28 x 37 collage framed to 36 x 45

Original watercolor, collage, found/sourced paper materials & maps

Natural wood frame

From a collection inspired by the quilts of Gee’s Bend

Artist Statement: What began as a passion project quickly evolved into a hands on paper quilting bee. Mother and daughter artists, Brenda Bogart and Stephanie Stephenson Walker, had always shared an interest in the story of Gee’s Bend. The art of quiltmaking, taking what you have and turning it into something functional, provides much inspiration. However the true influence for Brenda and Stephanie was the strength of a community of women to create in a time of distress. Collage, they discovered, is not so different from quilting. It involves piecing together what you have to compose something beautiful and whole. In homage to the women in their family, the artists named the quilts after their female ancestors, many of whom quilted themselves.

Vivian Lee Celeste Leonard Greenwood, Brenda’s paternal grandmother (Stephanie’s great), lived1900- 1971.
The first quilt Brenda received as a newborn was cut by Vivian (her paternalgrandmother) and hand-pieced by Priscilla (her maternal grandmother) for their first granddaughter. Twenty six years later, Brenda passed the pink quilt on to her first born, Stephanie.