| August 2006
African American Quilt Circle, 6th Bi-annual Exhibition, August 4 - September 30, 2006. Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine …Walking on Rhythm is the sixth exhibit of works by the African American Quilt Circle at Hayti Heritage Center. The African American Quilt Circle was founded in 1998 by a group of black women who love quilts and quilting. The quilt circle has grown into an organization of quilters and quilt aficionados who live in the Research Triangle area of North Carolina - Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Cary and Clayton. www.hayti.org
Milwaukee County Historical Society's new exhibit, "Person to Person: Communicating Identity Through Wisconsin Folk Objects." August 12, 2006 – January 14, 2007. See the African-American necktie quilt. “This 1982 work by Allie Crumble is a portrait of her church community. Each of 36 large squares contains whole ties owned by the male members of Milwaukee's Metropolitan Baptist Church, along with their names. The quilt is a rarity because most "necktie quilts" are made by taking ties apart and using them in pieces.” http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=488602
Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee’s Bend Quilts, and Beyond, Austin Museum of Art, Texas, August 19 - November 5, 2006. This exhibit features exceptional abstract quilts by several generations of African-American women paired with three-dimensional found object sculptures by Thornton Dial and Lonnie Holley, fine art prints based on quilt designs, and documentary film about the women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama. www.amoa.org
July 2006
Anna Willis & Sheila Gains - African-American Inspirations quilt exhibit. July - September, 2006 South Carolina Botanical Garden, Clemson, SC. Anna Willis is an award-winning quilt maker. Both Mrs. Willis and Mrs. Gains are from Clemson. Click here to see quilter profiles and quilt photos. http://www.clemson.edu/scbg/artists/quilts06/annasheila06/anna_sheila06.htm
The Quilts of Gee's Bend will be on display at the de Young Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA from July 15 – December 31, 2006. The exhibit features a selection of more than 60 quilts made by four generations of African American women. www.thinker.org/deyoung.
June 2006
Kickin’ It with Joyce J. Scott, a 30-year survey of works created between 1970 and 2003, including her quilts. Museum of Glass, Tacoma, WA. June 16 – October 22, 2006. See video of Joyce and participate in museum blog regarding the exhibit at http://museumofglass.org/exhibitions/kickin-it/
African American Quilts from the Robert and Helen Cargo Collection, will be on display at the Love’s Jazz and Arts Center, Omaha, NE from June 16, 2006 - August 25, 2007.
May 2006
Pattern and Improvisation: Local African-American Quilts features the quilts of “The Sweet Seniors,” who meet at at the Niagara Falls Housing Authority, and the quilting class at St. Phillips Church in Buffalo, New York. The exhibit celebrates the theme of Tradition, Improvisation, Community History, and Personal Expression. Castellani Art Museum, Niagara Universtiy, NY 14109-1938, (716)286.8200. May 15 – August 25, 2006. http://www.niagara.edu/CAM/
Revelation! The Quilts of Marie "Big Mama" Roseman – Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art – Chicago, IL – May 5 to September 2, 2006. “The quilts and textiles of Marie “Big Mama” Roseman (1898 – 2004) are reflective of the African-American quilt tradition. Using embroidered and appliquéd animals, figures, and symbols applied with a thick yarn, Roseman produced illustrations with fabric and incorporated found materials such as plastic and cloth flowers, lace, and buttons. Marie Roseman grew up in Tippo, Mississippi, married, had four children, then moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan in 1947. Roseman was in her 70s when she began creating her rich, illustrative quilts and textiles. Curated by Martha Watterson and Doug Stock, Revelation! represents the first solo exhibition of this unique body of work.” http://outsider.art.org/big-mama-quilts.htm
Will the Circles Be Unbroken: Four Generations of African –American Quiltmakers featuring the quilts of Texans Gladys Henry, Laverne Brackens, Sherry Byrd, and Bara Byrd. Museum of Craft and Folk Art, San Fransico. May 4 – July 23, 2006. www.mocfa.org.
