SERENDIPITY (Cheri)

We thought were going to South Carolina for a D-Day exhibit.

As it turns out, that exhibit was pretty small, and largely focused on the memories of local residents who had been involved.

However, there was an impressive exhibit entitled "Black Pioneers: Legacy In The American West."  (We forget that even local museums can hang striking traveling exhibits, and the Upcountry History Museum does an impressive job in this regard.)  The poster for the exhibit featured a quilt, but I didn't think it would be all quilts, or that the artistry would be so varied.

I normally try not to post about quilts too many times in a short period - and I did a post on Sandra Bruce's square-based quilts recently - but I couldn't resist this great topic for Black History Month.  (Also, the exhibit will be available only March 2nd, for those who might want to visit.)

Oscar Micheaux, the subject of the quilt above, was the first major Black American filmmaker, and an author of many books:

When I looked at Micheaux's biography on Wikipedia, I was surprised to find that he was born in Metropolis, Illinois, a town of about 6,000 that we visited a couple of years ago, and which Mark wrote about on the blog.

Carolyn Crump also created The Truth Hurts:  Riches, Resentment, Revenge, RIOTS, about the black success that led to the Tulsa Massacre of 1921:

I aspire to incorporate photographic works in quilts the way this piece does:

and the stitched messaging on the sleeves!

I was fascinated by the information I read on the quilt Man of Distinction:  Edward Parker Duplex:

This quilt is about California's first Black American mayor, also an entrepreneur and civil rights activist.

I reached out to Sauda Zahra, who created the quilt, because I was so interested in knowing how she learned about Mr. Duplex.  I was very surprised to read that he built his businesses in the small California town where I grew up.  She lives here in North Carolina, so how did she learn about him?  It turns out that the the curator who created the exhibit researched possible subjects; an invaluable benefit to the artists and attendees.

I particularly appreciated the colored drawing and painting on Ho for Kansas, created by Sandra Hankins:

Since we moved to North Carolina, I've been more aware of the injustices done to Black Americans after the Civil War.  (Proximity to the areas of the War, and time to read more contribute.)  Being declared free doesn't do a lot if you don't have a home, or a job!  I had not realized that the Federal government made and started to carry through on many promises to the freed slaves, but reneged on them when leadership changed.

This last quilt featured a very different kind of pioneer:

He is Able, by Earamichia Brown, illustrates the leadership of Elijah Abel, the first Black American Mormon priest:

The use of indigo, text, and a map - three of my favorite quilt components - drew me into this quilt.

Finally, I don't know what happened to the picture of the quilt Clara Brown, but this description has to be included, as it is so heart-rending.  Sometimes we don't empathize with people because their situations are so different from our own; it is hard to imagine anyone who can't envision the horror of living this woman's plight:

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