Public Art Experience April 2 - June 2 2026
Creative District Thomasville, GA
In the Spring of 2026, Thomasville Center for the Arts will launch “My Side of the Story” with multiple public art activations during the Center’s Due South Music, Food, & Art Festival and continue through the 105th Rose Show and Festival. This experience promotes Southern quilting and showcases makers and artists across the South, providing them with a platform to showcase their artistic talents. From April 2 to June 2, 2026, the community can view and experience these public art installations in Downtown Thomasville. This column highlights the storytellers, historians, artists, and quilters involved in this public art experience. Alongside the narrative quilt competition, the project includes a community “Airing of the Quilts,” featuring quilt flags made from quilts created by Thomasville residents and groups. The stories behind these quilts are as powerful as the artwork itself. This week’s feature: The Thomasville History Center quilts. At the Thomasville History Center, quilts are preserved not simply as handcrafted textiles, but as historic artifacts that document the lives, traditions, and stories of the people of Thomas County. They are treated as part of the History Center’s broader collections, and reflect family histories, community connections, and the craftsmanship of past generations. Visit our online flipbook at online.flippingbook.com/view/109864508/ Through public art, Thomasville Center for the Arts continues its mission to make lives brighter through the arts.
THOMASVILLE HISTORY CENTER QUILTS
Cheatham Family Quilt - 1920
Berrien Cheatham Collection
Orange-and-cream colored quilt owned by the Cheatham family of North Augusta, South Carolina, c.1920.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Copeland Family Quilt - 1887
Ruff Collection
Handmade "drunkard's path" style quilt made by Caroline Elizabeth Ruff as a gift to Belle Dekle and Claude Reynolds Copeland upon their marriage on December 6, 1887. It was later owned by their daughter, Claudia Copeland Montford, who gave it to her daughter, Sarabelle Montford Pipkin.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Julia Ann Johnson Mitchell Quilt - 1849
Pebble Hill Plantation Collection
Starburst-pattern quilt made by Julia Ann Johnson Mitchell, daughter of Thomas Jefferson Johnson and wife of John William Henry Mitchell of Pebble Hill Plantation, 1849.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Dickey Family | Birdsong Plantation Baltimore Album Quilt - 1861
Dickey Collection
Baltimore album quilt made between 1861- 1863 for the marriage of Shadrack Arthur Dickey and Maria Louise Mitchell in 1863. The Dickey family owned Birdsong Plantation south of Thomasville. The quilt is appliqued and includes the signatures of family members who contributed to the making of the quilt or spouces of people who helped make the quilt, including: Susie E. Dickey; Harriet Harrison; Harriet Miles; Mary H. Dickey; Susan E. Brown; Anna M. Dickey; L.J. van Bount; Hattie L. Martin; Hattie Lou Brown; Annie E. Blackshear; M.L. Pringle; Mary Hayes; Jane L. Hayes; Mary E. Martin; Mary B. Harrison; Martha A. Hurst; Claudia Cromartie; M.R. Handley; Mary A.J. Hayes; Lizzie J.; S.N. McGriff; Mary Anne Hair. After Shadrack and Maria Dickey passed away, the quilt was inherited by their son, Richard Taylor Dickey. When he passed away, ownership was shared by Edith Jean Dickey Ferrell and Alice Dickey Roberts, his daughters and the quilt's donors.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Ione Community School Quilt - 1930
Carr Collection
Quilt made by the mothers of students of teacher Meda Ward Carr at Ione Community School in the Ione community of Thomas County, north of Pavo, c.1930. The quilt features the names of students in her class, including Freddie Ricks, Joe Green, Anne Ricks, C.B. Dean, Daniel Dunn, Ethan Ricks, Ethel Green, Didi Ricks, Mimi Ricks, Marianne Dunn, and Allie Cooper.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Knapp Family Quilt - 1852
