The Quilts of Gee's Bend

“How homemade quilts created in rural Alabama became modern art . . . A handsome volume to enchant a new generation of readers and artists.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Since the early nineteenth century, the women of Gee’s Bend in southern Alabama have created stunning, vibrant quilts. In the only photo-essay book about the quilts of Gee’s Bend for children, award-winning author Susan Goldman Rubin explores the history and culture of this fascinating group of women and their unique quilting traditions. Rubin uses meticulous research to offer an exclusive look at an important facet of African American art and culture.

In the rural community of Gee’s Bend, African American women have been making quilts for generations. They use scraps of old overalls, aprons, and bleached cornmeal sacks—anything they can find. Their traditions have been passed down through the decades. Much to the women’s surprise, a selection of the quilts was featured in an exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in 2002. The exhibition then traveled to the Whitney Museum in New York City. “Eye-poppingly gorgeous,” wrote a critic for the New York Times about the exhibition. He continued, “Some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art also exhibited its newly acquired collection of Gee’s Bend quilts in 2017.

“Rubin tells the story of a folk art form passed down through generations in a small corner of the Deep South . . . a celebration of fellowship and ingenuity.” —Publishers Weekly

“A colorful introduction to a uniquely American subject.” —Booklist (starred review)

“[A] fascinating portrait of an indomitable community.” —School Library Journal