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Session #2 in this series began at the tourist information center on the way to the Gee's Bend Ferry Terminal, Camden, Alabama. Kristin Law presented on the history of Wilcox County, the Black Belt Treasurers Culture Arts Center, and the Black Belt Quilt Trail and Dr. Tina Naremore Jones provided an introduction to the Alabama Black Belt Heritage Area. The group boarded the Gee's Bend Ferry to ride across the lovely Alabama River. At the new terminal facility in Boykin, a uthor Irene Latham spoke about her research and educational experiences associated with her book, Leaving Gee's Bend. Participants enjoyed a buffet of salads, treats, and barbecue, prepared locally by Keitsha's Snack Shack.
Everyone was pleasantly surprised by a visit from master artist Mary Lee Bendolph, one of the early ambassadors of the tradition. Her life story inspired a Pulitzer Prize winning article, Crossing Over, and the play, "Gee's Bend." Her quilts will of course continue to influence the next generation. After greetings from Ms. Bendolph, Linda Vice spoke about the Quilt Mural Trail, and then we were off to tour Boykin, guided by Claudia Pettway Charley.
At the Gee's Bend Collective, shelves filled with stacks of quilts, provided a showcase of colors, styles, and techniques. Upon our departure, the sounds of a traditional spiritual filled the room as Mary Ann Pettway and China Pettway started singing.
Mrs. Pettway Charley opened the doors of the Boykin Mercantile, her family's store, that serves as an outlet for her business, That's Sew Gee's Bend. Then, she led the group down a road she knows well. After arriving at the family home, her mother Tinnie Pettway welcomed everyone inside. As guests gathered around Tinnie in the living room, she told stories about her life and read poems from her book, Gee's Bend Experience.
The day ended with a presentation by Rev. Clinton Pettway at Ye Shall Know The Truth Baptist Church. He spoke about the history of his church and the role it is playing to uplift the community by addressing critical needs in the areas of education, health, and quality of life.
Saturday a group gathered at the Camden United Methodist Church for a workshop led by Claudia Pettway Charley. Leaders in the community contributed to the event as well as visitors to Camden, who were in town for other reasons. 
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Thank you to everyone who assisted in organizing this session and to all of the participants.
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Common Threads Session #3
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At 11:30 a.m. everyone can have lunch on their own or bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at Wynton M. Blount Cultural Park. At 1:00 p.m., the group will reunite at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts for the opportunity to view quilts by master artists from Alabama including Mary Lucas, Mary Maxtion, Mozell Benson, and Yvonne Wells. By 3:00 p.m., the program will resume at ADAH, where curator Ryan Blocker will provide a behind the scenes tour.
Saturday morning Loretta Pettway Bennett, who made the Pine Burr Quilt that is the official quilt of the state of Alabama, will lead everyone in making a pine burr to be attached to a quilt square.
Links to further information and registration are provided at the top of this section.
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Common Threads Sessions #4-#6
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Session #4 Greensboro
October 24-25, 2014 Friday, featured artist Yvonne Wells will present on her story quilts.
Session #5 Selma October 31-November 1, 2014
Authors Agnes Pool and Frazine Taylor will lead the program on Friday. Have fun on Halloween by joining us and visiting the Old Live Oak Cemetery. Maybe there will be spirits among us...... Session #6 Auburn November 14-15, 2014 The featured artist will be the award winning Mozell Benson. Author and professor of Global Arts, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Dr. Maude Wahlman will be present to serve as a keynote speaker. Thank you to the Women's Resource Center, Women's Initiatives, Auburn University for sponsoring this special session.
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Sylvia G. Stephens provides all of the photographic documentation except for the photo below that was taken by a member of the Latham family.
Irene Latham and Sylvia G. Stephens (above). Mary Lee Bendolph in front of quilt mural #7 by Tyree McCloud that replicates the "Housetop variation" "quilt by Ms.
Bendolph (below).
Tinnie Pettway (above).
Rev. Clinton Pettway (below)
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Montgomery, AL
Loretta Pettway Bennett |
Thank You!
The generous donations from AFA members during the spring of 2014 held us through the summer. New donations are providing much needed funds to help cover our programs and projects. We greatly appreciate the continued support from current and new members.
Contributions
July 17, 2014-Today
Patron
Robert W. Halli, Jr.
Frederic Hoerr
Individual
Gregory & Karen Jeanne
Peggy Jones
Irene Latham NEW
Agnes M. Pool NEW
Lori Sawyer
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Folklife Exhibits on the Move
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Guntersville and Ft. Payne
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From Guntersville, "Sacred Sounds of Alabama" traveled to Ft. Payne, Alabama where it is on display in the Coal and Iron Building at the corner of 5th Street and Gault Avenue (Hwy 11) until November 1, 2014. More information including hours and arranging a visit can be found here and on the exhibit page of the web site. Much appreciation goes to the City of Ft. Payne, Russell Gulley, Executive Director Big Wills Arts Council, and the Alabama State Council on the Arts for facilitating and sponsoring this exhibition and associated events. The opening program included a panel discussion with National Endowment for the Arts, National Heritage Fellow David Ivey, folklorist Henry Willett, folklife specialist Steve Grauberger from the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture, and archivist Kevin Nutt from the Archive of Alabama Folk Culture. During the annual Boom Days Heritage Celebration the exhibit was open to visitors and everyone had the opportunity to enjoy a free concert Saturday afternoon.
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Hunter Appreciation Day in Pine Apple, Alabama
Saturday, November 29, 2014
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Pine Apple Promotions, Inc. holds this event annually on Thanksgiving weekend and the day of the big game and it works. I attended last year and then went on home to our cabin for the evening. Alabama Folklife Association will be joining in this regional heritage event as our annual meeting. If you are in the local area, stop by our display that morning. We are partnering with Pine Apple on a project to document hunting and fishing traditions in the Alabama Black Belt Heritage Area. More on Pine Apple Promotions, Inc. can be found HERE. More details and information TBA in the next newsletter.
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