This piece is entitled 'Crazy Pockets' from 2008. In these modern quilting times it's becoming less common and not as necessary to make quilts completely from scrap textile pieces, which makes the ones that are a slightly rarer treat. 'Crazy Pockets' was created from old Levi's blue jeans, corduroy pants, and cotton for batting. It was hand quilted (another less common practice nowadays) by Mensie Pettway from Gee's Bend Alabama. What's comforting about this quilt is the familiarity, as many can relate to the materials, and the pockets add an extra dimension of interest and variance. The quilt's pattern comes from the un-dyed fabrics which create a natural value difference, and the rhythm also comes from these variances. It feels like a dark and light contrasting beat, altered and flowing with the movement from the changing stripe directions.
The piece here is called 'Slave's Popcorn Quilt' and is from the late 19th century. It was crafted by the great grandmother of Avis Collins in Wakefield Virginia. Based on the time period this quilt was created, it was most likely made from material scraps as not to be wasteful. Every little textile scrap was precious and saved to be used for another piece. While the ground of the 'popcorn' pieces is a lavender color, the figure (in the ground/figure relationship) ones are a variety of colors but still within a range. Many of the different colored and patterned pieces are used again and again throughout the quilt. This creates the rhythm. The Gestalt principles lead our eyes to see the solid lavender color as one, and then the varying yet unified squares in between add controlled variance which repeats in the rest of the squares.No 2 quilts are exactly alike, and they are amazing works of art that convey technique, history, rhythm, and pride.
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