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 Quilted ‘Cargo’ comes to Pinnacle
Through March 1, Pinnacle Gallery is hosting “African-American Quilts from the Robert and Helen Cargo Collection.” The exhibition will feature close to a dozen quilts, most of which were made between 1980 and 1996. One of the quilts, a cotton “spiderlegs” pattern variation, was hand-quilted and pieced together between 1930 and 1940 and is attributed to a quiltmaker known simply as “Peaches.” Each of the quilts — whether is it the “turkey tails” pattern quilt, which was machine-pieced and hand-quilted by Roberta Jemison in 1995, or “Crucifixion,” which was hand-appliquéd and pieced out of cotton and polyester blend by Yvonne Wells in 1986 — represents an important chapter of American quilt history and reflects the diverse traditions that merge to form the American quilting heritage. Wells, a self-taught quiltmaker and artist, is responsible for five of the quilts on display, including “Pieced Diamonds,” “Noah’s Ark,” “Roll Call” and “Me Masked.” Wells’ work has been exhibited in Japan and other countries of Asia and was included in a major exhibition of Alabama art in the summer of 2000 in France. Her quilts are replete with Biblical texts and political themes, many of which focus on the civil rights struggle in the south. In her article, “Handmade Quilts by a Born Storyteller,” Cynthia Elyce Rubin, Ph.D., wrote of Wells, “With no formal training, only absolute determination, she embarked on a personal journey of discovery. Within about four years, her unique style took shape. Reflecting her animated and lively personality, intense hues combine with unusual color combinations to enliven a rich design vocabulary.” Quilts by Wells, Jemison and “Peaches” are joined by other quilts by Mary Maxtion, Leola Pettway and the RSVP Club. All are from the Robert and Helen Cargo Collection. “African-American Quilts from the Robert and Helen Cargo Collection” is on display at Pinnacle Gallery, 320 E. Liberty St., through March 1. |
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