Trip to the North Part 1: Gees Bend

What??  Less than 2 weeks after visiting Gees Bend, Alabama, IN PERSON, I stumble upon an exhibit at the Art Musuem of Toledo Art Museum called "Living Legacies:  Art of the African American South."

I was there to attend a concert of the Canadian Brass  playing with the Toledo Symphony.  (what can I say?  I have a musician daughter who makes me into a more classy human being)

So I'm there at the museum, 1 1/2 hours before the concert, and my husband, daughter, her boyfriend and I  agreed to each go off and wander the musuem and meet in time to go into the concert hall.

I'm torn between wanting to move slowly and absorb everything, and hasten my pace to see everything.  Then then there it was....a room off a room:  a QUILT.  (moth to a flame)  I'm there - reading about art in the south.  Reading about Gees Bend.  Looking at quilts.  Holy shit, how can this be a coincidence??

This is not the end of the story, my friend.  The next morning, I'm attending a service at the Glenwood Lutheran Church in Toledo, which is located right next door to the museum.  My daughter's beau is the choir director/organist at this very historic, beautiful, sacred place of worship.  I found myself transfixed, listening to a talk on Black History Month, and black inventors, like Sarah Boone, a 19th century dressmaker who was awarded a patent for the modern day ironing board in 1892.  The speaker talked of the meditativeness of ironing, which spoke to my soul.  (not everyone feels this way, I get it).  There was also talk of the recent drive-by shooting of 10 year old Damia Ezell, in the neighborhood, and how can this church offer support to the community, as it is a part of that community?

And then, at the end of the service, Rev. Christopher announced that those interested are invited to attend a private docent tour at the museum next door of above-mentioned exhibit that drew the moth to the flame.  Wait.....what?!?

So that was how I found myself back at the Musuem of Art with about 15 church members, heart racing (in a good way), about to have a private tour.  I shared with the docent about my excitment because, well, I had just been to Gees Bend.  She asked if I'd share a little about my visit when we got to that part, and GULP,  I did.  To this beautiful group of folks, who shared with the docent about how spirituality played a huge part in the artists' work.  I am incredibly grateful to have been a part of this church for in Toledo, Ohio, on a cold February Sunday morning.

(Toledo, OH in February, in case you're wondering:)

Next on the blog:  Part 2:  Sewing for Dummies

Bucket List - Checked Off!

 I decided to take a trip to Alabama to visit my 90 year old aunt.  My daughter Claire had just graduated from college, wasn't yet settled into the next chapter in her life, was itching to travel, and so we decided to road trip it!

Here we are after a big breakfast at the Waffle House, which is like Starbucks of the south - there's one on every corner!

After making the decision to do this trip, I also decided to visit Gees Bend, home of the Gees Bend Collective, which is just 3 hours north of Fairhope, where Aunt Sue lives.

Claire & I set our alarm and started the trip early in the morning.  I had called the week before and spoke to Mary Ann Pettway, who knew we were coming.

We spent a magical hour and a half there, chatting with Mary Ann and wandering around the small building where the sewing and quilting takes place - taking in the quilts in progress (Mary Ann does a number of commissioned quilts and makes others ready to sell), reading about the history, looking at the photo gallery on the wall.  She was working on a quilt that was similar in colors/style to one that was made for President Obama.  She talked about her upbringing, her daughter and grandchildren, her love of singing, her travels with other quilters, the retreats where she teaches, and we agreed that there's too much hate in the world and things would be so much better if more folks would just love each other.

I bought a small piece she made and a framed block by another quilter in the collective.  They'll be housed at Hip Stitch if you come by!

Goodbye, Gees Bend - thanks for the wonderful memory!