Back in 2014 our guild, the FVMQG, was asked to give a talk at the Creative Stitches show about Modern Quilting. I volunteered for the job and thought, yeah, I can do that… I can get up there and chat for a couple of minutes. After I committed to speaking I discovered it wasn’t a couple of minutes they were looking for. I had an hour slot to fill! Ahhhh… Gulp! Research, lots of research happened… and many, many pictures were collected. And, yes, I did compare the definition of Modern Quilting to Justice Potter Stewart’s definition of Hard Core Porn. Hey, there wasn’t really a strong definition until just recently. The best definition we had was, “I know it when I see it.”
Yeah, yeah, yeah, but who’s the guy? One little tidbit that always stuck out in my mind while I was researching was a story about a man and his son who went out to Gee’s Bend looking for these quilts. I believe I read this on Wikipedia, which changes and morphs, so I can’t find the exact link anymore. (Note to self: reference guides in the future may be handy). It niggled at my brain, why would a guy and his son go looking for quilts? I can see a father and son bonding over lots of stuff but looking for quilts? Shrug, okay?
So there I sit Monday night (October 20th) in the middle of the Net Loft on Granville Island, ready to hear the Maiwa sponsored talk from two Gee’s Bend Quilters; Louisiana Bendolph (shown below with Sherri on the left) and her mother Rita Mae Pettway (shown Below with Vera on the right). Hmm, who’s the guy? He starts, Hi I’m Matt Arnett and back in 1998 my Dad and I… wait? What? He’s the GUY? He’s, the GUY! CLICK, CLICK, CLICK. Now it all makes sense.
He’s the guy who drove all over the south looking for a quilt his dad has seen in a picture.
He’s the guy who was looking for a bathroom in Mary Lee Bendolph’s home and by chance noticed a quilt peeking out in a closet.
He’s the guy that in 2002 with his father organized a show of 70 quilts at the Museum of Fine Arts, in Houston. Thus making all our Modern Quilter heads explode.
He’s the guy whose family saw the beauty in these quilts. Then they made sure the world saw them too, by publishing Gee’s Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt in 2006.
He’s the guy that helped facilitate these women to be proud and understand the greatness of their work. Work that they were going to do, even if no one in the world noticed. And we are so very grateful.
He’s the guy who helped the world see Gee’s Bend’s brilliance… tremendously simplified down, yes, but you get the idea.
He’s THE guy.
Permalink
what a cool experience Lysa!
Permalink
So cool, Lysa, and such a gift that these amazing ladies are sharing with the world! I went to the Gees Bend presentation maybe two years ago and was in absolute awe! And they sang for us and it was so spiritual and gave me goosebumps! Lucky lady to meet him and the wonderfully talented and gifted quilters of Gees Bend!
Permalink
Love this view of he is the guy. Great photos of all of you