Bold Expressions - San Diego Exhibit, New Catalog!

On exhibit from May 26 through Sept. 11 at the Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park in San Diego, California is “Bold Expressions: African American Quilts from the Collection of Corrine Riley.” Riley has collected quilts for more than 35 years. This exhibit features more than 50 quilts made throughout the American south between 1910 and the 1970s, including those in the American folk art tradition and African-American quilts with improvisation and modern takes on traditional quilting patterns. The majority of quilts were created in Alabama and Texas; other quilters represented are from Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Indiana and Illinois. This show is curator by Christine Knoke, the Museum’s director of exhibitions.

There is a 96 page catalog that includes 50 color photos. The catalog is available via the museum's online store for $18.95.Admission to this show ranges from $3 to $7.

On June 11, 2011, the award winning Black Storytellers of San Diego, Inc. will host a program titled "Quilt Me A Story" from 7pm - 8:30pm. Tickets are on sale at the museum website. Enjoy!

Spring Cleaning of the Ole Fabric Stash

I did it. I finally cleared out my fabric stash - all eight clear bins of fabric lovingly collected over the decade plus! The calicos from when I first learned to quilt... the dozens and dozens of brown fabrics for the people I sew... the yards of fabrics featuring African American images (yes, Black Santa Claus!).... and more. I realized that I didn't need EIGHT bins of fabrics. So, the other week I had a clear-out. I had a ball recalling when or where I was when I purchased different prints, including the horribly expensive Art Deco print I got from Liberty's in London one summer. I laughed asking myself why I purchased four YARDS of the Michael Jordon "Space Jam" cotton print. I finally admitted to myself there are some fabrics I'll never really sew with. Slowly I put aside those prints that I'm not really going to use or need to keep any longer.

I have only three bins of fabric left... the-really-will-sew-with this fabric... the must keep ethnic prints.... and any other piece that simply made me happy. (I donated all the other fabric as well as the 40 spools of thread I'll not use either!) I feel lighter now. Have you ever had such a fabric experience?

"The Evolution of Diane Williams" - Mississippi Quilt Exhbit

For those within the Jackson, Mississippi area, do stop by and see the exhibit "The Evolution of Diane Williams: Walking the Path" at the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center. This show includes 30 quilts by Williams and ends on May 14, 2011.

Diane Williams is an award-winning Mississippi storyteller. She incorporates her narratives into her art quilts. You can read about Diane at her website MississippiStoryteller.com or by viewing one of her videos on YouTube. Enjoy!

Susan Scott Hester's My Voice on Cloth Master's thesis

Congratulations to Susan Scott Hester for her University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill master's thesis titled "My Voice on Cloth: Story Quilters of the South Carolina Lowcountry."

Her 140 page thesis examines the "genealogy of African American Quilt Scholarship" and the pictorial quilts, individual and artistic experiences of African American art quilters from a particular area in South Carolina. Specifically she focuses on ten quilters: Cookie Washington, Catherine Lamkin, Winifred Sanders, Peggie Hartwell, Dr. Marlene O-Bryant-Seabrook, Lenora Brown, Arianne King-Comer, Dorothy Montgomery, Zelda Grant, and Vermelle "Bunny" Rodrigues.

You can download a copy of the thesis from the University of North Carolina Library - or by clicking here. Congratulations Susan! Enjoy!