The Quilts of Gee's Bend

Rating:
Summary: Long Over Due!!!
Review: Congratulations!!!! A few of these women are my aunts and they have been working so hard at this all their lives, I am so happy that they are finally getting the recognition that they deserve. They used to make so many quilts when we were younger and just give them away to family members as Xmas gifts, now they are being hung in museums around the US and I have proudly displayed my childhood quilts so everyone will know just how proud I am of them!!! Now I know the Pettway woman will always be remembered for the proud and strong women they are.

Rating:
Summary: great collection of American Art
Review: I am an Alabama native. I have visited Gee's Bend, Alabama many times, but mainly to EAT!! They have more than pretty quilts in Gee's Bend. I have seen the quilts but because I love quilts and even tried unsuccessully to make one but, not being an expert, I guess I did not appreciate how popular the Gee's Bend quilts would become until I saw the story on CBS's Sunday Morning about the quilts being on display at the Whitney Museum in New York. The current quilters visited the opening at the museum and song those old gospel songs to their many fans.

The book itself is filled with stories and lovely photographs of the quilts. All the quilts are hand-stitched, of course. I couldn't imagine anyone creating such beauty with a needle and thread.

I am so happy I pre-ordered the book from Amazon. It will be a prized part of my collection.

Rating:
Summary: Art emerges from struggle for freedom and survival
Review: I grew up near Gee's Bend. Not only are the quilters great artists but they are also good people.

The quilts sewn with the hands of these untrained abstract artist's are as powerful as the abstract art of Cy Twombly, Jasper Johns, Ellsworth Kelly, Jackson Pollack, and Robert Rauschenberg being shown on the floor below them at the Whitney. The women of Gee's Bend may be some of the finest female artist's of the 20th century.

If you decide to go the source of the quilts stop by Mark and Polly Bennett's home in Alberta when she has quilts hanging out and you will come across two individuals who will make you fill at home as Polly describes in detail her quilts.

Yet the quilts of Gee's Bend would never have received the recognition that they do now without the work of Stella Witherspoon. Stella traveled the world promoting the quilts from Gee's Bend. Everyone Stella came in contact with left with a feeling of geniune warmth.

Anyone who wants an art book on the deep South should have this book.

Rating:
Summary: A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER
Review: Not only did I purchase this book, I purchased one for a friend of mine who is a quilter. The quilts and the incredible stories behind them are powerful motivators for those who wish to accomplish anything, not just quilting. It is the triumph of the human spirit and proves that deep down, each of us has an indominable core. I am envious of the skill that these women posessed and of the oral history and cultural traditions which have been created and passed down. It's a reminder of the scope of human potential.

Rating:
Summary: A BEAUTIFUL REMINDER
Review: Not only did I purchase this book, I purchased one for a friend of mine who is a quilter. The quilts and the incredible stories behind them are powerful motivators for those who wish to accomplish anything, not just quilting. It is the triumph of the human spirit and proves that deep down, each of us has an indominable core. I am envious of the skill that these women posessed and of the oral history and cultural traditions which have been created and passed down. It's a reminder of the scope of human potential.

Rating:
Summary: don't let the word "quilt" fool you! A coffee table art bk.
Review: This is truly a coffee table art book, not just a "quilt" book. The quality of the photographs, book paper, etc. has the look, feel, and smell of a fine art book. I was very impressed. The quilts themselves are beautiful -- some were more my taste than others, I'll admit; but all respectable. Many of them had a very modern art feel to them-- brilliant colors, textural, geometric. The supplemental photographs and text are also wonderful-- crisp black and white photos of the artists and worthy biographies. These are the best examples I've seen of African-American quilts, and indeed this is a stunning art book all the way around.

Rating:
Summary: A Celebration of Women's Art!
Review: This quality book details the beauty of the women and the quilts of Gee's Bend. I look forward to seeing the exhibit next week in New York, for the simple elegance of these works of art are not to be missed!

I am thankful someone had the insight to appreciate and celebrate the special arts women have created throughout the centuries!

Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking, Eyeopening, and Extraordinary. A Must Have
Review: While in Houston for the International Quilt Festival, I went to the Museum of Fine Arts to see this exhibition. Fitting this into the already busy schedule wasn't easy, but am I glad I did. I have never been more moved in my life. It is hard to imagine that anything could be more moving and beautiful than the story of these remarkable women. Except for their quilts. Words can not describe these creations. I am struck by how the beautiful images in this book capture so well the actual quilts in the exhibition. In addition to looking for adjectives to describe the quilts, I am struggling to find something to compare them to-without any luck. They defy comparison or definition. I applaud the museum and the publisher for making this available to us all. This book will stay on my shelves, front and center. My Christmas shopping is complete.