A Communion of the Spirits: African-American Quilters, Preservers, and Their Stories [Hardcover]

Roland L. Freeman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1996

A Communion of the Spirits represents the first national survey of African-American quiltmakers. It is also a personal record of how Roland L. Freeman's life has intertwined with the world of quiltmaking for almost sixty years--"as an African-American male; as a child who was deeply influenced by the cultural traditions and magical powers of quilts; and, for more than three decades, as a photographer and folklorist."

Included are the fascinating stories of a remarkable range of individuals, old and young, women and men, including Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Sonia Sanchez, Alice Walker, Nikki Giovanni, Bernice Johnson Reagon, and Faith Ringgold.

Organized chronologically, the book begins with Freeman's childhood years in the 1940s. "Quilts were special, even magical to me," he says. "They could heal and they could curse; they could capture history and affect the future; they could transform pain to celebration."

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This wonderful book is the culmination of a quarter of a century of work by photographer Roland L. Freeman, documenting black quilting practices throughout America. Freeman came by his love of quilts as a boy growing up in Baltimore in the 1940s, when he was fascinated by a "healing quilt" that had been made by his great-great-grandmother. That childhood interest led to this book -- nearly 400 pages of profiles of quiltmakers and color photographs of their quilts, in a stunning examination of quilts as objects of art, symbols of heritage and, of course, something to keep you warm.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 396 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558534253
• ISBN-13: 978-1558534254
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #907,646 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is obviously a work of love., September 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Communion of the Spirits: African-American Quilters, Preservers, and Their Stories (Hardcover)

Roland Freeman deserves to be canonized for this wonderful, insightful and spiritual look at African American quilts and, most importantly, quilters. I have been an "art" quilter for ten years and have read many books on the subject of quilts, both traditional and not-so traditional. Freeman goes beyond the technical perfection that almost all other books honor and shows the artistry inherent in just doing a quilt - with no need for rules, regulations, stitch-counting and other limiting notions. He venerates the people who made the quilts -- who in all other quilt books take backstage to their skills. I was so impressed with him as a writer, a photographer and most of all as a human being that I may never get over reading this book -- needless to say, I highly recommend it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a one of a kind history that should be in everyone's home!!!, June 14, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Fort Wayne, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Communion of the Spirits: African-American Quilters, Preservers, and Their Stories (Hardcover)

Awesome Inspirational is this book which culminates a 26 year span of this phenomenal man's life that he devoted to recording the lives of Afrcian American quilters throughout the U.S.!! This book should be in every African American home to appreciate and cultivate the dynamic roles that women, men and children have preserved their heritage as more than just a work of art but more as their unique way of expression! This book can motivate, stimulate our next generation and I feel, be placed in a time capsule as it is really a document of testimonials that have bridged the gap of time. I was fortunate to not only see the 1st exhibit in Detroit at the Museum of African American History on March 21, 1998, but also had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Mr. Freeman, a humble man of vison, great determination and integrity. I was awed and determined that the next book I would be in----it affected me that much. Any historian or educator should have their class see this exhibit!!! This is a MUST-SEE for EVERYONE!!!!! I was also fortunate to meet Gerry Benton of Pittsburgh, PA who is in this book and her quilts are phenomenal as I see why she's in there!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Communion of The Spirits is inspiring!, December 31, 2000

By 

Rebecca Brown "rebeccasreads" (Clallam Bay, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Communion of the Spirits: African-American Quilters, Preservers, and Their Stories (Hardcover)

African-American Quilters, Preservers and Their Stories represents the first national survey & a personal record of how this photographer & folkorist's life has intertwined with the world of quiltmaking.

The communion refers to the power of quilts to create a virtual web of connections-individual, generational, professional, physical, spiritual, cultural & historical. Some of the names of those glorious quilts are: Rainbow Block; Slave Chain; Log Cabin; Three Pigs in a Pen; Double Wedding Ring; Black Jack Scarecrow; Monsters, Dragons and Flies; African Diaspora; African-American Women; African-American Men; Memories of My Father's Death; Memories; Scripture; Martin Luther King Jr.; Hand Me Down My Mother's Work; Mother Africa's Children; The Underground Railroad; Baltimore Arabber Selling Watermelons; Harriet Tubman Quilt & Tableau.

For all those who consider quilt making one of America's finest crafts, this will be a lifetime companion & will rekindle that dramatic & endearing form of art. Very well done!

You have got to read this book! It is filled with women & men & the love of fabric & colors; of the love of design & community coming together to stitch lives together. Do visit my site for my full review & more books on quilting.