Gee’s Bend Quilts

What material were the early quilts made from?

• Silk imported from Europe.

• Old work clothes worn by cotton pickers.

• Synthetic fibers developed in the 20th century.

• Wool purchased from local markets.

Reading, writing, and creating of visual art, were forbidden activities for slaves.

• True

• False

How was quilt making knowledge and skills passed down in Gee's Bend?

• From one generation of women to the next, often from mother to daughter.

• Through formal classes at local schools.

• By reading instructional books and manuals.

• Via online video tutorials and internet resources.

The patterns, stitches, and fabric used to make quilts that are passed down from mother to daughter, create what within a families' collection of quilts?

• A collection of rare artifacts.

• A financial inheritance.

• A written family history.

• An identifiable visual vernacular.

What is a distinct feature of the quilts of Gee’s Bend?

• They are made using strict patterns.

• They have an improvisational, modern look and feel.

• They are only made from new fabrics.

• They are never displayed outside.

Fill in the blank: The quilts of Gee’s Bend are often made with scraps of work clothes and fabrics ______ by hand that were then pieced together like puzzles.

• torn

• painted

• woven

• dyed

In what way do the quilts of Gee’s Bend function as self-portraits because:

• They are displayed in famous museums worldwide.

• They are made using only traditional patterns.

• They reflect the personal stories and experiences of their makers.

• They are created by a single artist.

Quilts in Gee’s Bend are often hung outside for anyone to see, functioning as a mode of visual discourse.

• True

• False

How does the story behind the making of this quilt enhance your experience as the viewer?