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Postage Stamps Honor
Gee's Bend Quilts
From the nearly 50,000 ideas for postage stamps submitted annually, a group of 10 quilts from the remote Alabama community of Gee's Bend have been selected for printing by the United States Postal Service under the American Treasures series.
The USPS says this category is intended to showcase beautiful works of American fine arts and crafts.
Tinwood Alliance has helped to introduce the improvisational works by the African American women to a wide audience. Its cofounder Matt Arnett says the quiltmakers whose works were chosen are "overwhelmed." He explains, "They feel that they've been honored by their country. All of us hope the interest in these stamps will help broaden the understanding of quilting traditions." Four of the quiltmakers are expected to attend the first day of issue celebration for the Quilts of Gee's Bend Stamps on August 24 at the American Philatelic Society's Annual Convention and Philatelic Exhibition in Rosemont, Illinois. stamps.org/Stampshow/Exhibits.htm
A new exhibition of 70 quilts from the community–none previously presented to the public–will be on exhibit in Houston, Texas, at the time of the stamps' release. "Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt" will continue through September 4 at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.
Arnett says a second celebration may be planned, but at the time of this writing no definite arrangements have been made. The quilts move to the Indianapolis Museum of Art from October 8 to December 31 and continue on to the Orlando Museum of Art after the new year, January 28 to April 22.
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Row 1
Left, Housetop Variation, 76" x 72", 2001, by Mary Lee Bendolph, quilted by Essie Bendolph Pettway.
Right, Chinese Coins Variation, 73" x 88", 1976, by Arlonzia Pettway.
Row 2
Left, Roman Stripes Variation, 70" x 86", 1970, by Loretta Pettway.
Right, Medallion with Checkerboard Center, 71" x 84", c. 1960, by Patty Ann Williams.
Row 3
Left, Housetop, 73" x 88", c. 1940, by Lottie Mooney.
Right, Bars and String-pieced Columns, 76" x 95", c. 1950,
by Jessie T. Pettway.
Row 4
Left, Ninepatch, 77" x 93", c. 1955, by Ruth P. Mosely.
Right, Medallion, 70" x 87", c. 1960, by Loretta Pettway.
Row 5
Left, Pig in a Pen, 61" x 82", c. 1970, by Minnie Sue Coleman.
Right, Blocks and Strips, 80" x 83", c. 1970, by Annie Mae Young.
Copyright 2006 USPS–used with permission; All rights reserved.
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