How are the quilts of Gee’s Bend models of sustainability?

·  New York Times article (Links to an external site.):  “In order to understand the brutality of American capitalism, you have to start on the plantation” by Matthew Desmond.  (This article is also available as a PDF document under Files.)

· The Quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend (Links to an external site.) documentary

· “The Alabama Women Who Made Their Quilts a Part of Modern Art” (Links to an external site.)

· Quilts of Gee’s Bend Slideshow (Links to an external site.)

1.  From the Quilts of Gee’s Bend Slideshow, which are your favorite quilts and why?  (Write at least 250 words.)

2.  Do your own research on modern art.  What are the hallmarks of modern art?  Who are some of its major artists?  What works of modern art remind you of the quilts of Gee’s Bend?  (Write at least 250 words.)

3.  Do your own research on modern art. Post a link to an article that you found informative.

· A)  What makes this article informative/interesting?

· B)  How would you cite it?

4.  Here’s a quote from “The Alabama Women Who Made Their Quilts a Part of Modern Art”:

“As with some other arts, however, quilt-making has traditionally struggled for recognition as a fine art. Like weaving and embroidery, quilting is often seen as merely a craft, or ‘women’s work (Links to an external site.),’ as opposed to painting and sculpting, which were traditionally considered more manly, high-art forms.  In terms of art world acceptance, the women of Gee’s Bend had an added disadvantage: their blackness.”

Using one or more of the Gee’s Bend quilts as an example, make a case for the Gee’s Bend quilts to be universally accepted as fine art.  (Write at least 250 words.)

5.  In the new era of COVID-19, the concept of sustainability is moving from lip service to necessity.  Americans are faced with having to live in a more sustainable fashion, throwing away less and reusing more.  Consider the following:

· A)  How are the quilts of Gee’s Bend models of sustainability? 

· B)  Referring back to Desmond’s article, in what ways can reusing clothing, sheets, and other fabrics be considered anti-capitalist? 

· C)  Which of the Gee’s Bend quilters best displays sustainable habits?  How so?

(Write at least 250 words total for A, B, and C.)

6.  Provide a direct quote from one of the quilters in The Quiltmakers of Gee’s Bend documentary.  Explain what this quote means and why it is significant to you.  (Write at least 250 words.)