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Nellie Mae Abrams

"Housetop," c. 1970

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About the Artwork

Nellie Mae Abrams (1946–2005), "Housetop," c. 1970

Denim and cotton, 84 x 72 in.; Minneapolis Institute of Art, Museum purchase and gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation

In Gee’s Bend, a quilt dominated by concentric squares is called a "Housetop." Its all-around simplicity allows for experiments in formal reduction and, at the same time, offers compositional flexibility unchallenged by other multi-piece patterns. It begins with a medallion of solid cloth, or one of an endless number of pieced motifs, to anchor the quilt. After that, "Housetops" share the technique of joining rectangular strips of cloth so that the end of a strip's long side connects to one short side of a neighboring strip, eventually forming a kind of frame surrounding the central patch; increasingly larger frames or borders are added until a block is declared complete.

about the collection

These images show the entirety of the quilts, including their handmade edges, against a white background.

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Souls Grown Deep Custom Prints offers custom reproductions of artworks by Souls Grown Deep artists. Hand-made in the USA using gallery-quality materials, we create prints as true to the original work as possible, using strict color management protocols and state-of-the-art printing technology.

Selection

Many of the works offered through this store are exclusive and not available anywhere else. We are continually adding new artworks to our offering, so be sure to check back regularly as you build your own gallery.