I think of African American quilting as a rural activity, probably because of the long legacy of Gee’s Bend quilters. However, this event at the Studio Museum of Harlem shows that the tradition is alive and well in urban areas, too. I found the photo while visiting the museum on a recent trip to New York City. The facility has long functioned as a local school as well as a place to support new artistic talent.
Look how dressed up the women are to practice their craft! I wonder if they learned it before they moved to the city or were taught by their own relatives who made the journey before them.
The photo was undated (or I missed the date). However, looking at the clothes and the quilts on display in the background, it might have been taken during an exhibit of quilts in 1984. Showing how the work was done is very much in the tradition of the museum. Maybe interested onlookers were inspired to try their hands at quilting.
And thinking of urban quilters, it is no surprise that the first quilt made by New York City textile artist, Faith Ringgold, is in the museum’s collection.
