My Handwork Studio ~ A Fashion and Needle Arts Community for Kids!

Gee's Bend-More Than a Quilt Exhibit

While these women had truly nothing but their work, their families and their quilting, the exhibition and film talked about the joy that quilting brought to their lives. At the end of a long day in the fields, these women came together and sang, shared stories, thanked God and quilted into the wee hours. The simplicity of their lives, even with no material ownership, made me long for a simpler life. To work hard and be with those you love, doing what you love, is what I think life is about.

As these women became famous for their quilting, it was beautiful to see the pride in their gorgeous, weathered, natural faces. Their disbelief that they would some day be hanging their art in large museums around the country was endearing. Their story is so rich and important.  The emancipation of slaves, the civil rights movement and the development of cooperatives for sustainability all play a role in this exhibit. Art is never just art.

I was happy to spend the morning with these women, their story and their quilts. It reminded me that passing down the tradition of needle arts, whether it be quilting or knitting or machine sewing, is important. Doing needle arts makes people happy and proud, tells a story and builds a community.