Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt [Hardcover]

Paul Arnett (Author), William Arnett (Author), Bernard Herman (Author), Maggi Gordon (Author), Diane Mott (Author), Dilys Blum (Author), Lauren Whitley (Author), Amei Wallach (Author), Joanne Cubbs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 25, 2006

In 2002, Gee’s Bend burst into international prominence through the success of Tinwood’s Quilts of Gee’s Bend exhibition and book, which revealed an important and previously invisible art tradition from the African American South. Critics and popular audiences alike marveled at these quilts that combined the best of contemporary design with a deeply rooted ethnic heritage and compelling human stories about the women. Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt is a major book and museum exhibition that will premiere at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH), in June 2006 before traveling to seven American museums through 2008. The book's 330 color illustrations and insightful text bring home the exciting experience to readers while displaying all the cultural heritage and craftsmanship that have gone into these remarkable quilts.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Tinwood Books (July 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971910456
• ISBN-13: 978-0971910454
• Product Dimensions: 13.3 x 11.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #242,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Visuals, Informative Text! September 17, 2007

By Nadia

Format:Hardcover

This book is gorgeous!!! It includes large photographs of tons of quilts, in a size that allows you to see the smallest details, such as topstitching. It also includes inspirational photos of details of the town. However, it's not your typical coffe table book, because it has probably equal parts very informative text and visuals. Since it's not small enough to carry with me on the train, it's been hard separating myself from this book-- it is beautiful!

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting look at quilts as modern art February 7, 2007

By Anne M. Godfrey

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book illustrates the link between the incredibly beautiful quilts produced by five generations of African American women in the South to the architecture they saw around them and to their own artistic vision. Their personal stories, contained in chapters toward the end of the book, are very moving and inspirational.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book on a legendary art January 4, 2007

By Sara K. Strong

Format:Hardcover

This book shows the Gees Bend quilts in all their gorgeous and unself-conscious art, as well as telling the story of these women, descended from slaves in an isolated community, who created this amazing abstract art. A wonderful book, with many color photos of the quilts.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gee's Bend Quilters August 27, 2008

By Michele Wallace

Format:Hardcover

If you liked the Gee's Bend Quilt exhibit, then you have to have this book as well as the one before it The Quilts of Gee's Bend: Masterpieces from a Lost Place and the one after it, Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee's Bend Quilts, and Beyond, which focuses upon the work of Mary Lee Bendolph, perhaps the greatest living Gee's Bend Quilter. There are others, too. These women are worth supporting in any way you can. They are truly great artists. Other gems to seek out are The Quilts Of Gee's Bend the video on them made by Vanessa Vadim and and Tim Arnett and the CD collection of Gee's Bend music made both in the 30s, when the FSA became aware of the artistry of Gee's Bend, and at the time of the recent exhibition of Gee's Bend's Quilts which is still touring the world.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Gee's Bend book May 12, 2007

By K. Driessen

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I like this book because it is full of information about the construction of the quilts and alot of trivia about the makers of the quilts. Very beautiful pictures! A great book for learning.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Architecture of a Quilt is a facinating and amazing book. November 1, 2007

By Gayle Ingraham

Format:Hardcover

I am really enjoying reading and looking at the pictures of the quilts in this book. I have met several of the ladies and decendants of the Gee' Bend Quilters and find their stories so interesting. The quilts definitely do define the quilters, their strengths and weaknesses, their ups and downs. I recomend this book to anyone who holds quilts near and dear to their hearts.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Art of quilt making/Black artists May 23, 2010

By Eve Gate

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was fortunate to see the exhibit in Denver. Then I bought the book. There are new quilts and information about the styles, designs and the stories of the quilters and their lives! Out of poverty and necessity, these quilts were created. Not one single inch was wasted. We are fortunate to have as many as we do now of the old styles because in the winter when the quilt was no longer useful as a cover or to put under the mattress to keep the cold out, it was burned to keep warm.
I also bought the CD with the stories and songs they sang as they quilted together.
Lovely experience!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Teriffic book October 10, 2011

By small town girl

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I became interested in the Gee Bend quilters after hearing about a PBS special from my daughter-in-law who knows I am interested in historic crafts. I treated myself to the book with plans to pass it on to a quilting friend or our local library when I finished. Now I don't see me parting with it....it is so well written, beautiful photos, and filled with stories of amazing creative women. It has changed the way I see quilts and find myself looking at some modern art and thinking that could have been a Gee's Bend Quilt! If you are a quilter, like primitive antiques or women studies--you would enjoy this book. I have given two programs on it and have recieved notes of thanks. I keep opening it and seeing something new.