Gee's Bend Quilting Collective
14570 Co Road 29, Boykin, AL 36723 334-573-2323
Mary Ann Pettway, Manager
The women of Gee's Bend, a small remote black community in Alabama, have created hundreds of quilt masterpieces dating from the early 20th century to the present. Gee's Bend quilts carry forward an old and proud tradition of textiles made for home and family. Gee's Bend quilts transform recycled work clothes and dresses, feed sacks and fabric remnants to sophisticated design vessels of cultural survival and continuing portraits of the women 's identities.
These women bring a unique level of local flavor to the one visual tradition widely practiced by Americans of every social class, ethnicity, religion, and region. They make an American pastime the literal fabric of their lives -- an art that binds the individuals imagination to family, friends, neighborhood, and the greater community.
These artists are religious, patriotic citizens who for as long as anyone can remember have made the most beautiful quilts in the world. Their masterworks are products of both tradition and innovation, older women teaching younger women the styles and standards of beauty. Gee's Bend artists show a profound sense of color. And while they learn from one another and know each others styles, they strive to be themselves. Each quilt is both the signature of individual and the banner of their community.
Excerpted and adapted from The Quilts of Gee's Bend Book
These women bring a unique level of local flavor to the one visual tradition widely practiced by Americans of every social class, ethnicity, religion, and region. They make an American pastime the literal fabric of their lives -- an art that binds the individuals imagination to family, friends, neighborhood, and the greater community.
These artists are religious, patriotic citizens who for as long as anyone can remember have made the most beautiful quilts in the world. Their masterworks are products of both tradition and innovation, older women teaching younger women the styles and standards of beauty. Gee's Bend artists show a profound sense of color. And while they learn from one another and know each others styles, they strive to be themselves. Each quilt is both the signature of individual and the banner of their community.
Excerpted and adapted from The Quilts of Gee's Bend Book
Registration Opens April, 2021
for the
Spring and Fall 2022 Retreats
for the
Spring and Fall 2022 Retreats
In an effort to get to the other side of Covid-19, our next retreats are scheduled for early 2022 and will be hosted at Lake Tiak-O'Khata in Louisville, Mississippi. Airport Shuttle Services will be offered from the Jackson, Mississippi airport (JAN).
After five years of hosting the Gee's Bend Quilting Retreats at Gray Center, The Mississippi Episcopal Diocese has decided to close the Conference Center.
In an abundance of caution, we will "give 2021 to Covid-19". Even though we will not host a retreat in 2021, registration for 2022 will be opened April 1, 2021. At that time, you will have three retreat dates from which to choose - a Spring 2022, and a Fall 2022, and a Winter 2022 option.
You are encouraged to keep an eye on this website and if you are on Facebook or Instagram, you can like and follow us there to stay up-to-date. You are all invited to join the Gee's Bend Quilting Retreats Alumni Community page on Facebook. See links below:
Gee's Bend Quilting Retreats on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/GeesBendQuiltingRetreats
Gee's Bend Quilting Retreats Alumni Community
on Facebook
www.facebook.com/groups/372103536797516
Gee's Bend Quilting Retreats on Instagram
www.instagram.com/geesbendquiltingretreats/
So yes, we will continue in a new location giving us all much to look forward to. Please do take good care during this waiting period and enjoy creating much beauty during isolation. Mary Ann and China are both healthy and doing well. They send much love to each of you.
In an abundance of caution, we will "give 2021 to Covid-19". Even though we will not host a retreat in 2021, registration for 2022 will be opened April 1, 2021. At that time, you will have three retreat dates from which to choose - a Spring 2022, and a Fall 2022, and a Winter 2022 option.
You are encouraged to keep an eye on this website and if you are on Facebook or Instagram, you can like and follow us there to stay up-to-date. You are all invited to join the Gee's Bend Quilting Retreats Alumni Community page on Facebook. See links below:
Gee's Bend Quilting Retreats on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/GeesBendQuiltingRetreats
Gee's Bend Quilting Retreats Alumni Community
on Facebook
www.facebook.com/groups/372103536797516
Gee's Bend Quilting Retreats on Instagram
www.instagram.com/geesbendquiltingretreats/
So yes, we will continue in a new location giving us all much to look forward to. Please do take good care during this waiting period and enjoy creating much beauty during isolation. Mary Ann and China are both healthy and doing well. They send much love to each of you.