Quilt 1937

This quilt was made by Jacob Gielens in 1937 and you can really see the hand of the maker. The way the different patterned pieces of fabric are put together in blocks makes me think about process as a kind of conversation. The textures and colors here feel gentle and domestic. I am drawn to the variety of patterns and shapes within each block. Notice how the floral vine snakes along the edge with a rhythm of shapes and colours that is contained by the grid of the piece overall. It feels both free and structured! You can almost feel the maker’s hands as they carefully chose and stitched each piece into place. There is something in this piece that reminds me of the work of Gee’s Bend quilters, whose quilts are often similarly composed of strong geometric shapes and blocks of bright colours. Like this quilt, they are an ode to the potential of the everyday.