees bend quilts and art. The architecture of the quilt is a major book and museum exhibition that will premiere at the museum of fine arts, houston mfah, in june 2006 before traveling to seven american museums through 2008. Gee s bend gets its name from joseph gee, the first white landowner here, who came in 1816. African american quilts from the collection of corrine riley.
Arlonzia pettway, annie mae young and mary lee bendolph are among some of the most notable quilters from gees bend. During the civil rights movement in the 1960s, gee s bend enjoyed several years of national visibility. The first is the medallion variation by louisiana p. Gees bend in blues quilt at anacraftsbcn gees bend quilts. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our. Note that her quilt is surrounded with a lot of white fabric. In the only photoessay book about the quilts of gees bend for children, awardwinning author susan goldman rubin explores the history and culture of this fascinating group of women and their unique quilting traditions. The book s 330 color illustrations and insightful text bring home the exciting experience to readers while displaying all the.
A quilting bee was formed just up the road from gee s bend, in rehoboth, alabama, that made standardized quilt patterns for department stores and later undertook piecework sewing projects for sears. See more ideas about paper quilt, gees bend quilts and quilts. The quilts made by the ladies of gees bend, alabama have toured the world to much critical acclaim and some skepticism. Annie may young s 1976 workclothes quilt, collection of the. The quilts of gee s bend four generations of africanamerican quilters in gee s bend, ala. Spread the love quilt by rita mae pettway quilt by florine smith gees bend is a small poor rural town located near selma, alabama. Review of the quilts of gees bend book quilting sewing. This is because they have an entire history viewable in less than a century of work by the generations of an isolated community set in the bend of a river. Aug 23, 2010 spread the love quilt by rita mae pettway quilt by florine smith gees bend is a small poor rural town located near selma, alabama. Windham fabrics gees bend work quilt pattern made with work uniforms would look. Aug 03, 2004 this archival photo of sally miller, gees bend practical nurse and midwife, was taken by marion post wolcott in 1939. The history of gees bend, alabama auburn university. Jan 18, 2019 this pin was discovered by suzy quilts modern quilt pat. Beautifully illustrated with 110 color illustrations, the quilts of gee s bend includes a historical overview of the two hundred years of extraordinary quiltmaking in this africanamerican community, its people, and their artmaking tradition.
We loved the bold illustrations and the story of a little girl making her own quilt and learning the history and importances of the quilts of gees. Since the early nineteenth century, the women of gees bend in southern alabama have created stunning, vibrant quilts. I read the book stitchin and pullin a gees bend quilt afflink by patricia c. Jul 01, 2003 the exhibition is called the quilts of gee s bend. Annie mae young, workclothes quilt with center medallion of strips, denim, corduroy, synthetic blend. The women of gees bend have developed a distinctive, bold, and sophisticated quilting style based on traditional american and.
Souls grown deep a nonprofit organization that documents, preserves and promotes the work of leading contemporary african american artists from the southeastern united states. Celebrate black history with gees bend quilts by meghan everette. Sep 23, 2002 since the 19th century, the women of gee s bend in southern alabama have created stunning, vibrant quilts. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Formed in the isolated african american hamlet of gees bend, alabama, in the early 20th century, this extraordinary group of women created the quilts to stay warm in winter using whatever fabrics and textiles were available to them. Aug 02, 2012 quilts from gee s bend are on display at the mww transportation museum in tuscaloosa. The quilts of gee s bend documentary accompanies the major exhibitions of gee s bend quilts. American flag quilt gees bend quilts deep foundation african quilts textiles vintage quilts quilt making quilting projects textile art quilts of gees bend arcola pettway, 19341994.
See more ideas about gees bend quilts, quilts, african american quilts. In the past it was comprised of cotton plantations, owned by joseph gee and a relative of his, mark pettway. See more ideas about gees bend quilts, quilts and contemporary quilts. Since then, quilts from gees bend have been exhibited at the museum of fine arts, houston, the philadelphia museum of art, the whitney museum of american art, and others. Since the 19th century, the women of gee s bend in southern alabama have created stunning, vibrant quilts. Each quilt has its own unique story pieced together from the scraps of numerous lives. Arlonzia pettway, housetop nineblock variation, 1982, 87x80 inches. The quilts of gees bend four generations of africanamerican quilters in gees bend, ala.