Birmingham Quilting Legacy Celebrated at Festival

Categories: ArtCommunityEvents/What's HappeningFestivalsNews

Quilters showcase their artistry at the Birmingham quilting festival.

News Summary

Emma Mooney Pettway, a quilter from Gee’s Bend, showcased her work at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute as part of the Airing of the Quilts Festival Awareness Tour. The event highlights the artistry and history of quilting, promoting the Quilts Festival in October, which aims to boost local tourism and commemorate the community’s cultural heritage. The tradition of quilting in Gee’s Bend has deep roots in the Civil Rights Movement, emphasizing its significance in the socio-economic landscape.

Birmingham: Preserving a Legacy Through Quilting

Emma Mooney Pettway, a 65-year-old quilter from Gee’s Bend, showcased her quilting skills at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute on Saturday as part of the Airing of the Quilts Festival Awareness Tour. This event aims to highlight the cultural significance and artistry of quilting, while also building momentum for the upcoming Quilts Festival scheduled for October 4 in Gee’s Bend, Alabama.

Event Highlights

The Airing of the Quilts Tour offers participants access to a remarkable collection of handmade quilts and live demonstrations, providing an immersive experience into the quilting traditions that have flourished in the community of Gee’s Bend. Event organizer and Executive Director of the Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy, Kim Kelly, expressed hopes that the increased awareness will lead to heightened attendance at the full festival, which celebrates the community’s rich quilt-making heritage.

Tradition and Technique

Emma Pettway began crafting quilts at the age of 12, inspired by patterns she learned from her mother and grandmothers. Her work features traditional designs such as the housetop and nine patch patterns. Depending on size, completing a quilt can take her approximately two weeks, emphasizing the intricacy and dedication involved in the craft.

Impact on Local Community

The annual Airing of the Quilts Festival stands as a significant cultural event that not only attracts visitors from around the world but also contributes to the local economy. By collaborating with various nonprofit organizations—including Sew Gee’s Bend Heritage Builders and Soul Grown Deep—the festival promotes tourism while also preserving the history of the Gee’s Bend Quilters, a community that has become synonymous with resilience and artistry.

The quilting tradition in Gee’s Bend has historic roots in the Civil Rights Movement, where it served as a means for economic opportunity.
In the late 1960s, the quilters attained contracts with major department stores, elevating their craft to a recognized form of art.
Gee’s Bend Quilts have been exhibited globally, including notable features in galleries and on USPS postage stamps in 2006.
The festival fosters community cohesion, allowing local residents to share their stories while celebrating their heritage through quilt-making.

Future Implications

With a legacy that merges quilting with civil rights history, there is a continuous effort to further engage younger generations in the craft. As the community organizes initiatives to promote quilting as a viable economic activity, the groundwork laid by previous generations continues to influence the socio-economic landscape of Gee’s Bend.

This emphasis on the cultural and artistic contribution of quilting underscores its importance not just as a means of artistic expression, but also as a vehicle for community engagement and economic development—aiming to inspire ongoing interest in this time-honored tradition.