March 2006
Just How I Picture It in My Mind: Contemporary African American Quilts from the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art – Montgomery Museum of Fine Art. The exhibit is on display from March 4 – May 7, 2006. ORDER the 96-page catalog from Amazon.com.
February 2006
African American Quilts of Florida. 30 quilts made by African Americans in Florida between the late 1800s and 1980. The quilts are from the collection of Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Le Count Tyson II. Webber Center Gallery, Central Florida Community College, 3001 SW College Road, Ocala, FL 34474. February 23 – April 1, 2006.
Touching our African Roots with Fabric: African American Heritage Quilts by the Compeer Quilting Bee Members - J. Charmaine Bennett, Compeer Quilting Program Coordinator. St. John Fisher College, Lavery Library Art Exhibit - Rochester, NY. February 1 – 28, 2006.
Threads of Faith: Recent Works from The Women of Color Quilters Network. Cincinnati Museum Center, OH. November 19, 2005 - February 26, 2006. Curated by Dr. Carolyn L. Mazloomi, a nationally known quilt artist and lecturer. The exhibit features 30 quilts that record personal histories, make political statements, celebrate family values and reflect the role of faith and Christian tradition in shared history, regardless of personal belief. The common thread among these works and their artists is faith; faith connects these African American artists both to their individual pasts and their collective legacy. You can buy the catalog on Amazon.com.
January 2006
Amalia Amaki: Boxes, Buttons and the Blues – Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Atlanta, GA. January 26 – May 13, 2006. This is a mid-career, mixed-media exhibit featuring photographs, quilts, souvenir fans, and digitally manipulated photographs. Her beaded and button encrusted heart-shaped candy boxes, for example, are full of tempting faux chocolates made from buttons. This exhibit opened at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC (June – Sept 2005). Buy the catalog from Amazon.com.
Improvisation: An African-American Tradition – Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Golden, CO. January 10 – March 25, 2006. Featuring quilts from the Tutwiler Quilters of Mississippi. Many of these piecers and quilters, learning from their mothers and grandmothers, take traditional patterns, mix them up, turn them up-side down, mix colors, and more. The effect is a beautiful cacophony of color and design.
Stitched From the Soul: The Farmer-James Collection of African American Quilts – North Carolina Museum of History, Raleigh. August 2005 – August 2006. Thirty-two of these quilts, dating from the Civil War era to just after World War II, will be exhibited. A total of 61 quilts were in two six-month rotations. The second rotation of 29 quilts began January 10.
The Quilts of Gee's Bend - High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA. Dec 17, 2005 - March 12, 2006. On display are 70 quilts stitched from the 1920s - 1990s. Stunning quilts by more than 40 Black quilters.
A Patchwork of Cultures – Plains Art Museum, Fargo, North Dakota. January 19 – March 26, 2006. This exhibit highlights the works of two quilters: African African American quilter, Mary Lee Bendolph, and Native American quilter, Caroline Wilson.
October 2005
No Two Alike: African-American Improvisations on a Traditional Patchwork Pattern Improvisation - The University of Maine Museum of Art, Bangor, ME. October 21 – January 14, 2006. This exhibit focuses on quilts created between the 1960s through the 1990s and based on the "Square-in-a-Square" pattern. Created and pieced by artisans from throughout the south, all are part of the 2500 piece collection of quilt collector and scholar Eli Leon.
10th Annual Quilt Exhibit - Lacy Craft Laney Museum of Black History, Augusta, GA – October – November 30, 2005. This year will feature a fresh palate of prints and patterns from private collections throughout the community.
June 2005
Improving the Bow Tie: African-American Improvisational Quilts – Mills College Art Museum, Oakland, CA. This exhibition features the art of 10 African-American quilt-makers who have made colorful works that are based on the popular bow-tie pattern. Drawn from Eli Leon’s collection.
120 Years of African-American Quilts from the Collection of Scott Heffley – Fort Wayne Museum of Art. June 4 – August 21, 2005
March 2005
Quilting Sisters: African-American Quilting in Michigan. Castellani Art Museum at Niagara University, Niagara University, New York. March 13 - May 8, 2005.
