Name/Title
A piece of my soul : quilts by Black ArkansansEntry/Object ID
NK9198.5.U6.B457Description
Arkansas is well known for its rich tradition of upland folk arts. Little, however, has been reported from the lowland areas, particularly on African American contributions to the state's cultural heritage. A Piece of My Soul seeks to rectify that oversight by drawing attention to the extensive, important collection of African American quilts in the Old State House Museum in Little Rock. Over seventy-five individual pieces of patchwork art are presented in full-color plates, each with a commentary by the exhibit's guest curator, Cuesta Benberry. The book details the importance of quilting to black Arkansans; the quilt's uses, materials, and construction; and what each piece says about the artist and her beliefs. We are granted a glimpse into the living conditions and cultural mores of the quilters' lives. Regionalisms, such as the unusual custom of renaming traditional quilt patterns for things seen in the farmyard, such as in Rooster Tail or Chicken Feet, and of piecing patchwork funerary cloths to decorate coffins are discussed.Lexicon
Search Terms
african american quiltmakers, african american quilts, quiltmakers, quilts--arkansas, quilts--united statesBook Details
Author
Cuesta BenberryPublisher
University of Arkansas PressDate Published
2000Call No.
NK9198.5.U6.B457ISBN
1557286205, 9781557286208LCCN
9638Notes
Length: 158