The Quilts of Gee’s Bend
Discovering Modernity
Known during the Depression years as "Alabama Africa", Gee’s Bend was the poorest county in the poorest state of the US. When a researcher fell upon this hamlet and discovered the remarkable quilts created there, he knew he had to expose them to the world. The Quilts of Gee's Bend are now internationally recognized in museums across the world. Showcasing a bold, distinctive style based on vibrant African colors and are reminiscent of modernist paintings. Beyond that, the quilters who are artists in their own right have been utterly amazed by the reaction their work is receiving. The quilts now sell for thousands of dollars and all the women of Gee's Bend share the proceeds as a collective would. In this interview, we hear from some of the quilt makers, namely Lucy Marie Mingo, Loretta Petway, Louisiana Petway Bendolph and Mary Lee Bendolph.
