For more than 100 years, generations of Black artists in Gee’s Bend, Alabama have created bright, vibrant masterpieces in a unique patchwork quilting tradition. What started from necessity - to keep warm using what they had available like old work clothes, dresses, corn and feed sacks and other fabrics - became a world-renowned art form. Gee’s Bend quilts have hung in the Met, the Whitney and the Smithsonian Museum of Art, and been displayed all around the world.

The residents of Gee’s Bend, Alabama descend directly from the enslaved people who worked the Gee cotton plantation established in 1816. They remained on the plantation as sharecroppers after the Civil War, and many residents stayed in Gee’s Bend rather than participating in the Great Migration northward during the 1900s. The community had always been isolated, even more so in the late 1960s when ferry service to the community was ended, allegedly to prevent residents from accessing the county seat to vote. The community became active in the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s. In 1966, local women came together to form the Freedom Quilting Bee, a workers cooperative designed to provide African-American women from Gee’s Bend a way to gain economic independence and political empowerment.

For many years, the acclaim of the Gee’s Bend quilters did little to improve the impoverished conditions of this area of Alabama. Gee’s Bend-inspired designs can be found in quilts, but also on coffee mugs, home goods and prints, even postage stamps. Over the last several years, organizations such as the Souls Grown Deep Foundation have worked to bring more revenue back to the artists and their descendants through copyright payments. Starting in early 2021, the Souls Grown Deep Foundation and Nest helped the artisans of Gee’s Bend set up Etsy shops so that buyers could purchase directly from the artists. Be sure to look for the “Verified Gee’s Bend Maker” signage on Etsy to ensure you are purchasing authentic works that benefit the Gee’s Bend community.

Learn More

If you would like to learn more about the quilters of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, check out these resources:

Stitchin' and Pullin': A Gee's Bend Quilt by Patricia C. McKissack, Cozbi A. Cabrera (Illustrator), Random House Books for Young Readers, 2008.

A renowned community of quilters is taking on copycats - and winning by Alexandra Marvar for the Verge, Feb 7, 2022.

Souls Grown Deep Foundation

National Endowment for the Arts - The Quilts of Gee's Bend: A Slideshow

Tutorial

The unique abstract designs of the quilters of Gee’s Bend were made by piecing together scraps of old work clothes, dresses, corn and feed sacks and other fabrics. In this craft, we’ll use paper scraps to make a collage inspired by the Gee’s Bend tradition.

Step 1: Collect materials

You’ll need:

Paper scraps in bright colors - In the spirit of Gee’s Bend, use what you already have. I used scraps of construction paper, tissue paper, newspaper, wrapping paper and a worn out gift bag.
An empty cereal box as background for your design
Scissors
Glue

Step 2: Get Inspired

Research Gee’s Bend quilt designs using the resources above.

I chose this design - “Housetop Variation” by Loretta Pettway. I loved the vibrant reds and the movement you can feel in the design.

Step 3: Make Your “Quilt”
Using your paper scraps design your quilt on your background. When you’re happy with your design, glue down your pieces. Here’s mine:

Step 4: Enjoy & Share

Admire your work and help share the story of the Gee’s Bend Quilters with your community!

The History and Artistry of Gee’s Bend Quilters

Learn More

Tutorial

Volunteer Spotlight: Alicia Zander

Artist Spotlight: Gabriella Cruz