Knapp Collection
Quilt made for Sarah Forest and William Knapp as a gift for their marriage, February 17, 1852. The quilt features a yellow, red, and green pinwheel design with green-stripe divisions and a pennant border in the same three colors against a white background.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Lenora Johnson Quilt - 1920
Johnson Collection
Patchwork quilt made by Lenora Outzs Johnson of Thomasville, c.1920. The quilt is made with a backing of very tiny dark green floral prints, and the front features patches of pink-and-blue checkerboards and red-and- white checkerboards with different tiny prints.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Mary Sellers Harrell Quilt - 1885
Harrell Collection
Quilt made by Mary Sellers Harrell of Cairo, Georgia while it was still a part of Thomas County, c.1885. Made sometime after her marriage to John Oscar Harrell, the quilt was passed to their son John Arthur Harrell, and then to his daughter, Pauline Harrell Hewlett. The quilt was awarded a first-place ribbon by the Georgia Quilt Project and exhibited at the Atlanta History Center in 1991.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Rebekah Lodge #20 Quilt - 1951
Quilt Collection
Patchwork quilt made by members of Rebekah Lodge #20, the Thomasville chapter of the Odd Fellows Auxiliary, 1951. It was left at Modern Cleaners in Thomasville many years later. The quilt measures 54"x88" and is made of pink and green cotton patches with chain- stitched embroidery that marks each contributor and the year, as well as other Rebekah Lodge information.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Mary Taylor Sheldon Quilt - 1888
Jerger Collection
Crazy quilt said to be made of clothing from the Sheldon, Jerger, and Remington families by Mary Taylor Sheldon, the aunt of Mary Sheldon Remington Jerger and sister of Patience Aborn Sheldon Remington, 1876. Curator's Note: The earliest date embroidered on the quilt is 1868, while the latest date is 1888, making it likely the quilt was finished in 1888 rather than 1876. A later cotton backing was added to the quilt sometime after acquisition to preserve the red silk backing.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Marjorie Wahl Air Corps Militaria Quilt - 1945
Wahl Collection
Cotton sheet (quilt) made by Marjorie Wahl with World War II-era United States Army Air Corps (and some regular Army) insignia, patches, ribbon bars, pins, and awards, c.1945.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Marjorie Wahl Armed Forces Militaria Quilt - 1945
Wahl Collection
Large wool blanket (quilt) made by Marjorie Wahl with dozens of World War II-era United States Army, Air Corps, Navy, and Marine Corps insignia, patches, ribbon bars, pins, and awards, c.1945.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Marjorie Wahl Navy Militaria Quilt - 1945
Wahl Collection
Denim sheet (quilt) made by Marjorie Wahl with World War II-era United States Navy insignia, patches, pins, and buttons, c.1945.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Rhea Granger Quilt Square - 1928
Quilt Collection
Square patch from an unassembled quilt by Thomasville native Rhea Granger, 1928. Granger used backing and padding made from flour bags and newspapers. The latest newspaper article indicates the pieces were assembled after 1930. Adhesive Velcro strips were added sometime after the 1970s to piece the quilt together for use and display.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
Sara Davis Peters Crazy Quilt - 1885
Quilt Collection
Velvet-and-silk "crazy quilt" made by Sara Davis Peters of Thomasville, 1885. The quilt is made from scraps of velvet and silk appliqued over with silk and cotton thread and beads. The backing is made of a chartreusse silk. A later cotton patch was added for display purposes and is labeled "Cat #33 SIMMONS." The quilt measures 64"x63" and is in excellent condition.
