Chicago Library Hosts Black History Month Quilt Event

- African American quilting is a tradition that dates back to the 17th century, originating with enslaved women who initially created patchwork quilts for warmth using fabric scraps from slaveholders' households. - Historically, quilts have served as a form of covert communication and resistance. For example, during the time of the Underground Railroad, specific patterns were used as a code to guide enslaved people toward safety, with designs like a "bear paw" indicating the need to follow an animal trail for food and water. - The craft is deeply rooted in West African textile traditions, particularly the use of appliqué, which involves sewing fabric shapes onto a larger background. This technique was combined with European quilting styles in America, evolving into a unique form of storytelling and historical documentation for Black families. - The Douglass Branch of the Chicago Public Library, which is hosting the event, is named in honor of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. The building itself was originally designed in the Art Deco style in 1929 and was rededicated in 1981. - Beyond their functional and communicative purposes, these quilts are significant cultural artifacts, often used to record family histories, biblical stories, and daily life, representing a rich lineage and heritage passed down through generations. - Contemporary Black artists have continued to evolve the art form, with renowned quilters from Gee's Bend, Alabama, gaining recognition for their abstract and improvisational designs that explore themes of sisterhood and Black feminine beauty.