Gee's Bend Quilts
#11
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mason, Ohio
Posts: 1,465
Currently Gee's Bend has a booth at the Sharonville Creative Arts Festival is Sharonville, Ohio. Tomorrow (June 26) is the last day from 10:00-4:00. It is at the Sharonville Convention Center, Chester Road. (North of Cincinnati, south of I-275.
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: western Pa
Posts: 4,569
BrushandThimble: I wasn't questioning the integrity of the quilters. I recently read an article about a "rift" in the group of quilters regarding money. I guess that happens in a lot of families when large sums of money is involved.
I repeat, I really admire the women and they used what they had and thankfully made a living out of it. My real question is who "owns" the rights to these kits? Who came up with the idea to package their quilting style but make it more in line with what others see as "real" quilting (not MY definition)? I agree that they, and our grandmothers, used what they had and would never be having the debate about Walmart vs. LQS fabrics as is going on on another thread here.
Thanks for continuing this thread and your thoughtful responses.
I repeat, I really admire the women and they used what they had and thankfully made a living out of it. My real question is who "owns" the rights to these kits? Who came up with the idea to package their quilting style but make it more in line with what others see as "real" quilting (not MY definition)? I agree that they, and our grandmothers, used what they had and would never be having the debate about Walmart vs. LQS fabrics as is going on on another thread here.
Thanks for continuing this thread and your thoughtful responses.
#13
My husband and I saw this exhibit in Houston several years ago. We, too, were blown away by the use of fabrics at hand: work pants of denim, twill and corduroy; work shirts of all kinds. These ladies made quilts for warmth and comfort (utility quilts), but the finished quilts are so much more. They are truly works of primitive art.
#14
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mason, Ohio
Posts: 1,465
Originally Posted by janRN
BrushandThimble: I wasn't questioning the integrity of the quilters. I recently read an article about a "rift" in the group of quilters regarding money. I guess that happens in a lot of families when large sums of money is involved.
I repeat, I really admire the women and they used what they had and thankfully made a living out of it. My real question is who "owns" the rights to these kits? Who came up with the idea to package their quilting style but make it more in line with what others see as "real" quilting (not MY definition)? I agree that they, and our grandmothers, used what they had and would never be having the debate about Walmart vs. LQS fabrics as is going on on another thread here.
Thanks for continuing this thread and your thoughtful responses.
I repeat, I really admire the women and they used what they had and thankfully made a living out of it. My real question is who "owns" the rights to these kits? Who came up with the idea to package their quilting style but make it more in line with what others see as "real" quilting (not MY definition)? I agree that they, and our grandmothers, used what they had and would never be having the debate about Walmart vs. LQS fabrics as is going on on another thread here.
Thanks for continuing this thread and your thoughtful responses.
#15
Originally Posted by brushandthimble
Remember, these quilts were made in the poorest part of our country many many years ago. They were made with whatever was on hand, and made to keep warm. Today they are Folk Art.
No, they are not perfect and certainly what we consider art quilts today, but they are Folk Art of their time.
The ladies themselves did not go out and promote their quilts for high prices, someone else commercialized and promoted them.
No, they are not perfect and certainly what we consider art quilts today, but they are Folk Art of their time.
The ladies themselves did not go out and promote their quilts for high prices, someone else commercialized and promoted them.
What was really FUNNY was the local quilt "expert" who gave the "lecture" on these quilts. She presented them, VERY seriously, as high works of art - of complex construction, deep meanings, technically amazing, ground-breaking etc yada yada yada ... Ad nauseum
It was all the audience could do to keep from laughing - as quilters, WE all saw them for what they WERE - scrappy, messy, utilitarian quilts !!
I'm afraid those like her in the quilt world have gone on to commercialize (& profit) from the Gees Bend quilts.
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: western Pa
Posts: 4,569
Eimay: that was so neat that you got to meet those ladies; I'm afraid I may have sat down with them and never left!! I love the original story-the book is fantastic. I love the originality and innocence of the quilts. This is my complaint about the kits. The kits are the antithesis to the original quilts. As TexasGirl said when "experts" get involved commercialization soon follows. I'm glad they're making a living and supporting themselves and their community and they seem to still like to quilt. How important is that? TexasGirl I don't think I'd have been able to keep quiet if I was in the audience with you!!
My all-time favorite of their quilts has an actual tape measure used as a spacer to join 2 blocks. Deep meaning? I don't think so--it was the right size so she used it!!
My all-time favorite of their quilts has an actual tape measure used as a spacer to join 2 blocks. Deep meaning? I don't think so--it was the right size so she used it!!
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