Kyra of Black Threads continues with her updates on the Gee’s Bend Quilters lawsuits and other news.  If you’ve been following this situation, check out, Judge Grants All Concerned in Three Gee’s Bend Cases an Additional 45 Days.

Also, here you’ll find related news and previous articles and resources concerning this case.

The Gee’s Bend quilts continue to draw attention as they are displayed around the country. There even are postcards of the quilts, such as in the illustration above.

Have you seen any of the Gee’s Bend quilts “in person?”

(C)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Update on the Gee’s Bend Quilters

  The continued controversy about Gee’s Bend quilts and the numerous exhibits around the country seem to have increased their popularity and the familiarity of the name.  To read about an exhibit at the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, KY and a very balanced article, check out Do quit promoters exploit folk artists? by Diane Heilenman, in the Courier-Journal.com.

Ms. Heilenman also mentions another quilt exhibit in Louisville, African-American Art Quilts, at the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft.

Both shows reflect some of the clothesline look and awkward visual competitions that seem to always attend hanging big, bold quilts in large numbers. Yet both shows shine with the wonderful individuality of design that denies the prissy symmetry and careful stitches of conventional patchwork quilting.

Then she follows with an in depth report of quilts purchased, displayed, sold, and reproduced by folk art dealers and promoters.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Related articles:

The Quilts of Gee’s Bend

PBS – The Quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend

Update on Gee’s Bend Quilts & Quilters

Quilters of Gee’s Bend Inspiration for a Play

Post from: Blisstree

More Gee’s Bend Quilt Exhibits & Analysis of Folk Art Promoters

  According to an article in The Plain Dealer,  the quilters at Gee’s Bend, a rural town in Alzbama, have provided inspiration for a play, “Gee’s Bend,” at The Cleveland Play House.  Three actors will portray three generations of quiltmakers made famous by the colorful quilts made at Gee’s Bend.

Also on display are quilts made by the African-American Quilting and Dollmaking Guild and the Quilt Club at the St. Peter Church – Marion Sterling Elementary School.  For more details of the exhibit, read the above article in The Plain Dealer by Julie E. Washington.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Quilters of Gee’s Bend Inspiration for a Play

  If you’re following the Gee’s Bend lawsuit, you can find, at Black Threads, a good summary of the latest motion by Judge Bert W. Milling, Jr. to grant a motion to suspend deadlines until April 24, 2008. 

Kyra also has more information and links at her blog to keep you up to date with this story.

For information about the Gee’s Bend quilts in general:

The Quilts of Gee’s Bend

PBS – The Quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Update on Gee’s Bend Quilts & Quilters