Gee's Bend quilters inspire students

Back by Popular demand, the traditional quilters of Gee's Bend inspired students with their unique straightforward way of quilting at three separate workshops during the Quilter's Affair held at Sisters High School during the 40th anniversary Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

The women of Gee's Bend, a small, remote community in Alabama surrounded on three sides by the Alabama River, have created hundreds of quilt masterpieces dating from the early 20th century to the present. The 700-plus inhabitants of this small rural community are mostly descendants of slaves, and for generations they worked the fields belonging to the local Pettway Plantation. Quilts have been made by up to four generations of women in the same family.

Bend quilter Charlotte Oakes was excited to sign up for their workshop for a second time.

"I took this class last time these incredibly talented women from Alabama were here in 2011," Oakes explained. "This class excites me because they have a new take on what quilting is all about; they are so brilliant. They have taken something that is utilitarian, like a simple quilt for your bed and have made it into an art form, and they've done it in isolation, a very rural place. They make quilting exciting, and it frees me up! I have no sewing machine or rotary cutter, I can be free to use my scissors and rip material and it's great."

In 2011, during a Gee's Bend workshop, Oakes quilted a flag out of bits of material and had the Gee's Bend quilters sign it, and on her back label is a photo of her and Gee's Bend quilter China Pettway with the quilt. The words on Oakes' label are "In the Company of Americans." She brought it back to the workshop to remind them of how incredibly inspired she was and still is by their heritage and bold improvisational quilts.

"I put the photo of China on my label because she helped me with the quilt. I quilted the top in the class and finished the bottom of it at home. Their way of quilting is a whole new perspective of looking at things," Oakes said. "I'm so glad China is here this time in Sisters so I could show her my finished work with her photo on the label."

Gee's Bend quilter Mary Ann Pettway was on hand helping students in the Friday-morning workshop, and explained to The Nugget why she thinks Gee's Bend quilting is special.

"Speaking for me and all of us; we are blessed with a God-given gift that we put it into fabric. Before we start quilting, we always start out with a song and then pray," Pettway said.

"People donate fabric to us. I use a lot of bold colors that I find and cut out a bunch of strips and start from there, with nothing in mind at all, it just comes to me as I quilt.

"Even if I happen to find some scraps on the floor I just pick them up and use them. Sometimes during a class someone may throw out a few scraps and I will get them, its trash-to-treasure for me. It's just stitching three layers together and people just seem to enjoy our quilts. I will say we are so happy to be back in Sisters, we just love it here, and the people make us feel so welcome!"