Blocks and Strips 2002

Mary Lee Bendolph made this quilt, "Blocks and Strips", from cotton and other assorted fabrics. The making of quilts has a long and rich history, especially in the American South. Bendolph, part of the Gee's Bend community, carries this tradition forward with an improvisational, personal style. Notice the geometry, how the blocks and strips of fabric intersect and overlap. These elements lend the quilt structure and rhythm, while the visible stitches speak to the handcraft involved in its creation, and its roots within domestic labor. The material itself—recycled textiles—adds another layer of meaning. Scraps and remnants, remnants of everyday life, are repurposed and transformed into something new. Bendolph elevates these humble materials, demonstrating how artistic expression can be found even in the most ordinary things. The quilt honors the work, resourcefulness, and history embedded in each piece of fabric. Ultimately, "Blocks and Strips" exemplifies how the act of making, and the materials used, can imbue an object with deep cultural and personal significance.