Story Quilts

Our presenters at the Fiber Guild's meeting today were Cookie Washington and Catherine Lamkin, 2 incredible quilters who make art quilts reflecting their experience as African-American women. They and other local AA quilters were featured in a fall issue of Charleston magazine -- and several of them were asked to make quilts for a special exhibit in Washington DC celebrating Obama's inauguration. Catherine Lamkin is a health educator with DHEC by day, and this incredible, powerful artist on the side. The quilt above is her contribution to the exhibit in Washington. Wow! Her quilts include a lot of "embellishments" -- cowrie shells, beads, postage stamps, photo transfers -- and often remember historical events -- some personal like the one celebrating her aunt getting a driver's license back before I-95 between SC and NY was completed (-- did you know the traffic light was invented by an African American?) or more pubic history like the one below, honoring Rosa Parks.

Cookie Washington is also an amazing quilter and also a doll maker. Below is a picture of her with a mermaid doll she has made for a friend but first it's going to the exhibit currently at the Avery Research Center called Mermaids and Merwomen in Black Folklore. I definitely want to get over there and see the whole exhibit.

I was very moved at the creativity and beauty that just pours forth from both of these women. It was a treat to get to see their work in such an intimate setting.