A Language of Lineage

In 2002, the art world was captivated by The Quilts of Gee’s Bend, an exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, celebrating four generations of quilt makers from a small Alabama community. The New York Times called the quilts “some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced.” These quilts, which predate many celebrated works by modern masters, carry a complexity all their own — reflecting layered thought, skill, and a mastery of material unique to the quilting process.

Different from the Gee’s Bend quilts, this project looks at the quilting traditions of our local communities and celebrates the unsung heroes behind the quilts. In this project, we have made a call to the local community to show us your quilts. From this group, we selected a range of quilts that show us the depth, artistry, language, heritage, and creativity that exist as family heirlooms today. These quilts serve as more than practical objects; they are artifacts that reflect the fashions, attitudes, and ideas of the past while offering insight into the lives of their makers.

The current project not only includes heirloom objects, it also includes creative makers who were influenced by the quilting culture. Jamal Cyrus, a leading Houston-based artist, and professor Sonya Berg from Austin, both allow the language of quilting to inform their works. They are able to borrow from the humble art of the quilt and represent it in the area of fine art. In essence, they are light bearers that drive the conversations embedded in the quilts forward toward new possibilities.

A Language of Lineage invites viewers to witness how generations of makers come together, creating a synthesis of beauty, intelligence, and truth — united by the common thread of quilting.