The quilt exhibit of fiber artist Gwendolyn Magee has come and gone from the Gatewood Gallery on UNCG's campus. The above photo captures the essence of her solo exhibit entitled, "Lift Every Voice and Sing." It was her first exhibit in North Carolina and, unfortunately, it was posthumously. The intricately detailed quilts capture the continuum of the good to the bad in the life of African Americans over the last several decades. From the beauty of a college graduation ceremony to the horrors of lynchings, complete with a list of names by state, much of Magee's work is an emotional experience.
Originally from High Point, Magee lived in Mississippi from 1972 until her death in 2011. She learned to quilt in 1989 to give her daughters a gift to take to college, as a touch of home and a tangible reminder of their mother's love.* Quickly, Magee's quilting evolved from college bedspreads to works of art of historical significance. With all of the important civil rights events in Guilford County, we'd like to think that even though Gwendolyn Magee lived in Mississippi, some of her artistic inspiration came from her childhood here.
*Reference and read more of Magee's story, here.
She was gifted! It's an art form you don't really see too much of.
Posted by: William Kendall | Saturday, November 29, 2014 at 11:59 AM