Memory and Making: Gee’s Bend Quilts

Lesson Summary

Women in the community of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, create quilts inspired by the world around them, using materials that hold layers of memory. During this tour in the Called to Create exhibition, students will look closely at the Gee’s Bend quilts, using poetry and artmaking to understand these works of art. On this tour, students will develop their Looking and Learning Skills. They will

• Observe, describe, compare, and contrast works of art
• Understand that artists draw on their memories and the world around them as inspiration
• Discover that artists use found materials and repurpose them to create works of art
• Make personal connections with the works of art
• Create “collage quilts” inspired by the works of art and personal memories
• Feel a sense of belonging in the museum setting