Quilts
Lola Pettway (b. 1941), "Housetop" variation (detail), 1970s
Corduroy, 89 x 74 in.; Minneapolis Institute of Art, Museum purchase and gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation
Allie Pettway worked at the Freedom Quilting Bee and probably supplied the fabric for one of her daughter Lola Pettway’s “Housetop” quilts. A “Housetop” variation at its most evocative, the quilt is formed of avocado green, tomato red, gold, beige, and brown corduroy organized into concentric boxes in nine staggered blocks that differ in size and scale, creating movements that vibrate like notes in a dance tune. Pared-down yet energetic, the quilt is anchored in the center by the strong red medallion in a composition that overflows with confidence.
In 1972, the Freedom Quilting Bee, a sewing cooperative based in Alberta, Alabama, near Gee's Bend, secured a contract with Sears, Roebuck, to produce corduroy pillow covers. Made of wide-wale cotton corduroy, the covers came in a variety of colors, including "gold," "avocado leaf," "tangerine," and "cherry red." Production of the Sears pillow covers left little room for personal creativity, as labor at the Freedom Quilting Bee was divided to maximize daily output. Yet despite the standardized and repetitive process involved in producing the pillow covers, the availability of corduroy, a fabric seldom used before by the Gee's Bend quiltmakers, stimulated a profound creative response. Leftover lengths and scraps of corduroy were taken home by workers at the Bee. Given to friends and family or bundled for sale within the community, the scraps were then transformed from standardized remnants into vibrant and individualized works of art.
Quality
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.