February 2004
Embracing our Roots One Stitch at a Time. Delaware Agricultural Museum, Dover, DE. This exhibit features quilts by the African American guild “A Stitch at a Time” Quilt Group: Dorothy Dixon, Ann Martin, V. Ellen Johnson, Christine Mathis, Ellen Harmon, Mary Ann Casson, Gertrude Rose.
November 2004
In Journey of the Spirit: The Art of Gwendolyn A. Magee. Mississippi Museum of Art, Jackson, MS. November 20, 2004 – January 30, 2005. Major solo exhibit featuring 30 quilts and a book survey 15 years of quilt-making by the Jackson artist. The catalog is available from Amazon.com.
September 2004
Talking Quilts. American Folk Art Museum, New York. February 11 – Sept 5, 2004. About twenty quilts made from the mid-nineteenth century until today. Each quilt has WORDS sewn onto them. African American quilters include Sarah Mary Taylor, Jessie Telfair (her powerful FREEDOM quilt), and Black Barbie by Kyra Hicks.
August 2004
Quilts for Change, juried quilt exhibit with judges Carolyn Maloomi and Susan Shie, at the Cintas Center, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. More than 250 quilts, merchant mall, and workshops lead by Hollis Chatelaine, Sherry Whetstone-McCall, and others. Keynote speaker is Faith Ringgold. Visit www.QuiltsforChange.org.
July 2004
The African American Quilt and Fiber Art Design Symposium is schedule for July 11 – 16, 2004 in Louisville Kentucky. Workshops are open to all skill levels. Juanita Yeager is the organizer and primary instructor. Contact her by e-mail: jgyeager@bellsouth.net.
May 2004
The Quilts of Gee's Bend at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC in February 14 – May 17, 2004. On display are about 70 quilts stitched from the 1920s - 1990s. Stunning quilts by more than 40 Black quilters. The exhibit will then move to the Cleveland Museum of Art (June - Sept 2004) and the Chrysler Museum of Norfolk, VA (Oct 2004 - Jan 2005).
Bold Improvisation: 120 Years of African-American Quilting. Museum of Mobile (AL), March 20 - May9, 2004.
April 2004
Common Threads: African American Quilts Past and Present. African American Museum of Dallas, Texas. Open September 11, 2003 - April 28, 2004. A collection of 24 quilts made from the mid-19th century to the present, the exhibition will consist of post-Civil War quilts, traditional quilts made in Texas after Reconstruction, and contemporary narrative quilts made by fine artists.
March 2004
Sisters of the Cloth Quilting Guild, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is hosting the 14th Annual Gathering of Quilters quilt show on Saturday, March 20, 2004. The registration fee is $15, including lunch. Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi will be the keynote speaker. There will be two exhibits, Inspirations of Africa and American Pride 2004 and an exhibit featuring traditional quilts. For more information, email sisofcloth73@hotmail.com.
February 2004
African-American Quilts from the Robert and Helen Cargo Collection continues October 2003 – February 29, 2004 at the Textile Museum, 2320 S St. NW, Washington, DC. Free. (202) 667-0441 or www.textilemuseum.org.
Shelia Arizona’s airplane quilt, Remembering, is on display at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Terminal 4, Level 3 along with 28 other quilts as part of Sky Harbor International Airport Art Program Flight Pattern exhibit to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of powered flight. The exhibit runs September 2003 through February 15, 2004. Visit the airport’s website to request a free brochure of the quilt exhibit.
Exquisite Stitches: African American Quilt and Fiber Art. Irving Arts Center, Irving, Texas. Open February 1 – 29, 2004. Exhibit of contemporary quilts and textiles by Texas African American artists and quilters. For more information, call (972) 252-7558.
Ties That Bind: Three Generations of Quilters at the San Francisco International Airport. July 2003 - February 2004. An exhibit of quilts featuring the importance of family tradition in African American quilt making. In the International Terminal, North Wall and South Wall. Biographical information about the quilters and photographs are included.