Courtesy of Thomasville History Center
In the Spring of 2026, Thomasville Center for the Arts will launch “My Side of the Story” with multiple public art activations during the Center’s Due South Music, Food, & Art Festival and continue through the 105th Rose Show and Festival. This experience promotes Southern quilting and showcases makers and artists across the South, providing them with a platform to showcase their artistic talents. From April 2 to June 2, 2026, the community can view and experience these public art installations in Downtown Thomasville. This column highlights the storytellers, historians, artists, and quilters involved in this public art experience. Alongside the narrative quilt competition, the project includes a community “Airing of the Quilts,” featuring quilt flags made from quilts created by Thomasville residents and groups. The stories behind these quilts are as powerful as the artwork itself. This week’s feature: Jack Hadley Black History Museum Quilts Thomasville’s First Black History Museum is established to educate individuals about the history and culture of African Americans locally and nationally. One African- American historian, James “Jack” Hadley has preserved over 4,669 pieces of African American artifacts. The museum quilts are just a small part of this amazing collection. Visit our online flipbook at online.flippingbook.com/view/109864508/ Through public art, Thomasville Center for the Arts continues its mission to make lives brighter through the arts.
JACK HADLEY BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM QUILTS
Caldwell Family Quilt - 20th Century
Hadley Collection
Handmade Checkerboard Quilt made by Sarah Harvin Caldwell in the early 1900's. This quilt was passed down to her daughter Grace Henrietta Caldwell and was donated to the museum.
Courtesy of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum
Douglass Elementary School Quilt
Hadley Collection
This handmade quilt was created to honor the students of Douglass Elementary School. After integration in 1970, Douglass served first as a middle school and later as an elementary school for the city of Thomasville until its closure in the early 2000s. The quilt features student-designed quilt squares from the final fifth-grade class, representing their last year at Douglass. Courtesy of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum
Threads of Unity and Community Hadley Museum Quilt
Hadley Collection
This handmade quilt is a collaborative community piece featuring logos from local organizations, businesses, and institutions. It also includes quilt squares designed by local high school students, representing important staples of the community. The quilt was created in 2023 for the Hadley Museum’s 5th Annual Gala.
Courtesy of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum
Payne Family Quilt “Slave Quilt”
Hadley Collection
Handmade “Slave Quilt,” donated by Tara Payne Okon, granddaughter of former Thomasville Mayor Camille L. Payne. According to oral history, the quilt was created by an enslaved person in the 1800s and later used as payment for a grocery bill at the Payne family store in the early 1900s. .
Courtesy of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum
Spearman Family Quilt - 20th Century
Hadley Collection
Handmade Checkerboard Quilt made by Fleeta Spearman in the mid-20th century. This quilt was donated to the museum by her granddaughters, Juanita Davis and Mary Thompson.
Courtesy of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum
Studstill Family Quilt - 20th Century
Hadley Collection
This handmade Tack Quilt was made by Ruby Studstill, grandmother of former Thomasville Mayor David Lewis. This quilt was a gift to Annie Grace Scott and was later donated to the museum.
Courtesy of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum
Williams Family.1 Quilt - 20th Century
Hadley Collection
Handmade Block Quilt from the estate of Earnest Castaloe “E.C.” Williams and Eula Davis “E.D.” Williams. Earnest served as the Douglass High School Football and Basketball coach from 1942 until 1961. Eula served as an educator for the Thomasville City School System for more than 30 years. Courtesy of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum
Williams Family.2 Quilt - 20th Century
Hadley Collection
Handmade Block Quilt from the estate of Earnest Castaloe “E.C.” Williams and Eula Davis “E.D.” Williams. Earnest served as the Douglass High School Football and Basketball coach from 1942 until 1961. Eula served as an educator for the Thomasville City School System for more than 30 years.
Courtesy of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum
Williams Family.3 Quilt - 20th Century
Hadley Collection
Handmade Stair Step Quilt from the estate of Earnest Castaloe “E.C.” Williams and Eula Davis “E.D.” Williams. Earnest served as the Douglass High School Football and Basketball coach from 1942 until 1961. Eula served as an educator for the Thomasville City School System for more than 30 years.
Courtesy of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum
Williams Family.4 Quilt - 20th Century
Hadley Collection
Handmade Checkerboard Quilt from the estate of Earnest Castaloe “E.C.” Williams and Eula Davis “E.D.” Williams. Earnest served as the Douglass High School Football and Basketball coach from 1942 until 1961. Eula served as an educator for the Thomasville City School System for more than 30 years.
