Princeton Theological Seminary Students Unveil New Quilt

Congratulations to Princeton Theological Seminary students Anjeanette Allen (M.Div., 2012), Rachel Daley (M.Div., 2011), and Chinor Miguel Lee (M.Div., 2013) for the unveiling of a community quilt project commemorating the breadth and scope of African American religion. The three students were in Yolanda Pierce’s Fall 2010 African American Religious History class.

Ms. Allen, who earlier wrote a paper about the significance of quilting in the African American religious tradition, organized the community quilt project. The quilt is thirty-six-inches by thirty-six-inches and includes sixteen blocks. Cynthelia Cephas, a fourth-generation African American master quilter, taught participants quilting, as none of the three students were quilters. Blocks within the quilt feature events such as the beginning of the African American Pentecostal movement and the March on Washington as well as individuals such as Harriet Tubman and Jarena Lee, the first woman authorized to preach by Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

How terrific is it that students can create quilts as part of their school projects! I'd love to learn more about the individual quilt blocks, how about you!? Congratulations again to Anjeanette, Rachel and Chinor! Enjoy!

Gloucester Community College Black History Art Show includes quilts

Gloucester County College in Sewell, NJ and LINKS, Inc. are hosting an art show featuring quilts, paintings, and photographs of regional and local artists including: Kathleen Lindsey, Michele Lucas, Vusumuzi Maduna, Ruby Peters, Joan Wallace Reeves, Sandra Peterson-Giles, Vincent Wilson, a 12-year-old cartoonist, and Walter Cade III, and Luther Alridge aka Obrafo. The exhibit is at the college center's Dr. Ross Beitzel Art Gallery from January 29 to March 4, 2011.

Kathleen Lindsey, from Clayton, New Jersey, has been quilting for 30 years, according to the Gloucester County Times. She is also the author of the picture book Sweet Potato Pie published by Lee & Low. Enjoy!

In A Time, A Season - A Visual Tribute to Oprah Winfrey - new book

A quilt by Georgia Sistah Quilter Renee Allen is included in the new book "In A Time, A Season - A Visual Tribute to Oprah Winfrey" edited by Janelle Dowell-Publisher of Black Art in America. The works of about 65 artists are included. Faith Ringgold writes the Foreword. This full-color book is 118 pages and retails for $165. You can preview the book by clicking here. Congratulations Renee!

Update: Wanted to share the names of other quilters in the book. Congratulations also to Valerie S. Goodwin, Sandra Hankins, and Aisha Lumumba. Enjoy!

Quilts Telling Stories - Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Feb 16

The Textile and Costume Society of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston is hosting a panel discussion titled "Quilts Telling Stories" on February 16, 2011. It is a ticketed event.

There will be an exploration of 19th-century storytelling quilts, from the extraordinary example in the MFA collection by former slave Harriet Powers (the Pictorial Quilt in photo here), to a silk quilt made by Celestine Bacheller of Massachusetts, and quilts sent by northern women to the battlefields of the Civil War.

The panel will include: Lynne Bassett, Textile and costume historian, Kyra E. Hicks, quilter and author of This I Accomplish: Harriet Powers' Bible Quilt and Other Pieces, Pam Parmal, David and Roberta Logie Curator of Textile and Fashion Arts, and Lauren Whitley, curator, David and Roberta Logie Department of Textile and Fashion Arts. Enjoy!

"Liberia's Hope" Quilting Initiative at Union College in Schenectady, NY

Opening today is the exhibit "Liberia's Hope" Quilting Initiative at Union College in Schenectady, NY. The display of two dozen quilts made by women in Liberia will be at the Nott Memorial February 3rd – March 11th, 2011. This initiative is coordinated by The Corporation for Economic Opportunity (CEO). There is an opening reception this evening - free to the public. I will be speaking. Can't wait to see the quilts and meet other quilters! Enjoy!

Gloria Douglas and Michelle Lewis to speak on Feb 12

Gloria Douglas and Michelle Lewis, the dynamic founders of the "Storytellers in Cloth" annual quilting retreat, will be speaking February 12, 2011 at the Red Bank Public Library in Red Bank, New Jersey. Their two-hour program titled "Preserving our History" starts at 2:30pm and will include one-of-a-quilts from their collection!