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From Publishers Weekly Gee's Bend, Alabama, is a
hamlet of 750 residents, most of whom are the descendants of slaves from the
former Pettway plantation (and bear the surname Pettway), who during the New
Deal purchased farms from the government. For much of the last century, the
women of Gee's Bend have produced some of the most striking examples of
American vernacular art, sharing them among the community and storing them
within their homes. Aside from a brief stint of notoriety during a Civil
Rights-era "Freedom Quilting Bee," this catalogue, accompanying an exhibit
at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and New York's Whitney Museum of
American Art, marks the work's entry into the public sphere. Founded by art
collector William Arnett and Jane Fonda, the nonprofit Tinwood Alliance
devotes itself to the cultural legacy of Gee's Bend, here offering 195
illustrations (162 in full color) documenting the quilts and the lives of
many of their makers. The oversize format allows the many full-page
reproductions to approximate the sensation of a large quilt spread on the
page; the many "Housetop" quilts, with arresting geometric patterns and
terrific color sense, speak for themselves. The book and exhibition make an
important contribution to American cultural history. From Booklist At first glance, the quilts of
this collection are simply stunning--rich colors in surprising combinations,
refreshingly irregular geometric compositions with hardly a right angle
among them, big blocks whose seams virtually vibrate with energy. Then
consider the history of the community they come from, and these quilts
become a stunning illustration of resourcefulness. Gee's Bend, a remote
peninsula on the Alabama River, is an isolated place, one that has known
extreme poverty and struggle. Its quilters of the twentieth century are
showcased here. Three insightful essays on the community's history and its
quilting tradition make up for a self-consciously scholarly introduction.
The words of the quilters themselves follow. Brief accounts of their lives
and thoughts on quilting accompany full-page photographs of their
accomplishments. This large-format hardcover, and coinciding exhibition at
the Whitney Museum of American Art, should guarantee the women of Gee's Bend
the prominence they deserve in the story of the American quilt. Marya
Graff Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
The New York Times (Kimmelman),
November 29, 2002 ...some of the most miraculous works of modern art
America has produced. Newsweek (Peter Plagens),
November 18, 2002 It’s as if something in the
local water has produced a whole villageful of Paul Klees Newsday (Ariella Budick) If you see one exhibit this
holiday season, the "Quilts of Gee’s Bend" should be it. . . . fantastic
art, profound humanity New York Magazine (Mark
Stevens), December 23-30, 2002 Jackson who? These strikingly
beautiful quilts just might deserve a place among the great works of
twentieth-century abstract art. . . New York Daily News
(Celia McGee) The works are models of
abstraction in an African-American tradition dating back to slavery days and
beyond. Book Description Since the 19th century, the
women of Gee’s Bend in southern Alabama have created stunning, vibrant
quilts. 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 African-American community, its people,
and their art-making tradition. This book is being·released in conjunction
with a national exhibition tour including The Museum of Fine Art, Houston,
the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, The Museum
of Fine Art, Boston, The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Milwaukee Art Museum,
The High Museum of Art, Atlanta, The Mobile Museum of Art, and The Memphis
Brooks Museum of Art. From the Publisher In addition to "The Quilts of
Gee's Bend" and "Gee's Bend: The Women and Their Quilts" books, Tinwood
Media has also produced a 28 minute documentary (also titled "The Quilts of
Gee's Bend") and a two disc CD titled "How We Got Over: Sacred Songs of
Gee's Bend" (spirituals and hymns performed by many of the quilt makers).
Together with the books, the video and the CD give a multi-faceted look at
this unique American community and the stunning artwork they have created.
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08/13/03
