I learned of the Gee's Bend quilters from a PBS documentary aired over the windy weekend. The quilts, created in Gee's Bend, Alabama over the last century, have been called by The New York Times "some of the most miraculous works of modern art America has produced".
The quiltmakers are separate from any modern art movement, yet they have created through necessity remarkable works of art. These quilts were made from very limited resources, yet have huge impact.
Some of the quilters are now being represented by 
Just back from a long weekend in SF, and we saw the Gee's Bend exhibit -- beautiful! I feel so au courant!!!
and PS -- the new de Young is amazing!!!! You must go see it if you are in the Bay area!
A major exhibition of the quilts is currently on display at the Indianapolis Museum of Art in case anyone is making a Midwestern trip.
I saw it a couple of years ago in DC and at that time there was a documentary film that went along with it that gave the oral history...I think the producer was Vanessa Vadim (Jane Fonda's daughter)...the documentary was great and really gave a lot of context...if it is part of the current exhibit I would recommend seeing it, because it gives an added dimension to the designs.
The Whitney had a big exhibition on this in about 2002/2003. the resourcefulness of these women is quite amazing.
i saw this exibition advertised when we went to the de young in july. i wish it would have been there when we were.
the de young was one of the top 5 most amazing building's i've ever seen. i was in awe.
LOVED the Gee's Bend show at the Whitney
btw the book does *not* do the work justice; be sure to see them in person
I believe Anthropologie actually sold some reproductions of the Gee's Bend quilts. I did a little google and ebay hunting but couldn't find pictures of the ones sold by Anthropologie.
You can also pick up Gee's Bend Quilt $0.39 stamps from the P.O. That was the first time I'd ever heard of these quilts.
There's also a good article about them in either National Geographic or Smithsonian, one of the current issues.
Classic Rug Collection makes rugs of several of the designs - www.classicrug.com - availabe in flat weave and tufted. They were selling them at the Corcoran while the show was on - they are really nice.
These quilts are heartbreakingly gorgeous - I love how modern they are in their designs. I saw them in DC a few years ago - really inspiring (I think there was a NYT article about them awhile back).
Several are also on display at the Austin Museum of Art until Nov. 5.
I took my mom to this exhibit when it was at the Whitney here in NYC several years ago.
Of course, she is a quilter so she wanted to see the backs of all of them and I had to follow her around and keep her from touching all of them and getting kicked out....
The book is great, but definitely see them in person if you can!
Frank--I agree, the new de Young is wonderful.
I think I remember the article in the NY Times about this too. Would love to see these in person.
As an art teacher, I've known about these quilts for a while. We often use these quilts as examples for history/art lessons involving African American history/recycling/modern art.
FYI: Kathy Ireland saw the Gees Bend quilts and decided to have her company re-produce some of the designs for the mass market. I was lucky enough to stumble upon some at HOME GOODS last spring. I guess the general public did not like them as much as I did because I bought a queen size really cool quilt for $12.00. The one that is pictured on this page was $20.00, but only in king size! I was happy to see that they did all sell, but at what an amazing price! I love that I get to live with one of the designs after seeing this wonderful show at the Whitney in NYC.
I just heard that Kathy Ireland, the designer that does rugs, furniture, lamps and all kinds of stuff for the home, has incorporated the Quilts of Gee's Bend designs into her line. I just saw the quilts on postage stamps and they're beautiful. I would like to know where to find these items
Mark...my wife is a big fan of Kathys therefore I became one too...lol...Kathy does have a big collection of products that is inspired by Gee's Bend...to find more please visit her website at kathyireland.com ...I hope it help...thank you
Dude...I hear that if you buy some of these quilts of gees bend stamps some of the contributions goes toward the women who created these. Also Im a b ig fan of these quilts so i bought some from the Kathy Ireland line she carries. The story and women behind them are incredible. I'm so excited to here that someone is carrying on the tradition.
I live in Montpelier, near Nice in France, I am very fascinated by the Quilts, very Americain and impossible to find here in France, I will go to kathyireland.com and see how I can buy a few quilts. Jean Marc
Dear Mark,
You can actually find and buy kathy Ireland products at www.officefurniture.com