Courtesy of the Jack Hadley Black History Museum
In the Spring of 2026, Thomasville Center for the Arts will launch “My Side of the Story” with multiple public art activations during the Center’s Due South Music, Food, & Art Festival and continue through the 105th Rose Show and Festival. This experience promotes Southern quilting and showcases makers and artists across the South, providing them with a platform to showcase their artistic talents. From April 2 to June 2, 2026, the community can view and experience these public art installations in Downtown Thomasville. Alongside a narrative quilt competition, the project includes a community “Airing of the Quilts,” featuring quilt flags made from quilts created by Thomasville residents and groups. The stories behind these quilts are as powerful as the artwork. This Week’s Feature: 6 Quilts from The Cotton Pickin’ Quilters The Cotton Pickin’ Quilter group is a local collective of fiber artists who meet regularly to sew, share skills, and make comfort quilts donated to Thomasville-area organizations. They gather for biweekly “Sit & Sew” sessions and teach quarterly, project-based sewing classes at the Thomasville Center for the Arts. Through public art, Thomasville Center for the Arts continues its mission to make lives brighter through the arts.
COTTON PICKIN’ QUILTERS
Fiber Artist, Darlene Cook
Star Quilt
Fifty years of quilting—started with my mother’s hands guiding mine and perfected through every class I could find. This pointed-star quilt emerged over several months from scraps of past projects—100% cotton memories stitched into something new. It’s my go-to pattern for giving leftovers a second life. It is now headed to the Tree House for a child in need of comfort. With every stitch, I pray for whoever wraps themselves in it.
This work fills me with joy.
Fiber Artist, Dovie Ross
Lone Star Quilt Block
I have sewn for 35 years, and my mother taught me. This quilt unfolded over a year, one block at a time, through Stitch in Heaven’s monthly surprises. Each month brings a new puzzle—no pressure, just discovery. I tear open the packet, wondering: what pattern will test me this time? Then comes the finale: twelve months of blocks, finally arranged and stitched into one. That moment? Pure magic.
Fiber Artist, Jan Perez
Yo Yo Quilt
I have been sewing for as long as I can remember. My first quilt was made in 1975, over 50 years ago. This quilt, from the 1920s, was made by my great-grandmother in Conyers, GA, and passed down to my grandmother and then to me. The fabric consists of feed sacks, old dress fabric, aprons, and old shirts. It is 100% cotton and hand-pieced, featuring more than 2,000 handmade yo-yos. All the women in my family worked on it, but when I received it, I began repairing it.
It is very special to me!
Fiber Artist, Mary Ann Meeks
Pall Quilt
This quilt, called a pall quilt, will be used to cover my casket at my funeral and memorial service. It is my personalized version of a traditional pall, a liturgical cloth used in many Christian denominations. It represents the flowers that would traditionally adorn my casket. It is 100% cotton, and I hand-quilted every stitch. I was inspired to make it after seeing the heart pattern on TV, representing all the love in my life. Mary Perryman, at the extension office in Thomasville, GA, was my quilting teacher, and I have been quilting for over 30 years. It is my passion!
Repaired By Fiber Artist, Debra Loftin Quilt Artist Unknown
Crazy Quilt
Originally, one of my quilter friends brought this quilt to me to help repair it. After a while, they realized they would not do anything with it, so they gave it to me. As I began cleaning it up, I decided to add lace to the faded areas to give it a fresh look. The quilt fabric features silk, velvet, and lace, and was most likely the lining of jackets, coats, and silk dresses. The tapestry and connection stitches are all hand-sewn. It is particularly helpful that the date, 1926, is included in this quilt. When I was very young, my mother and Home Economics teacher recognized that I enjoyed sewing and was good at it! In fact, my teacher even allowed me to sew her clothes! Sixty years later, I am still sewing, and it never gets old!
