Gee’s Bend QuiltsGee’s Bend Quilts

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QUILTS FROM MANY QUILTS FROM MANY CULTURESCULTURES

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Traditional Anglo-American QuiltsTraditional Anglo-American Quilts

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Traditional Anglo-American QuiltsTraditional Anglo-American Quilts

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American Indian BlanketsAmerican Indian Blankets

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Mola BlanketsMola Blankets

Created by Kuna women from colorful multi-layerd fabrics.

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Mola BlanketsMola Blankets

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Gee’s Bend QuiltsGee’s Bend Quilts

Something from NothingSomething from Nothing

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Gee’s Bend Gee’s Bend

Located in Wilcox County, Located in Wilcox County, Alabama near CamdenAlabama near Camden

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Gee’s BendGee’s Bend

Nestled in a bend in Nestled in a bend in the Alabama Riverthe Alabama River

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Gee's Bend Quilt CollGee's Bend Quilt Coll

Gee’s Bend remains an Gee’s Bend remains an isolated community at isolated community at the end of a rural the end of a rural road in Alabama’s road in Alabama’s poorest county. poorest county.

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Gee’s Bend FerryGee’s Bend Ferry

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Quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend”Quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend”

Won the 2005 Won the 2005 Southeast Southeast Regional Emmy Regional Emmy Award for Award for Outstanding Outstanding Achievement in a Achievement in a Documentary Documentary Program Program

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US Postage StampsUS Postage Stamps

Stamps of ten quilts Stamps of ten quilts created between created between circa 1940 and 2001 circa 1940 and 2001 by African-American by African-American women in Gee's women in Gee's Bend, Alabama.Bend, Alabama.

Released August 24th, 2006Released August 24th, 2006

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National TourNational Tour

Jule Collins Smith Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University: at Auburn University: September 11 ~ September 11 ~ November 4, 2005November 4, 2005

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Gee’s Bend “Discovered”Gee’s Bend “Discovered”

1937

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Quilts of Gee’s BendQuilts of Gee’s Bend

Blocks and Stripes

by

Mary Lee Bandolph

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Arlonzia PettwayArlonzia Pettway

Arlonzia Pettway, 81,Arlonzia Pettway, 81,

remains stunned at remains stunned at

the attention their the attention their

quilts have garnered.quilts have garnered.

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Sewing a QuiltSewing a Quilt

Jennie Pettway and Jennie Pettway and an unidentified girl an unidentified girl with the quilter Jorena with the quilter Jorena Pettway. Pettway.

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Working on the 'Housetop'Working on the 'Housetop'

Lucy Marie Mingo Lucy Marie Mingo stiches a "housetop" stiches a "housetop" quilt as Arlonzia quilt as Arlonzia Pettway looks on.Pettway looks on.

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Quilters of Gee’s BendQuilters of Gee’s Bend

Irene Williams

Jessie T. Pettway

Leola Pettway

 

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Mary Lee Bendolph

Mama’s Song, 2005Mama’s Song, 2005

To Honor Mr. Dial

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Louisiana BendolphLouisiana Bendolph

Going Home

Triangles

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Louisiana BendolphLouisiana Bendolph

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Quilts of Gee’s BendQuilts of Gee’s Bend Unique Patterns Unique Patterns

Roman Stripes Housetop

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Quilts of Gee’s BendQuilts of Gee’s Bend Unique Patterns Unique Patterns

Courthouse Steps

Used as rug in

Kathy Ireland’s Home

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Corduroy QuiltsCorduroy Quilts

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Work-clothes QuiltsWork-clothes Quilts

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Traditional Log Cabin Quilt

Gee’s Bend Housetop Variation

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The Chestnut BudThe Chestnut Bud

Lucy Marie Mingo calls Lucy Marie Mingo calls this quilt "The this quilt "The Chestnut Bud." "It’s a Chestnut Bud." "It’s a tree branching," she tree branching," she describes. "Just like describes. "Just like the bud which comes the bud which comes on the tree."on the tree."

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Quilts of Gee’s BendQuilts of Gee’s Bend

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Quilts of Gee’s BendQuilts of Gee’s Bend

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Quilts of Gee’s BendQuilts of Gee’s Bend

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Quilts of Gee’s BendQuilts of Gee’s Bend

Worn out blue denim work-clothes

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Quilts of Gee’s BendQuilts of Gee’s Bend

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Passing on the TraditionPassing on the Tradition

Allie Pettway and her Allie Pettway and her daughter Lola Pettway.daughter Lola Pettway.

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Gee’s Bend Quilters Gee’s Bend Quilters CollectiveCollective In 2003, with assistance from the Tinwood In 2003, with assistance from the Tinwood

organizations, all the living quilters of Gee’s Bend — organizations, all the living quilters of Gee’s Bend — more than fifty women — founded the Gee’s Bend more than fifty women — founded the Gee’s Bend Quilters Collective to serve as the exclusive means of Quilters Collective to serve as the exclusive means of selling and marketing the quilts being produced by selling and marketing the quilts being produced by the women of the Bend. The Collective is owned and the women of the Bend. The Collective is owned and operated by the women of Gee’s Bend. Every quilt operated by the women of Gee’s Bend. Every quilt sold by the Gee’s Bend Quilt Collective is unique, sold by the Gee’s Bend Quilt Collective is unique, individually produced, and authentic — each quilt is individually produced, and authentic — each quilt is signed by the quilter and labeled with a serial signed by the quilter and labeled with a serial number.number.

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Reflection:Reflection:

How did the geographic location of Gees How did the geographic location of Gees Bend influence the uniqueness of the quilts Bend influence the uniqueness of the quilts produced there?produced there?

How did fabrics of the Gees Bend quilts differ How did fabrics of the Gees Bend quilts differ form quilts that are characteristic of the form quilts that are characteristic of the American South?American South?

How did the design of the Gees Bend quilts How did the design of the Gees Bend quilts differ from typical quilts of the American differ from typical quilts of the American South?South?

  

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How can Gee’s Bend Quilting techniques

be applied to creating a photographic quilt?

Alien Nature3939