The Quilts of Gee’s Bend exhibition at San Francisco’s de Young Museum ended December 31 after being held over for an additional couple months due to popularity. Dawn and I were fortunate enough to see it during our visit to the museum in October. Those of you that were able to catch the exhibit saw a piece of our not so distant history and a unique American art form.
Gee’s Bend became an important part of the Freedom Quilting Bee during the mid-1960s, an offshoot of the Civil Rights movement designed to boost family income and foster community development by selling handcrafts to outsiders. The women of Gee’s Bend had for generations made quilts, mostly to keep warm during the long, cold winters, out of old work clothes and seed sacks. Today they’re considered works of art.
Purlbee brought to our attention an interesting footnote in the January issue of Vogue Magazine: “[Diane] Von Furstenberg loved the Gee’s Bend Quilts she saw in the De Young Museum.”
Why is this notable? Because Von Furstenberg, an elemental designer of feminist fashion in the 1970’s, inventor of the wrap dress, champion of the working woman, is now the president of the Council of Fashion Designer’s of America and continues to adapt colorful ideas into fashion and call attention to the artists that inspire her. On the left (click for larger view) are a few of her “crazy-quilt” creations for Spring 2007.
Joelle & Jennifer have a good eye for fabrics and design. They looked through some other Spring 2007 collections and found plenty of patchwork-inspired finery, including (at right from left to right) these pieces from Chloe, Stella McCartney, and Anna Sui. (Click for larger view)
I’m no fashion aficionado, but I am a follower and collector of art, especially modern, and its influence is clearly reflected in the world of fashion.
You may also be interested to know that the USPS has recently issued postage stamps commemorating the Quilts of Gee’s Bend. If you’ve received letters or notes from Dawn, or purchased stamps at the Post Office, you’ve probably already seen them. Art is everywhere!