Coverlet 1938

This coverlet by J. Howard Iams, has been brought to life with red and blue dye, a dance of color that feels both bold and comforting. I can imagine Iams carefully planning the layout, each motif a step in a larger pattern, a kind of visual rhythm. You know, looking at it, I wonder about the artist’s state of mind. Were they thinking about the history of textiles? Or were they simply enjoying the act of creation? The way the blue pops against the red makes me think of Gee’s Bend Quilts, where the makers used color and form to tell stories, like improvisational jazz. There's something about that simple, repeated motif—like a visual mantra. It’s a conversation across time, ideas echoing between makers. It's like they are saying "I made this. Now you see it, what do you think?".