If These Textiles Had Been Paintings...

(Above) Early American 20th Century Modern Geometric Quilt 1930-1940A cotton quilt made in geometric shapes which lends a very contemporary feel. All of the fabrics are cotton, including the back which is in a navy tiny floral print with a rod pocket. The quilt has rounded corners, and is banded in a deep red cotton.

IF THESE RUGS HAD BEEN PAINTINGS, considering the period in which they were made, they would have been hailed as breakthroughs in modern art. But, hooked rugs, quilts and textiles were considered craft and, for the most part, kept apart from the big museums.

African American quilts, on the other hand, shared the same story, until Mr. Bill Arnett and his family in Atlanta brought to the public eye the incredible quilts of Gee’s Bend. That singular effort changed art history, the way we view African American textiles and more importantly, clearly showed that the quilts of this rural Alabama community (and others) were far more than craft. More on that in another post.