Quilt patterns of Gee’s Bend visit the Smokies

Since their first appearance at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in 2002, the quilts of Gee’s Bend have been the subject of national critical acclaim and popularity, not least demonstrated by their appearance on the U.S. Postage Stamp. Made by multiple generations of African-American women from the isolated, rural community of Gee’s Bend (now Boykin), Ala., these quilts have been compared to the likes of high modernist paintings as well as improvisational jazz. 

The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design and Warren Wilson College will bring a selection of these national treasures for the first time in a dual-venue exhibition, “Gee’s Bend: From Quilts to Prints,” through the winter. The show focuses on limited edition prints designed by four of the Gee’s Bend quiltmakers and produced in collaboration with Paulson Bott Press in Berkeley, Calif. 

The exhibition includes more than 40 objects, ranging from well-known 1960s work-clothes quilts made out of denim and corduroy to more recently made “New Generation” quilts. Additionally, a new set of prints will make their national debut.

Visitors will learn about the rich history of the Gee’s Bend community, be able to trace the artists’ process of translating their ideas from fabric into print, and be inspired by the stunning work of four significant American artists: Mary Lee Bendolph, Loretta Pettway, Louisiana P. Bendolph, and Loretta Bennett.

The Warren Wilson College show closes on Dec. 20, and the Center for Craft, Creativity & Design closes on Jan. 10. 

A special event, Gee’s Bend in Translation: A Symposium, will be held Nov. 14-15.

For more information, visit craftcreativitydesign.org/gees-bend or warren-wilson.com/HoldenGallery.