Secret Symbols in African American Quilts at the Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI. Exhibition includes approximately 40 quilts from the Maude and James Wahlman Collection of Folk Arts. December 13, 2003 – February 8, 2004.
January 2004
Milwaukee Art Museum will host the nationally popular exhibition The Quilts of Gee's Bend September 27, 2003-January 4, 2004. Visit www.mam.org.
December 2003
Valerie Jean Bailey's one woman show, Ancestral Quilts, featuring 16 quilts, is at the Greensboro Cultural Center (NC) from Oct 5 – Dec 31, 2003. Bailey’s Tress…Friends on the Underground Railroad quilt is on display at ArtQuest, Green Hill Center’s hands-on Greensboro, North Carolina art gallery. Visit www.GreenHillCenter.org or call (336) 333-7460.
Grandma’s Hands: A New Generation of Quiltmakers. September – December 13, 2003. The Quilting Sisters of Color showcase their works at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Dallas, Texas. Quilters include: Anita Knox, Lee Bradley, Jean Johnson, Betty Livingstone, Juanita McClelland, Jayne Perry, Diana Peterson, Merriel Smith, Tresia Thompson, and Joyce Walters.
Ronke Boone, author of African Fabrics & Cultural Accents, will be speaking at TransAfrica in Washington, DC on "The Role of African Fabric in African and World History & Culture," and signing her book. Here a presentation of how simple fabric is intertwined in the social and economic aspects of African and World events. December 16, 2003, 6:30 – 8:30pm. Visit www.RLBoone.com.
November 2003
Nov. 15: Textile Museum - One Artist's Story of African-American Quilts – Lecture by Kyra Hicks. Free, reservations required. Kyra Hicks was first inspired to create quilts in 1991 after she saw an exhibition of African-American story quilts. Her original story quilts explore political, religious, family and romantic themes and document her experiences as a young black single woman. In this lecture, Ms. Hicks will share her career, her artwork, and the ways in which she expresses stories through the art form of quilt making. Admission: Free.
Nov. 15: Telling Our Stories Through Quilts: A Role Model Workshop for High School and College Students. Learn how to tell your own story through the art form of quilt making with local artist Kyra E. Hicks. In this workshop, she will share her own artwork and stories. Co-sponsored with the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Admission: Free. Reservations required. 1:30-4:30 pm.
Nov. 29: Family Program: The Gift of Quilts. With the local quilting group African-American Quilters of Baltimore, and enjoy live jazz music performed by the Chuck Redd Duo.
Storytellers in Cloth annual retreat is scheduled for Nov 6 – 9. For information about the retreat, Michelle Lewis, 1305 5th Avenue, Neptune, NJ 00753 or by e-mail at quilter53@aol.com.
Let It Shine: Improvisation in African-American Star Quilts. New England Quilt Museum. Open September 11 – November 9, 2003. Catalog available. Exhibit of 23 star quilts from the collection of Eli Leon. Call (978) 452-4207.
October 2003
Wallace Evans, one man quilt show, "Remembering Our Heritage: Reaching Back and Moving Forward," George C. Shaw Museum, 202 East McClanahan Street , Oxford, NC, 27565. The exhibit is in collaboration with the Heritage Quilters of Warrenton, NC.
Slave-made textiles and quilts on display October 3 – 5 at the Charleston Museum. Elaine Nichols, curator of History at the State Museum in Columbia, lectured on African American quilts. The quilts were on loan from the Salve Relic Museum in Walterboro and from the collection of museum director Danny Drain and his wife, Laura. Also on exhibit was the Shango Quilt, crafted by slaves in Arkansas around 1830, intricate, hand-sewn appliqués, a quilt bearing 425 embroidered names of abolitionists from Douglas County, Illinois in 1895, and a slave doll from North Carolina, dated about 1850.
September 2003
Quilted from the Heart with Soul: Works by the African-American Quilt Circle at the Hayti Historic Center, August – September 28, 2003. 38 quilts were on display. |