Fiber Artist, Ruth Ann Maxwell
Cathedral Window Quilt
I was an experienced seamstress when I learned to quilt. My friends and I decided to take a 3-week course through the extension office in Thomasville, Ga., led by Anne Ring and Mary Perryman. We each created a mystery quilt during that time, titled “A Bear in the Woods.” That was 26 years ago. Since then, I have created over 75 quilts, and have enjoyed doing it with the group now called the Cotton Pickin’ Quilters. My featured quilt was handmade in 1975 by my second cousin on my father’s side, Elenor Anderson of Mercer County, PA. It is king- sized and made from cotton and other fabrics. It was constructed entirely by hand. I wanted it as a family heirloom, so I purchased it. It makes me proud to own a part of my family’s creative history.
In the Spring of 2026, Thomasville Center for the Arts will launch “My Side of the Story” with multiple public art activations during the Center’s Due South Music, Food, & Art Festival and continue through the 105th Rose Show and Festival. This experience promotes Southern quilting and showcases makers and artists across the South, providing them with a platform to showcase their artistic talents. From April 2 to June 2, 2026, the community can view and experience these public art installations in Downtown Thomasville. This column highlights the storytellers, historians, artists, and quilters involved in this public art experience. Alongside the narrative quilt competition, the project includes a community “Airing of the Quilts,” featuring quilt flags created from the quilts of Thomasville residents and groups. The stories behind these quilts are as powerful as the artwork itself. This week’s feature: 6 Quilts from The Sewing Seed of Kindness Quilters This Eastside Baptist Church group officially started when they decided to make quilts for “Quilts of Valor”. They did this from 2013 to 2020, donating more than 400 quilts to veterans of war. After COVID, their mission changed to making quilts for the foster children in Thomasville. To date, this group has donated over 135 small, medium, and large quilts to the DFACS director, Samantha Rutherford.
Through public art, Thomasville Center for the Arts continues its mission to make lives brighter through the arts.
SEWING SEEDS OF KINDNESS QUILTERS
Fiber Artist, Myrtie Hucks
Veterans Star
Thanks to my mother, I was an experienced seamstress when I learned to quilt in 2013, after joining the Sewing Seeds of Kindness quilters at Eastside Baptist Church. Since then, I have created over 100 quilts. This quilt, the Veterans Star, was made for my husband to be presented to him as an honor quilt for his military service. The Veterans Star measures 64" x 74" and is made from 100% cotton fabric in the patriotic colors red, white, and blue, as required by the Quilts of Valor organization.
It was made with a lot of love.
Fiber Artist, Mary Bone
Rail Fence
I have been a seamstress for over 40 years and began quilting when my children were grown. I owned a sewing and alteration shop in Central Florida for many years, keeping me busy with a wide range of fiber art. I love scrap quilts and creating something beautiful from bits and pieces of fabric. This quilt is 53 x 66, a Rail Fence pattern cut on point, with blocks turned 45 degrees. It is my very favorite, made many years ago. I love all the different colors and still use it today. Quilting is both inspiring and relaxing for me. Now I am part of a sewing group that makes quilts for children in need, and it is a blessing to share our craft with others.
Fiber Artist, Delorise Asbell
9" Block with Sashing
I am 77 years old and have been sewing since I was 12. My mother taught me to make dresses and my own clothes. I started making quilts for Quilts of Valor in 2013, and I now sew quilts for foster children. The quilt pictured was made from scraps of two of my granddaughter’s quilts, one a wedding quilt and the other a graduation quilt. This quilt was made for me so I can keep both of them close.
Fiber Artist, Nan Bryant
Cheating quilt
I joined the quilting group at Eastside Baptist Church in 2024. I had never made a quilt at that time; however, I had crocheted blankets. In 2025, I asked the Sewing Seeds of Kindness quilt group at our church to teach me how to quilt, and they were amazing! I have made only two quilts since then, and I love them. This quilt is the second one I have made. I love the fabric in the center of the quilt and the story it tells. I have this quilt on my couch at home. I love that it shows my faith in the Lord.
