Early in January of 2023 my sister Jan and I visited the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA where “Gee’s Bend: Shared Legacy” was on display. The printmaking by the quilters of Gee’s Bend, Alabama was exhibited along with one of the quilts produced within this community. It was a remarkable experience to see their prints which were produced at Paulson Fontaine Press.

This show prompted some research into the history and influences that gave birth to this deeply moving and engaging body of work. After several months of this research, I applied to the Artist in Residence program at Creative Arts Week at Camps Newfound Owatonna in Harrison, Maine and was accepted. My aim was to develop some ideas for teaching about the quilt makers and their work through printmaking projects involving fabric and paper.

In preparation for the residency I completed a quilt block from a kit provided by the African American Quilters of Los Angeles. The pattern is “Missippi” and these block kits are given out with the agreement that you will sew it and return to AAQLA so that they can turn it in to a quilt to give away. Let’s say, it was a learning experience! The members were so kind when I returned the completed block and I felt the sense of community that surely supports members of these groups wherever they might be located.