The Quilters of Gee's Bend

Traditional arts, like quilting, are created with purpose and function and are closely connected to the fundamental necessities of life. Art such as this is usually learned and produced within the home or community in small groups and by people that often do not consider themselves artists. For four generations, the women of the rural community of Gee's Bend have been creating quilts of exceptional artistry pieced together from salvaged work clothes, dresses, burlap and cotton sacks.

Traditionally quilting is an art form that is passed on from one generation to the next. It is people using simple materials, often from within their surroundings, finding a way to serve purpose and function while communicating meaning. Quilts made by the women in Gee's Bend are pieced together using a method called string quilting. This method of strip, or string quilting dominates many African American quilt patterns. It is a method similar to strip weaving which was most likely invented by the Mande people, in West Africa, done on portable looms and woven by men. This technique probably spread with traders throughout West Africa and to America and can be seen in the quilts of Gee's Bend.