Fiber Artist, Phyllis Green
Block Patterns
This quilt was made by me, and the longarm was done by Linda Conran. It is my very first quilt, made in 2009. This is a Sampler Quilt, made up of different block patterns, rather than repeating the same block throughout. These are popular for beginners, often used to teach new techniques or showcase skills. The blocks are made of: Nine Patch, Log Cabin, Jacob’s Ladder, and Disappearing Nine Patch. It is a blessing to share this craft with others.
Fiber Artist, Janice Smith
Teacup quilt
I came from a family of quilters. My mother and four older sisters all enjoyed quilting. It had never interested me before, because when I start something, I want to finish it quickly, and quilting takes a while to complete. My niece had started a quilt for her grandchild, but never finished it. I volunteered to help her and was hooked! Since that time, I have completed many, many quilts. The quilt shown, ‘Teacups’, is 60" x 60". I chose a single teacup panel in the center because I just love the fabric! I surrounded the center with panels of increasing size and chose this style because it was simple, and I was just learning.
On April 2, 2026, Thomasville Center for the Arts will launch “My Side of the Story,” featuring multiple public art activations during the Center’s Due South Music, Food, & Art Festival and continuing through the 105th Rose Show and Festival. This experience promotes Southern quilting, makers, and artists across the South, providing them with a platform to showcase their talents. Through June 2, 2026, the community can view and experience these public art installations in Downtown Thomasville. This column highlights the storytellers, historians, artists, and quilters involved in this public art experience. Alongside the narrative quilt competition, the project includes a community “Airing of the Quilts,” featuring quilt flags created from the quilts of Thomasville residents and groups. This week’s feature: The Gee’s Bend Stamp Quilts In August 2006, the USPS issued the Quilts of Gee’s Bend commemorative stamps in a double-sided booklet containing 10 designs. The images depict photographs of quilts crafted by African-American women in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, from around 1940 to 2001. These quilts feature bold, improvisational styles originally created for warmth and daily use. These stamps are part of the American Treasures series, which showcases American fine crafts. Through public art, Thomasville Center for the Arts continues its mission to make lives brighter through the arts.
GEE’S BEND STAMP QUILTS
Minnie Sue Coleman – Pig in a Pen Medallion
Minnie Sue Coleman was born into a Gee’s Bend quilting family and learned the craft young from her mother, Minder Coleman. Her work blends traditional forms with personal improvisation.
Ruth P. Mosely Nine Patch
One of three quiltmaking daughters of Mary Ann Bendolph Pettway and Tom O. Pettway, Ruth grew up in the Sodom neighborhood of Gee's Bend. Her work is in the permanent collections of the RISD Museum and the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art.
Lottie Mooney Housetop Four Block Half Log Cabin
Lottie Mooney was an early-generation quilter in Gee’s Bend whose work dates back to at least the 1940s. She represents a bridge between older, utilitarian quilting traditions and the later recognition of these quilts as art.
Loretta Pettway (again) Medallion
Loretta Pettway Roman Stripes variation
Loretta Pettway (born 1942) is an American artist and quilt maker of the Gee's Bend Collective from Boykin, Alabama. Her quilts are known for their bold and improvisational style.
Mary Lee Bendolph Housetop variation
Mary Lee Bendolph is among the most celebrated quilters from Gee’s Bend. Born and raised in Boykin, she spent her life learning quilt-making from her mother and other relatives. Her work is known for its vibrant color, strong geometric forms, and improvisational designs made from repurposed clothing.
Annie Mae Young Blocks and Stripes
Annie Mae Young grew up in Gee’s Bend and began quilting in her early teens. Though she did not participate in the Freedom Quilting Bee (preferring her own improvisational style), she became one of the community’s most recognized artists.
Jessie T. Pettway Bars and String-Pieced Columns
Jessie T. (“Bootnie”) Pettway grew up in the rural quilting culture of Gee’s Bend, where she learned to piece and sew as a child under the guidance of family. Her quilting style reflects the community’s blend of memory, necessity, and abstraction.
