Threads of Time

Quilt: a fabric covering made of patches and pieces of cut cloth, stitched back together, and designed in an image or pattern that relates to a story of the quilter. A simple process it seems, right? Well, there’s actually more to it than that. Quilting is a form of expression, a timeless practice that has been passed down for generations in so many places and different settings that it has manifested itself as the reason for many social gatherings around the country. Quilting circles have made the social scene, keeping people inspired to continue this craft which has been such an important part of the American culture. Different subcultures have also helped to make establish quilting as a diverse and versatile art style through their contributions to the art for reasons, which were often humanitarian. For centuries, quilting in the United States has brought people together in solidarity, helping to bring together social groups and solidifying subcultures.

WC: 153

There have been many different backdrops for the art of quilting in the United States. A variety of cultures and social scenes have utilized this art form for more than just aesthetic reasons. Quilting actually has a history of being a very pragmatic art form. Groups that exemplify this through their efforts and past creations are African Americans and women in America from the early 19^th century. From the times of slavery, blacks have been quilting for both recreational and communication purposes. This time together provided blacks in slavery with both a social outlet and the ability to communicate without words, allowing them to share both escape codes and stories. Also, women in the past have used quilting as a form of expression and humanitarian service.

This project touches on important parts of American culture that may seem dried up to some and nothing but a hobby for the elderly by others. But in our modern American society, quilting is still an important aspect of our culture. It exemplifies the creativity and strength of people from the past to the present, and is represented by the stories that their quilts can tell us.

WC: 213

Sources:

Internet

Driessen, Kris. “Putting it in Perspective: The Significance of Underground Railroad Quilts”. Quilt History.com. 26 Oct. 2010. Web.

<http://www.quilthistory.com/ugrrquilts.htm>

“Women’s Community Quilts”. Clio Visualizing History. 26 Oct. 2010. Web. <http://www.cliohistory.org/visualizingamerica/quilts/womenscommunityquilts/>

Primary Sources

James, Michael. Face to face. January 4-5. 2003. <http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/oralhistories/transcripts/james03.htm>

Mazloomi, Carolyn. Face to face. September 17-30. 2004. <http://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/oralhistories/transcripts/mazloo02.htm>

Newspaper

Green, Penelope. “Alternative Craft – Quilting with a Hard Edge”. NY Times. 11 Aug. 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/12/garden/12qna.html?scp=1&sq=quilting&st=cse>

Scholarly Article

“Redwork: A textile Tradition in America”. 26 Oct. 2010. <http://www.quiltindex.org/redwork.php>

Media

“The African American Quilt Making Tradition”. Youtube.com. 15 dec. 2009. Web. 26 Oct. 2010.

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehTSQdwbeyg>

Book

Marler, Ruth. The Art of the Quilt. China: PRC Publishing. 2001. Print.

Readings

The Folklore Process:

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Objects of Memory

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Tradition, Genuine or Spurious

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East Flatbush

The streets of Brooklyn have been with me from the time I was born, and just thinking about them brings me back to the roots of my childhood.

Where I’m from, the area is mostly made up of blacks. Most of these people, like me, are descendants or immigrants of Caribbean islands. As a testament to this, the streets along this area of Brooklyn are often lined with people sitting outside, talking, grilling chicken late at night, and blasting reggae music from large stereos all day long. There are also times when families or friends will just sit out on the street in front of stores and their apartment buildings and play steel drums together, bringing together crowds to listen.

One of the features of this neighborhood that has always stayed with me is the vast amount of West Indian restaurants and corner stores run by Jamaicans and other islanders. But recently, the area has become home to groups of Middle Easterners. Not too far from East Flatbush is a Muslim community, and it would appear that their population has been stretching farther into the neighborhood. The store that was once owned by West Indians on the corner of my old street is now owned by a family of Muslims, who moved in just a few years ago. This has also happened to a few other stores, but otherwise this change is rather subtle, at least for the time being.

East Flatbush is a wonderful place to grow up because of the homey feeling and the spontaneity that comes with the community there. This neighborhood has not changed much in the last few decades, but maybe it will become more racially diverse in the future. Who can say for sure?

WC: 290