"Silo" by Mensie Lee Pettway

2007

African American quilters developed unique patterns and styles.

Quilting is a tradition that is often passed down through generations. Since the 1800s, African Americans like Delita Martin's grandmother have woven quilts made from old clothing, scraps, and other found materials. In the 1960s, quilts made by Black women in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, began to receive national recognition.

Silo by Mensie Lee Pettway features the techniques and designs of Gee’s Bend quilting. It is made of denim jeans placed in a spiraling, concentric pattern. Like many Gee’s Bend quilts, Silo is intentionally abstract, improvisational, and asymmetrical.