Patty Ann Williams Medallion with Checkerboard Center
Williams' quilts were made to keep her children and grandchildren warm. Instead of concentrating on artistic value, if it was too old to wear, she just tore it up to make quilts. Although most of their quilts were made from repurposed materials, some were made from scraps sold in bulk at a discount in Selma, Alabama.
Arlonzia Pettway Chinese Coins variation
Arlonzia Pettway learned quilting as a youth and maintained the tradition throughout her life. She also worked and farmed in the Pettway family community. Her quilts reflect both functional warmth and expressive patterns drawn from materials at hand.
In the Spring of 2026, Thomasville Center for the Arts will launch “My Side of the Story” with multiple public art activations during the Center’s Due South Music, Food, & Art Festival and continue through the 105th Rose Show and Festival. This experience promotes Southern quilting and showcases makers and artists residing throughout the South, while providing them with a platform to display their artistic talents. From April 2 to June 2, 2026, the community can view and experience these public art installations in Downtown Thomasville. This column highlights the storytellers, historians, artists, and quilters involved in this public art experience. Alongside the narrative quilt competition, the project includes a community “Airing of the Quilts,” featuring quilt flags created from the quilts of Thomasville residents and groups. The stories behind these quilts are as powerful as the artwork itself. This week’s feature: The Southern Narrative Quilt Pioneers The Southern narrative quilt pioneers transformed fabric into powerful storytelling media, blending artistry with lived history. In the rural South—especially in communities such as Gee's Bend—quilters developed bold visual languages that drew from African American traditions, memory, and daily life. Through public art, Thomasville Center for the Arts continues its mission to make lives brighter through the arts.
MEET THE SOUTHERN NARRATIVE QUILT PIONEERS
FAITH RINGGOLD
1930 – 2024
Ringgold’s works explored themes of family, race, class, and gender. Her series of story quilts, designed from the 1980s on, captured the experiences of Black Americans and became her signature art form
HARRIET TUBMAN
1822 – 1913
During the time of the Underground Railroad, quilts were believed to have been used as a means of communication among escaping slaves and their allies. These quilts contained specific patterns that conveyed messages about routes, dangers, and preparations for escape. While the historical accuracy of these codes is debated, they have become an important part of the narrative surrounding the Underground Railroad and the efforts of figures like Harriet Tubman.
HARRIET POWERS 1837 – 1910
Harriet Powers was an American folk artist and quilter born into slavery in rural northeast Georgia. Powers used traditional appliqué techniques to make quilts that expressed local legends, Bible stories, and astronomical events. Her quilts are considered among the finest examples of nineteenth-century Southern quilting
MARTHA ANN RICKS c. 1817–1901
Born into slavery in Tennessee, she was freed by her father, George Erskine, and, at age 13, emigrated with him and her family to Liberia in 1830. While primarily working in agriculture there, Ricks was also known for her needlework and became an expert quilter. She became interested in Queen Victoria and spent more than two decades working on a quilt to present to her. In 1892, Ricks traveled with former First Lady Jane Roberts to England, where she received a royal audience with Queen Victoria and personally presented her with the quilt.
ARLONZIA PETTWAY 1923–2008
Pettway was an American artist associated with the Gee's Bend quilters' group. She began quilting at age 13. In 2006, her quilt "Chinese Coins" variation appeared on a U.S. Postal Service stamp as part of a series commemorating Gee's Bend quilters. Her work is included in the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia.
ROSIE LEE TOMPKINS 1936–2006
Tompkins, who had helped her mother make quilts as a child, began quilting seriously in 1980. She believed God directed her hand and her art. Her abstract, improvisational compositions often held personal significance. Despite being a deeply private person who rarely sold her quilts, more than 500 of her quilts reside at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
MARY LEE BENDOLPH 1935-
Mary Lee Bendolph has spent decades transforming scraps of old cloth into beautiful works of art. To make her quilts, she tears worn, discarded clothing into simple strips and blocks of fabric, then assembles them into refined geometric patterns. Her genius lies in her ability to create an endless variety of complex compositions from a rudimentary vocabulary of shapes.
