political quilts

(photos via
Marion Coleman)
I just read a really interesting editorial on political quilts and their makers on whipup. "Today political quilts or quilts with a social conscience are not that common, much of today’s quilting revolves around beautiful fabrics and interesting patterns - however there are many artists who use the quilt medium to express their thoughts on todays big issues." Kathreen Ricketson
The editorial is written by Kathreen Ricketson, who is the editor and originator of whipup. All of the quilts pictured in the article make very strong statements but the work of one quiltmaker,Marion Coleman, I found really remarkable. Marion Coleman learned to sew from her grandmother and is from a family of quiltmakers.
She has worked over twenty years in youth and family services and combines this experience with her textile art to create works that address family, cultural traditions and social themes. She has exhibited in the USA and internatonally, speaks frequently on the diversity of African American quilts and teaches art quilting. The quilts pictured here are a few of her narrative quilts. I think her quilts are really beautiful on so many levels.