Patchwork Quilt 1935 - 1942

Ray Price made this quilt using fabric and thread, though the exact date is unknown, it was some time between 1855 and 1995. The quilt's design unfolds with a playful geometry, an optical illusion of cubes tumbling across its surface. Each block is a little world, a tiny garden bursting with floral motifs in pink, green, and blue. The textures here are so interesting. The fabrics must have felt different in the hand, each with its own story. I love the way the light hits the different planes of these cubic blocks, creating a sense of depth and movement. See how Price uses this effect, not just to build form, but to suggest the shifting nature of memory and tribute, a kind of visual poem. Looking at the central wreath with its carefully inscribed text, I'm reminded of the work of contemporary artists like Faith Ringgold, who also use textiles and text to weave together personal and political narratives. But here, the conversation feels more intimate, a quiet dialogue between maker and material, history and heart.