YVONNE WELLS 1939-
Wells is celebrated for her bold, narrative “story quilts” depicting biblical tales, Civil Rights history, and social themes. Since 1979, she has developed a distinctive, un- patterned style using found fabrics. She earned national recognition through works in major museum collections, a 2024 monograph, and honors such as the Joan Mitchell Fellowship and the Alabama Governor’s Arts Award.
In the Spring of 2026, Thomasville Center for the Arts will launch “My Side of the Story” with multiple public art activations during the Center’s Due South Music, Food, & Art Festival and continue through the 105th Rose Show and Festival. This experience promotes Southern quilting and showcases makers and artists across the South, while providing them with a platform to showcase their artistic talents. From April 2 to June 2, 2026, the community can view and experience these public art installations in Downtown Thomasville. Alongside the narrative quilt competition, My Side of the Story features an installation in The UnVacant Lot and another at the corner of Jackson and GEN Lloyd J Austin III Way. This week’s feature: The Installation Artists. Through public art, Thomasville Center for the Arts continues its mission to make lives brighter through the arts.
MEET THE INSTALLATION ARTISTS
Artist, Dr. Marlo Ransdell
Professor - FSU Studio D
Marlo Ransdell is a designer, maker, and associate professor at Florida State University, specializing in design education and the creative process. She oversees Studio D: Design and Fabrication Lab, supporting undergraduate and graduate furniture design and prototyping for the Department of Interior Architecture and Design. As Director, Ransdell teaches furniture design courses, curates gallery shows such as “Digital Fabrication: The Flat Pack” and “processing…”, and mentors graduate students on thesis and research. She is an executive member of the Council on Research and Creativity, presents and publishes internationally, and has received the IDEC Best Paper Award and Ralph Prize Stair Award for Innovative Education. The Quilted History project marks a transition from traditional textile art to a large-scale wooden installation. It reimagines classic quilt blocks as three-dimensional, durable structures, highlighting their intricate patterns, vibrant colors, and geometric designs. This reinterpretation enhances the narrative by emphasizing the lasting importance of quilt motifs while exploring innovative spatial and material dimensions. The project demonstrates how traditional patterns can be transformed into contemporary art forms, fostering community engagement and artistic exploration.
Artist, Missionary Mary Proctor
Folk Artist
Mary started painting in 1995 and by 1996 had a large collection. She once asked, “Lord, why am I doing this?” and felt the Lord said she was on a mission to share a message in homes and hearts. Mary creates art to honor women and encourage men to respect them. Her work has been featured at the American Visionary Art Museum, on the cover of Raw Vision, and is part of collections nationwide. In 2005, she was featured in the Smithsonian's "On Their Own" exhibit. She was raised by her grandmother, whom she watched sew and quilt. Mary’s doors evoke a childhood memory of two women quilting. Ms. Nancy, a white woman, and her grandmother, a black woman, were spending hours quilting together on the porch—a rare occasion at the time. A happy memory also includes realizing that Ms. Nancy was so engrossed in quilting that she didn't notice Mary and her sister picking scuppernongs from her tree. Eventually, Ms. Nancy would raise her head and say, “That’s enough, girls! That’s enough!” The red, white, and blue symbolize that, regardless of skin color—red, white, or blue—we are united by our shared passions.
Artist, David Junker
Painter
facebook.com/DavidRJunker
Thomasville artist David Junker has a wide variety of talents in his toolbox. Sketching, illustrating, painting, mixed media, and sculpture - to name just a few. However, he has become locally well-known for his work as a papier-mâché artist. His ability to sculpt a wildlife creature life-like enough to make you jump is quite impressive. He has the gift of looking at a challenge and accepting it, without ever having done it before. Challenged to recreate three of the Gee’s Bend quilts through paint, Junker took a realistic approach, including even the smallest details of stitches and folds in the quilt itself. An interesting fact is that Junker is colorblind and focuses on brightness, saturation, and contrast rather than on hue differences.
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