Jennifer

I have been wanting to do a VAWAA experience for a few years now. The pandemic put it on hold for a while. Now that I am getting my MFA I had the winter break off and wanted to do a short artist's residency. I jumped at the chance when I saw that Gee's Bend was one of the offerings.

One of my focuses is challenging the established views of what makes "fine art" vs. what is considered craft and/or traditional "women's work." Learning directly from Gee's Bend quilters reaffirmed my belief that stitching cloth is as much of a "high art" as putting paint on a canvas with a paintbrush.

The result? A beautiful quilt and the stories that went with it. Also, I am a social justice advocate so touring local landmarks and learning the history through people who went through it was very profound. I will never forget this experience.