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I attended the
Pacific International Quilt Festival Show in Santa Clara, CA last Autumn. There were a few special exhibits; I'm going to highlight African American master quilter Allyson Allen. Her art teaches us African American History with her quilts. I was highly impressed by the Special Exhibit "Quilted Pages" by Allyson Allen. This exhibit educated me and perhaps others of the African American experience. I didn't photograph all of her quilts. If you have the opportunity to see her work; please do. I highly recommend viewing these exquisite quilts in person.
Here is a youtube video giving us an example of her beautiful quilts. Join me and let's view more of these wonderful quilts beyond the orange thread.
Black History Quilts
http://www.youtube.com/...
All of the photos are mine. The quilts and blockquote quilt descriptions are Allyson Allen's.
~Families And Love Are Made With Love 2006~
The first act of a slaver was to separate families and tribes to end communication among the kidnapped. Usually the first act of a runnaway slave was to find his or her spouse and/or children.
~Sarah's Quilt 2012~
The wording is from an actual flyer advertising the raffle
.
~Precious Cargo 2007~
~Precious Cargo 2007~Detail~
Embellished with glass and bone beads, shells, and handmade "why worry dolls". Inspired by an actual 1769 broadside (poster) advertising kidnapped Africans for sale.
~The Storyteller 2011~
Oral history dates back centuries in most ancient cultures. For thousands of years this was the only record of births, deaths, and lineage. It is still practiced in many parts of the world and oral historians or storytellers in those cultures are revered.
~Jump Da Broom 1995~
~Jump Da Broom 1995~Detail~
A slavery plantation wedding scene. Jumping a broom is a traditional African practice representing the newly married couple crossing all future thresholds united.
~Sold! Stop Traffic 2011~
While the atrocities of colonial American slavery were outlawed and ended decades ago, unfortunately, the horrors of human trafficking are still practiced in countries around the world today.
~Harriet Powers' 1885 "Bible Quilt" Replica 2012 (185th Anniversary)~
Harriet Powers' original quilt was donated to the Smithsonian Institute where it hangs today. This quilt is considered by textile historians to be not only the best known slave-era applique quilt, but is also called the "Mother of All Story Quilts."
~Lil' African 1994~
Hand quilted, machine pieced African fabrics. Center panel is Nigerian.
~Harriet's Crooked Path To Freedom 2011~
This quilt features four different African fabrics.
~Synthia and Jacob 2005~
Images are from famous paintings by African American artists Synthia Saint James and Jacob Lawrence
.
~Kwanzaa Ladies 2011~
The elongated ladies, three in red, three in green, and on in black represent the seven candles of Kwanzaa kinara (candleholder).
~Obama's Star 2011~
Have you seen a recent exhibit that expanded your viewpoint?