May 2006

Simmons, Margaret Lau

Gee's Bend, Alabama, United States

A brochure describing Gee's Bend quilts and how to buy them.

"Miraculous works of modern art!" - The New York Times
Wilcox County, Alabama
Generations of women in the isolated African-American settlement of Gee's Bend in south Alabama have created quilts from whatever materials are available, using patterns of their own design.

Working at home, they stitch the unique tops of quilts on frames called "horses." They periodically gather to piece together each one-of-a-kind creation at the Quilters Collective (above).

Gee's Bend Quilts
Colorful quilts that once kept families of sometimes 16 children warm inside drafty log cabins now hang in the world's great museums. The acclaimed quilts are created by a group of women who live in Gee's Bend, a virtual island surrounded by a horseshoe-shaped bend in the Alabama river about an hour's drive south of Selma.

With their innovative and often minimalist approach, the women of Gee's Bend transformed a necessity into a work of art. Visionary collector William Arnett heard about the women and their remarkable quilts three decades ago and began visiting, often finding masterpieces tucked under mattresses.

Since then, dozens of quilts have toured America's most important art museums, including the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.

Buying Quilts in Gee's Bend
In 2003, the living quilters of Gee's Bend - more than 50 women in all - founded the Gee's Bend Quilters Collective. It serves as the exclusive means of selling and marketing the quilts. Every quilt they sell is unique, individually produced and authentic. Each quilt is signed by the quilter and labeled with a serial number. Visitors are welcome.
The Collective is open irregular hours.

Driving from Montgomery (2 hours): Go west on U.S. 80 to Selma. Go west on State 22 that becomes State 5 South. Near Alberta at mile-marker 32, go southeast on County 29 for 14 miles. Turn left toward the Boykin Nutrition Site for 1 mile to the Quilters Collective. (The Collective is near the Boykin Post Office.)

Driving from Mobile (2.5 hours): Go north on U.S. 43 and exit at State 5 north of Thomasville. At mile-marker 32, go southeast on County 29 for 14 miles. Turn left toward the Boykin Nutrition Site for 1 mile to the Quilters Collective. (The Collective is near the Boykin Post Office.)

Gee's Bend Quilters Collective
11172 Co. Rd. 29  Alberta, AL  36720   334-573-2526
www.quiltsofgeesbend.com   quiltcollective@quiltsofgeesbend.com

Alabama
www.800Alabama.com

5/06  20,000
Printed in USA
For free distribution only