The Quilt Index

BACK TO ARTISTS

Carole Harris

Quiltmaker

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Michigan African American Quilt Project; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Carole Harris' art quilts have appeared in books and exhibits.

Carole Harris first began studying the design traditions of Africa during her course work as an art major at Wayne State University. In the late 1980s she was inspired to make a series of quilts she called the Memory series, based on an African aesthetic. Reclamation, the first one finished in this series, was begun on February 11, 1990, the day Nelson Mandela was released from prison.

Museum
Michigan State University Museum
Michigan Quilt Project

Michigan State University Museum

Michigan Quilt Project

East Lansing; Michigan; United States

The Michigan State University Museum has a collection of over 1000 quilts.

museums

View Full Record

12-51-2
Documentation Project
Michigan Quilt Project
Michigan State University

Michigan Quilt Project

Michigan State University

East Lansing; Michigan; United States

The Michigan Quilt Project (MQP) was established in 1984 to document, preserve, and present Michigan's quilting history. There are over 10,000 quilts documented through this continuing project.

docprojects

View Full Record

12-51-1
Documentation Project
Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

Black Diaspora Quilt History Project

East Lansing; Michigan; United States

The BDQHP is funded by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant.

docprojects

View Full Record

62-185-1
Documentation Project
Women of Color Quilters Network
Michigan State University

Women of Color Quilters Network

Michigan State University

United States

The Women of Color Quilters Network is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 by Carolyn L. Mazloomi, a nationally-acclaimed quilt artist and lecturer, to foster and preserve the art of quiltmaking among women of color.

docprojects

View Full Record

50-146-1
Collection
African American Quilt Collection

Michigan State University Museum

African American Quilt Collection

Michigan State University Museum

2001

The Michigan State University Museum's collection of African-American quilts grew out of an effort begun in 1985 to aggressively collect information on African-American quilting history in the state.

Collection

12-91-461

View Full Record

12-91-461

specialcolls
Exhibit
Quilting Sisters: African-American Qui...

MacDowell, Marsha

Quilting Sisters: African-American Quiltmaking in Michigan

MacDowell, Marsha

January; 13; 2000

Fifteen quilts from the Michigan State University Museum celebrating historical and contemporary African-American communities in Michigan.

Exhibit

12-91-462

View Full Record

12-91-462

exhibits
Story
Black Diaspora Quilt Stories - Carole ...

Harris, Carole

Black Diaspora Quilt Stories - Carole Harris

Harris, Carole

July; 19; 2023

A zoom interview with Carole Harris, conducted by Dr. Liv Furman, July 19, 2023.

Story

62-186-81

View Full Record

62-186-81

stories
Creator
Appropriateness o...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 1990

Appropriateness of Yellow

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI)

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 63 1/2" x 71 3/4"

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Project: Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 12-8-394

12-8-394
Creator
At the Crossroads...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 1993

At the Crossroads

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 54 3/8" x 72 5/8"

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting, Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 62-187-82

62-187-82
Creator
Blues and the Abs...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2014

Blues and the Abstract Truth

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 64" x 50 1/2"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 62-187-83

62-187-83
Creator
City Rhythms
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2001

City Rhythms

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 41" x 32"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Health

KID: 62-187-84

62-187-84
Creator
Cityscape with Su...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2010

Cityscape with Sunflowers

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 39 3/8" x 38 3/4"

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Health

KID: 62-187-85

62-187-85
Creator
Down the Block an...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2007

Down the Block and Across the Street

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 52" x 75"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Hand-dyed, Print

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 62-187-86

62-187-86
Creator
Evidence of Thing...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 1998

Evidence of Things Unseen

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Hand Embroidery

Quilt Size: 64 1/2" x 42 1/2"

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting, Machine quilting

Fabrics: Miscellaneous fabrics; including recycled and commercially printed and hand dyed cottons, and linen.

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 62-187-87

62-187-87
Creator
In A Silent Way
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2017

In A Silent Way

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Hand Embroidery

Quilt Size: 42" x 49"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Linen, Acrylic paint on muslin, discharged linen, rust dyed cotton.

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 62-187-50

62-187-50
Creator
In The Spirit
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 1992

In The Spirit

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 69 1/2" x 71"

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Human Rights

KID: 62-187-53

62-187-53
Creator
Rafiki
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 1992

Rafiki

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Quilt Size: 35" x 35"

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Michigan Quilt Project; Michigan State University Museum Collection; Quilts and Human Rights; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Cuesta Benberry Collection; Women of Color Quilters Network

From Cuesta, "Carole and I have also been friends for a long time. She was the first African American quiltmaker that I new who made Art Quilts. She has never made any other kind. She has always been an original quilt artist, influenced perhaps by her training. She is a Fine Arts graduate from ...

KID: 12-8-5261

12-8-5261
Creator
Reclamation Quilt...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 1976-1999

Reclamation Quilt, Memory Series #2

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Kentucky Quilt Project; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 8-5-423

8-5-423
Creator
Reconstruction
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2012

Reconstruction

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 36" x 55"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Hand printed cottons

Project: Quilts and Human Rights; Black Disapora Quilt History Project

KID: 45-46-79

45-46-79
Creator
Such A Night
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 1990

Such A Night

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI)

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 53" x 77"

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton or polyester blend

Project: Michigan Quilt Project; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 12-8-3962

12-8-3962
Creator
Sunshine and Flow...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2013

Sunshine and Flowers

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 29" x 38"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network; Quilts and Health

KID: 62-187-88

62-187-88
Creator
Take Me to the Ri...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2001

Take Me to the River

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 65 1/4" x 69 1/4"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 62-187-54

62-187-54
Creator
The Past We Step ...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2021

The Past We Step Into

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Hand Embroidery, Frayed edge piecing, collage

Quilt Size: 66" x 59"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 62-187-89

62-187-89
Creator
The Space Between...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2012

The Space Between

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 57 1/2" x 60"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 62-187-51

62-187-51
Creator
Things Ain’t Wh...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2018

Things Ain’t What They Used to Be

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Painting, Hand Embroidery, Rust dyeing, discharge dyeing, acrylic paint on muslin.

Quilt Size: 41" x 53"

Quilting Techniques: Machine quilting

Fabrics: Cotton, Linen, Hand-dyed, Vintage Panamanian Mola textile.

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 62-187-55

62-187-55
Creator
This Side of the ...
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 2022

This Side of the River

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI) United States

Contruction: Machine Piecing, Fusible Applique, Hand Embroidery

Quilt Size: 66" x 55"

Fabrics: Cotton, Hand-dyed

Project: Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 62-187-56

62-187-56
Creator
Where It's At
Harris, Carole

Date Made: 1990

Where It's At

Creator: Harris, Carole

Location Made: Detroit, Michigan (MI)

Contruction: Machine Piecing

Quilt Size: 61" x 70 7/8"

Quilting Techniques: Hand quilting

Fabrics: Cotton or polyester blend

Project: Michigan Quilt Project; Black Diaspora Quilt History Project; Women of Color Quilters Network

KID: 12-8-867

12-8-867