Block from Friendship Quilt 1935 - 1942

Florence Truelson made this block for a friendship quilt, and though we don’t know exactly when, we do know she lived from 1901 to 1959. Looking at it, I can almost feel the rhythm of the needle as it pierced the fabric, each stitch a tiny act of devotion. Can you imagine the patience it took to create such a textured surface? The way the light catches those quilted patterns, it’s almost sculptural, like a bas-relief made of cloth. And those colors—the faded blues and reds, the muted gold—they speak of a time gone by. I think of other artists working with textiles, like Faith Ringgold, who used quilts to tell stories and challenge histories. It's like Florence and Faith are in conversation across time, sharing ideas about material and meaning, each stitch building on the last. Quilts, like paintings, are surfaces of inquiry where the maker is literally feeling around for the form.